NYC Gives Hells Kitchen Crane Fire Firm $25k Fine For Its Actions
New York City has reportedly issued a citation to a construction contractor following a harrowing incident in Hell’s Kitchen over the summer when a crane caught fire and collapsed, resulting in injuries to at least a dozen people.
According to an investigation by CBS New York, records indicate that Monadnock Construction may face penalties of up to $25,000 due to the citation. City building inspectors allege that Monadnock failed to adequately secure the entire construction site.
The incident occurred on July 26 when a fire erupted in the cabin of a large 180-foot crane at Monadnock’s construction site on 10th Avenue in the city, near Hudson Yards. The five-alarm fire led to the collapse and detachment of the crane’s arm, which plummeted 40 stories while attempting to lift 16 tons of concrete.
At least 12 individuals, including three firefighters, sustained injuries as a result of the collapse. A 59-year-old woman among the nine civilians injured during the incident has filed a lawsuit, claiming that debris fell onto her vehicle.
Following the crane’s collapse, the New York City Department of Buildings initiated an investigation, and a preliminary examination suggested that the fire was ignited by a hydraulic fluid leak. The flames subsequently burned through a cable supporting the crane’s arm, leading to its fall.
Additional reports revealed that the crane’s operator had his license suspended for eight months after a coworker’s death in a 2008 workplace accident. He faced allegations of tampering with safety equipment.
The owners of the crane itself, New York Crane and Equipment Corp., had previously been associated with a fatal crane collapse in New York City in 2008, resulting in the deaths of two workers. James Lomma, the company’s owner, was acquitted of second-degree manslaughter charges related to the incident in 2012 but was required to pay $35 million in civil damages to the victims’ families.
The 2023 crane collapse has been categorized as an accident, with investigators finding no evidence of criminal activity.
Post Comment