Call toll-free: 855-240-8753
Wireless Wind
  • Wireless Wind Speed Sensors
      • WINDY™ Smartphone Anemometer
      • Wireless Anemometers & Displays with Alarms
      • Long Range Anemometers & Data Logging Systems
      • WINDY™ WR3-B Wind Chill Anemometer
    • Navis Wireless Wind Speed Sensors
      • CALL TOLL-FREE: 604-626-1777
    • WINDY™ APP
      • Get it on Google PlayDownload on App Store
  • Wifi-Ready Anemometers
  • Industries
      • Entertainment
      • Communications
      • Tower cranes
      • Mobile cranes
      • Construction
      • Amusement parks
      • Ports, Terminals & Marine
      • Wind farms
  • Case Studies
      • Hitting the Target
      • Lights, Camera… Navis!
      • Towering Above The Competition
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
Blog - Latest News
Windcrane design team

Dealing with extreme weather and wind gusts

February 11, 2016/in Weather /by Jason Pohl

Nobody can have failed to have seen last week’s news about the crane collapse in the USA. It seems that a crew operating a crane on Friday morning noted the wind gusts that accompanied the snow fall and decided that they needed to lower the crane to a more secure level. As the 565 ft. boom on the crane was being lowered workers used a huge counterweight to keep it balanced and ensure that it was lowered slowly. However, this was to no avail and the crane began to topple over then plunged into freefall crashing onto a street below.

As you can imagine, investigations are underway into just how this terrible accident occurred and initial speculation points to wind gusts playing a significant part in the collapse. It’s thought that the incident was caused by a sudden 40 mph gust of wind which was measured on nearby weather instruments. It will probably be quite some time before the investigation is completed. It’s hoped that the weather monitoring equipment will provide a full historic log of wind data for the time of the accident that will allow the investigation to proceed with speed and accuracy. This incident just serves to remind us of how important it is to have the correct wind monitoring equipment in place when working with cranes, especially in heavily built up areas.

Following 5 major tower crane incidents in 2000, The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published a report in 2010 on “Tower Crane Incidents Worldwide” in order to assist in advising and guiding the UK tower crane industry to help improve safety. The report considered 86 incidents involving the collapse or major structural failure of a tower crane that took place between 1989 and 2009. While “unknown causes” were found to be behind 28 of the incidents, once these are discounted, there were 57 incidents that were divided into categories according to the cause of the incident. Alarmingly, extreme weather was the second most common cause – accounting for 26% of the remaining collapses.

When we look more closely at the incidents caused by extreme weather, two were associated with earthquakes. Of the remaining incidents, 6 involved luffing tower cranes, 5 saddle jib tower cranes while it’s unknown what type of crane were involved in the other two. However, the report reveals that both types of crane are equally susceptible to structural damage in strong winds. This means that strong winds have been the cause of a quarter of the crane collapse incidents, demonstrating that there’s a definite need to monitor the wind closely at all times.

Using a device that can be attached to the crane and that will alert users when conditions are becoming dangerous is vital to ensure health and safety. A robust solution that can deliver real-time wind information, backed up by a historical log that’s easily accessible at all times is essential for crane operators in order to avoid these types of incident in the future.

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Share on Vk
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
https://wirelesswind.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/screen_display_1-1.jpg 1255 2048 Jason Pohl /wp-content/uploads/2017/04/wirelesswind-logob.png Jason Pohl2016-02-11 15:19:502017-06-10 16:06:35Dealing with extreme weather and wind gusts
Followon TwitterSubscribeto RSS Feed

Categories

  • Agriculture (1)
  • Construction (8)
  • Cranes (6)
  • Film Industry (1)
  • Images (1)
  • News (7)
  • Outdoor Events (11)
  • Weather (8)
  • Wind Power (7)

Latest posts

  • The Latest: Typhoon death toll in China rises to 12August 29, 2017 - 2:39 pm
  • Crane collapses onto apartment block at Wolli Creek; residents unable to return homeAugust 9, 2017 - 3:46 pm
  • High above KC’s changing skyline, crane operators build downtown’s revitalizationAugust 9, 2017 - 3:39 pm
  • Exploring the weather hazards behind 5 deadly, notorious plane crashesJuly 26, 2017 - 2:00 pm
  • Gale force winds cause accidents and powercutsJuly 26, 2017 - 12:40 pm

Tags

accidents construction cranes outdoor events safety wind-accidents

About Us

This website is owned and operated by the Bigfoot Crane Company Inc. As our wind safety business has grown over the past few years we realized the need to develop a stand-alone website and sales team to keep up with demand.

We offer NAVIS wireless anemometers and related products as well as qualified application and technical support.

We welcome calls and emails to review your wind speed/data needs and how we can work with you to provide highly effective solutions.

Contact Us

  • Write Us

  • 604-626-1777

  • 2170 Carpenter Street
    Abbotsford, BC V2T 6B4

© 2023 Wireless Wind - www.wirelesswind.com | Website by POHL Strategic Marketing
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Skype
  • Mail
Construction sector looks to cloud based solutions mobile app scoffold in wind Downtime disputes in the construction sector
Scroll to top