The crane that killed me

Posted By Uncle Jimbo

Just in case it happens here is the crane that killed me before if falls on me squashing me flat. The wankers building condos approx. 40 ft. from where I sleep and work decided they needed a 100 ft. tall crane w/ 40 tons of concrete counterweights, and that it needed to be right across from me. So sue the dog shite out of them if they get drunk this afternoon and drop their toy on my hooch.

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Comments

[Lands’nGrooves]

Congratulations UJ, you’ve only managed to besmirch the reputations of crane operators, engineers, construction company owners, etc. Yes, that’s what people do who work in the construction industry, get drunk at lunch. Come on already. This type of logic is used to drag our troops thru the mud via the Abu Ghraib prison incident.

How many cranes are/have been operating in the U.S., hell the world, for how many years, on how many jobs, without any problems?

Why not just marvel at the abilities of the people who operate or build such things rather than make disparaging remarks about them?

Sincerely,

tim

[Allan]

And be grateful you live in the People's Republic of Wisconsin (you are in Madison, right?) where OSHA rules and government regulations on use of cranes are enforced. And, more likely than not, the safety rules are monitored by the union, to which the crane operator and those who secured the crane belong.

[Deltabravo]

Tim... lighten up already, pal!

Allan, I envy your world where federal regulations and government nannies make any difference when confronted with human nature and inertia and laziness and shortcuts. Beam me up there sometime for a visit. What color are the butterflies and flowers there?

UJ, "dang!" is right. You are too funny. Hope they move the crane to someone else's neighborhood soon. We'd miss you lots if it fell on your cute lil' head.

[Cynic]

Ah, that looming feeling of dread.
In fact there is an entire web page devoted to crane accidents. (http://www.craneaccidents.com/) It reports there have been 134 accidents worldwide this year with 67 deaths to date.
Right across the street, eh? Meh. :)

[The Wolf]

Just think Jimbo, now you can get that piano you've always wanted lifted right into your pad.

And while they're at it, lift that new bar in place...

-Wolf

[Igor]

Uncle Jimbo, y'all are truly paranoid...

The industry has a 5:1 safety factor on every crane in the US, some overseas governments have an even bigger safety factor. I know whereof I speak, having designed some force-measurement equipment for them.

These cranes are used all the time, their operational record is very good. Having said that, it's usually human error, sloppiness, greed, or circumstances TOTALLY beyond the crane manufacturer's control that causes them to Fall Down Go Boom.

If you're so worried about safety, DON'T DRIVE your car - you have a *much* greater chance of getting injured or killed. How about flying? Same story. I could go on ad nauseum...

Take a deep breath and relax, 'k? You have a better chance of being killed by a Follower of Allah..........

Igor

[Lands’nGrooves]

Deltabravo,

Yea, you’re right. I should only comment when someone in uniform is thrown under the bus, I forgot everyone else is fair game.

BTW, throw any puppies off a cliff lately? Hey, lighten up… pal.

[Uncle Jimbo]

Wow a full-fledged crane controversy, cool.

I would agree that the building trades do amazing things that I don't even believe, like erecting a 100 ft. monstrosity outside my bedroom window before I even got up.

But they did tip one pretty good sized crane in the hole they dug to put the condos on, so I will reserve my paranoia and just figure odds are way against another tip. The other one slid off its dirt perch about half way and it took three other cranes to jack it out of there. I actually have video of it somewhere that I never posted because they didn't knock it over.

Deep breaths Tim, it was me who was getting drunk this afternoon any way, besmirching (or confirming) the stories about B5 and new media correspondents.

Cordially,

Uncle J

[Deltabravo]

Jimbo, I completely understand. If that were outside my window, I'd be certain that a 5:1 crane safety factor would mean that I'd get the one crane out of five that would fall on ME personally.

As for getting drunk in the afternoon, when B5 and the new media grow up, they can be like old media and start in the morning, no? Have one for me, Jimbo!

[Haole_Wahine]

Forget the crane controversy.

Where exactly do we sign up for the law suit proceeds?

The rest of us need to drink this afternoon, too.

[Lands’nGrooves]

Ah yes, the ole ‘he who disagrees with me must be overreacting’ shtick. I’m cool with that, no problemo.
(Note to self, be more like UJ when you don’t agree with something).

“So sue the dog shite out of them if they get drunk this afternoon…”, “it was me who was getting drunk this afternoon any way”

Now I see my error.

Everyone have a good weekend, sincerely. I’m gonn’a go tip a few myself, lighten up and try catching up to ya’ UJ on the blood alcohol content.

Hugs & Kisses.

[vet66]

Jim;

Sleep with one eye open. I am sure all those required safety inspections were conducted just like the ones that grounded most of our fleet of aircaft recently or inspected that bridge in the twin cities a couple of years ago.

I'm cure no inspectors took an EQ on the Friday before Mother's Day. Speaking of which, Happy Mom's Day to all.

[tankerbabelc]

Well dang it! I was at work all day and couldn't watch th video of the crane I've been hearing about for days. Now it's "not available". What???

[Invernessie]

Hmmm...wasn't there a recent crane collapse in NYC that took out an apartment building?

[defendusa]

Wow. Somebody must have arisen on the wrong side of the bed...anybody who has met UJ, surely knows the sly sense of humor mixed with a bit of truth, is just classic. Mmm, Dang. What that they say? Don't criticize a man until you've seen the crane tip over? Oops, no. Uh, don't criticize Uncle Jimbo until you've slept in his bed...yeah, that's it!! :)Of course, I do mean sleep as in snooze.)

[GySgtDad]

Without impugning the crane industry, this precise failure has, in fact, occurred. A Microsoftie was sleeping in his condo in Bellevue, WA a couple of years ago when the crane across the street collapsed & fell on his building. The guy died. Quite a story in the Seattle area, as there are many cranes thereabout these days.