Preliminary Investigation Blames Engine Fire in New York City’s Crane Collapse
Officials are continuing their investigation into what caused a crane arm to catch fire and partially collapse while it was carrying at least 16 tons of concrete. The collapse occurred during the early morning rush hour at about 7:25 on July 26 in the heart of Manhattan at 550 10th Ave.
According to city officials, a preliminary investigation has determined that the fire started because of hydraulic fluid that leaked onto a hot plate near the engine. A fire subsequently broke out in the engine compartment and despite the crane operator's effort to extinguish it, the fire continued, causing the arm of the crane to smash into a nearby building before it partially collapsed onto the ground below.
“There's a beam that goes out, and that's carrying the weight of concrete. And that weight of 16 tons is attached by a cable. As the fire heats the cable, the cable weakens to a point where it loses its strength, and that's when the collapse occurred," First Deputy Commissioner Joseph W. Pfeifer described during a press conference.
Sixteen people have so far been reported injured, and Mayor Eric Adams shared that it was a miracle no deaths occurred as a result of the crane collapse. All injuries are reported to be non-life threatening. During a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Adams shared, "We are extremely fortunate that we were not during the busy time of day," adding, "As you know, Port Authority is here, many of the buses move through here."
The crane operator has been credited with acting quickly to stop the fire and contacting the proper channels when he was unable to get the fire out. "That crane operator saw that the fire started and tried to extinguish it. So we give a lot of credit to the crane operator. But the fire overwhelmed that operator and had to exit the crane," Pfeifer said. "The crane operator was able to get out and is safe."
Pfeifer also shared the difficulty first responders and firefighters face in trying to put out the fire. The crane collapse occurred at around 47 stories high. Firefighters were eventually able to extinguish the flames after assembling water hoses from the top of a nearby building.
Cranes don’t catch fire and collapse unless a preventable mistake was made at some point. The responsible party or parties need to be identified and held accountable to the people who were injured. Justice demands it.
Citing Occupational and Safety Health Administration (OSHA) statistics, New York City crane accident and injury lawyer Leandros A. Vrionedes says that crane accidents account for over one-fifth of fatalities that occur on construction sites. “Crane operations are complex undertakings, and proper care must be taken at every step by every party involved,” Vrionedes says. “This includes setting up the crane initially, operating the crane, and dismantling the crane when the job is finished.”
Vrionedes notes that cranes have increasingly become faster, taller, and capable of handling heavier loads, raising the potential for a catastrophic accident should something go wrong. “What happened yesterday was a terrible tragedy, to be sure,” Vrionedes remarked. “But cranes don’t catch fire and collapse unless a preventable mistake was made at some point. The responsible party or parties need to be identified and held accountable to the people who were injured,” he said. “Justice demands it.”
Despite all permits for the workplace construction being up to date, officials with the Department of Buildings are taking a closer look into the crane company, the crane operator, and all other parties involved with the safety, maintenance, and upkeep of the crane and overall operations.
The New York Crane and Equipment Corporation, the company that owns the crane, is at the center of the investigation. According to reports, it is not the first time the company has faced safety concerns in New York City. In 2008, a crane owned by the company collapsed near 91st Street and First Avenue, killing two construction workers. The company’s late owner, James Lomma, was eventually acquitted after initially being charged with manslaughter for the deaths. Prosecutors in the case argued that Lomma and his company did not properly repair the crane prior to the collapse. Both the company and Lomma were also defendants in a civil wrongful death lawsuit after the collapse. A jury eventually awarded the plaintiffs' families $48 million, ending the lawsuit.
Following Wednesday's collapse, the general contractor, Monadnock Construction, shared a statement that explained, “First and foremost, we understand that the workers involved are in stable condition. We want to acknowledge and thank the FDNY and the other first responders who were able to safely remove workers and any pedestrians from the location and secure the site. Safety is a priority for Monadnock Construction Inc. at this and every project. We are fully cooperating with all regulatory agencies and are available for any assistance that is needed. We are unable to provide any additional details regarding the incident at this time."
The crane operator, owner, and engineer have yet to issue responses following the collapse.
New York City, like all metropolitan cities, has strict operating procedures when cranes are in use at a construction site. Officials detail that the crane collapse was not in violation of any permits or regulations as of June 15th, when officials with the Department of Buildings inspected the crane once sections were added to increase its height.
Clean-up efforts continue on the west side of Manhattan in Hell’s Kitchen as officials continue their investigation. An inspection by officials with the Department of Buildings has since determined that the tower crane and the buildings that were hit are “structurally stable.”
Yesterday’s crane collapse was one of the more serious safety hazards that can exist on a workplace construction site. Since 2018, incidents, injuries, and fatalities related to building construction sites in New York have largely declined with the exception of 2022. Last year, there were 751 incidents compared to the previous year's 712 incidents, including 554 injuries compared to the previous year's 505 injuries, and 11 fatalities compared to the previous year's nine fatalities.
Beginning in 2019, the Department of Buildings has implemented enhanced construction site safety measures to help mitigate incidents and injuries on construction sites. Officials will continue to investigate what safety risks could have played a role in Wednesday’s collapse.
