I was later informed that this configuration is called a friction base, but to this day have not been able to find any manufacturers’ information on such a design. This was engineered by a professional engineer and these drawings had to go to NYC Department of Buildings cranes and derricks unit for approval.
New York City put out to tender a bid to have slings checked which were part of this accident. But the slings didn’t have to be the end to it: if the base was actually bolted down I wonder if the outcome would have been different.
Terence T Strobel Ironworkers Local 40 NYC
