Crane collapses yards from Cranes Today conference

The Potain luffer appears to have been lifting a concrete bucket at the time of the collapse. The jib had fallen, and buckled over the edge of the building on which it was working. The crane was working with three others Potain towers, on a mixed-use twin tower project for lead contractor Acico (Aerated Concrete Industries) of Kuwait. Three of the cranes, including that involved in the accident, are external climbing luffing jibs. A fourth, free standing saddle jib crane is also at work on the site.

When news of the accident broke, delegates were meeting at Cranes Today’s Middle East Cranes conference, a couple of blocks along Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. A group of local experts spoke to the conference, to discuss ways to improve discussion of safety in the region. On the same morning, a contractors’ group had announced that it would be looking at the issue. Both groups, along with many other delegates, said that they planned to work together on safety issues.