Crane Safety Under Scrutiny: Past Incidents Raise Concerns Amid Recent Collapse in Manhattan

NEW YORK (AP) — The recent crane collapse in Manhattan that sent thousands of pounds of steel debris raining down on a busy street has brought the owner and operator of the failed crane under intense scrutiny. As authorities investigate the incident, past safety failures involving the crane company, New York Crane and Equipment Corp., have come to light, raising concerns about their track record.

The dramatic collapse occurred when the tower crane, owned by New York Crane and Equipment Corp., was hoisting concrete to the 36th story of a luxury high-rise. A fire broke out in the machine’s cab, causing the cable holding the crane’s arm to burn and ultimately lead to the 180-foot-long boom crashing down. Thankfully, there were no serious injuries, but it has evoked memories of previous crane accidents.

Notably, in 2008, New York experienced two disastrous crane collapses within two months, both involving cranes owned by the same company. These incidents resulted in nine fatalities, leading the city to overhaul its process of inspecting and regulating tower cranes. Furthermore, the operator involved in the recent crane fire, Chris Van Duyne, had his license suspended for eight months following another crane incident in the same year.

City Council Member Pierina Sanchez, the head of the council’s committee on housing and building, expressed concern that a company with a history of safety failures was involved in yet another major accident. She questioned why New York Crane and Equipment Corp. still had a license to operate in the city.

After the previous crane collapses, New York implemented strict crane requirements that go beyond those of other states. While intended to enhance safety, these regulations have inadvertently limited the number of companies operating in the city, allowing a few players to dominate the industry. Experts worry that such restrictions might deter more competent operators and firms from entering the market.

Founded by James Lomma, known locally as the “King of Cranes,” New York Crane and Equipment Corp. has been a prominent crane provider, contributing to significant projects like the Hudson Yards development and the new World Trade Center. However, the company has faced criminal and civil actions in the past.

In 2008, one of the company’s cranes collapsed, fatally injuring seven people. A jury acquitted the crane rigger of manslaughter charges, attributing the accident to shoddy work. Two months later, another Lomma-owned tower crane collapsed, resulting in two fatalities. Investigators found that a faulty bearing from a Chinese company was to blame.

Despite being acquitted of manslaughter charges, James Lomma was ordered to pay $35 million for his decisions leading to the second collapse. The company faced allegations of poor maintenance in 2004 after another worker fell to his death from a crane mast.

With the recent collapse, questions are being raised about whether stricter regulations have adequately improved crane safety or inadvertently hindered competent operators from entering the market. As the investigation into the recent incident continues, authorities will seek to determine the exact cause and any potential negligence on the part of New York Crane and Equipment Corp. and its operators.