SPECIAL FOLLOW UP

Feedback on the Q1 2021 Cover Image

Contributed by The Editor

In the Q1 2021 issue of Lifting Matters – Crush Incidents; Preventing and Minimising the Risks, a cover photo was used from a job completed by Universal Cranes. Some concerned readers contacted us about this photo to share their feedback, so we wanted to address these concerns directly.

The cover image showed a 220t Grove GMK5220 lifting a demountable containerbuilding module on a job at Roma St in Brisbane. In the image, the outrigger foot is shown without a pad underneath.

This is not standard practice and may appear unsafe in isolation without some more information about the job. Therefore we would like to provide some context to alleviate concerns.

The crane was situated on a suspended slab with a column directly underneath the outrigger. The primary purpose of an outrigger pad is to distribute the load over a greater area. In this circumstance, engineers determined it was more appropriate to have the outrigger foot directly on the concrete in order to concentrate the load into the column underneath. If an outrigger pad was used the load would have been distributed into the surrounding suspended slab which would be a less desirable load path for the underlying structure. Engineers, with the help of surveyors, clearly marked the ground of the site to show where the crane could safely drive and outriggers could safely be placed.

Despite the practice being safe, Lifting Matters would like to apologise for any misleading impressions this may have caused. We were really thrilled with all the feedback we received. At the end of the day, we are here to start conversations about safety in our industry, so we were really encouraged that our readers directly engaged with us with their concerns.