Crane that collapsed in Halifax had turntable problems, documents show
By The Canadian Press
Equipment
The crane collapsed Sept. 7, prompting a major clean up effort. PHOTO: Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal
HALIFAX—An inspection of a construction crane that collapsed in Halifax during a storm in September revealed it wasn’t working properly four months earlier.
Citing government documents, Global News says the tower crane — owned by Lead Structural Framework Ltd. — was modified in May and June of 2019 after a malfunction.
A report prepared by BMR Structural Engineering says the turntable of the crane malfunctioned in May 2019 and a so-called top kit was replaced on the crane’s mast.
The document confirms the crane was certified by an engineer in June and the work site was visited by a Department of Labour officer before post-tropical storm Dorian slammed into the port city on Sept. 7.
However, the document — obtained under freedom of information legislation — does not explain why the hybrid crane collapsed because the findings were almost entirely redacted.
As a result, it remains unclear whether the malfunction had anything to do with the collapse.
