The Manhattan Crane Collapse of 2008: What Went Wrong and What Can We Learn?
On March 15, 2008, a massive tower crane collapsed at a construction site in Manhattan, killing seven people and injuring 24 others. It was one of the worst construction accidents in New York City’s recent history, and it raised serious questions about the safety and regulation of cranes in the city. This article will provide some background on the project and the crane company involved, describe the collapse and its causes, and discuss some of the lessons learned from this tragedy.
Background on the Project and the Crane Company
The project at 303 East 51st Street was a 44-story condominium building that was being developed by Kennelly Development Company and HFZ Capital Group. The architect was Garrett Gourlay Architect, and the general contractor was Reliance Construction Group. The steel fabricator was DCM Erectors, and the erector was East Coast Cranes & Rigging. ¹²
The crane used for the project was a luffing-jib tower crane manufactured by Favco, an Australian company. The crane was owned by New York Crane & Equipment, one of the largest crane companies in the city. The crane operator was Wayne Bleidner, a veteran with 30 years of experience. ³⁴
The Collapse and Its Causes
The collapse occurred around 2:20 p.m. on a Saturday, when workers were attaching a new steel collar to anchor the crane to the building at the 18th floor. The collar was suspended by four polyester slings that were wrapped around the crane mast. As the workers were tightening the bolts to secure the collar, one of the slings snapped, causing the collar to drop and hit another collar at the ninth floor. This dislodged two lower collars that were already attached to the building, leaving the crane without any lateral support. The crane then toppled over, crashing into several nearby buildings and crushing a four-story townhouse at 305 East 50th Street. ⁵⁶
The investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) found that the main cause of the collapse was the failure of the polyester slings, which were overloaded and not suitable for lifting heavy loads. The slings had a rated capacity of 12 tons each, but they were lifting a collar that weighed 23 tons. Moreover, the slings were not properly protected from sharp edges on the collar, which could have caused abrasion and weakening. The OSHA report also stated that the workers did not follow the manufacturer’s instructions for lifting the collar, which required eight slings instead of four. ⁷
The investigation also revealed several other factors that contributed to the collapse, such as:
- The lack of proper inspection and maintenance of the crane and its components
- The lack of adequate training and supervision of the workers
- The lack of communication and coordination among the parties involved in the project
- The lack of enforcement and oversight by the city’s Department of Buildings (DOB), which had issued 13 citations for safety violations at the site before the collapse ⁸
Lessons Learned
The crane collapse exposed many flaws and gaps in the city’s construction industry and regulatory system. It also sparked public outrage and calls for reform. In response, several actions were taken to improve crane safety and prevent similar accidents in the future, such as:
- The creation of a new Crane Safety Unit within DOB, with more inspectors and engineers
- The adoption of new rules and standards for crane design, operation, inspection, and maintenance
- The implementation of stricter licensing and training requirements for crane operators and riggers
- The establishment of a Crane Safety Advisory Committee to provide recommendations and guidance
- The prosecution of several individuals involved in the collapse, including James Lomma, the owner of New York Crane & Equipment; William Rapetti, the master rigger; Edward Marquette, a DOB inspector; Tibor Varganyi, an engineer; John Galasso, an owner of East Coast Cranes & Rigging; Wayne Bleidner’s estate; Reliance Construction Group; DCM Erectors; Kennelly Development Company; HFZ Capital Group; Garrett Gourlay Architect; Favco; New York Crane & Equipment; East Coast Cranes & Rigging; Rapetti Rigging Services; J.F. Lomma Inc.; Nu-Way Crane Service Inc.; Joy Contractors Inc.; Sorbara Construction Corp.; Laquila Group Inc.; RCG Group Inc.; DCM Erectors Inc.; Cross Country Construction LLC; T.F. Nugent Inc.; and Safeway Environmental Corp. Some of these cases resulted in settlements, acquittals, or dismissals, while others are still pending.
The crane collapse of 2008 was a tragic and preventable event that highlighted the need for more vigilance and accountability in the construction industry. It also served as a wake-up call for the city and the public to demand higher standards and better practices for crane safety. While some progress has been made since then, there is still room for improvement and learning from this disaster.
Further Reading
If you want to learn more about the crane collapse of 2008, you can check out these sources:
- [Investigation of the March 15, 2008 Fatal Tower Crane Collapse at 303 East 51st Street, New York, NY](https://www.osha.gov/construction/engineering/2008-09) — The official OSHA report on the collapse
- [Crane Topples in Manhattan, Killing at Least 4 People](https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/15/nyregion/15cnd-crane.html) — The New York Times article on the day of the collapse
- [5 Major Crane Collapses & Their Resulting Settlements](https://www.oreskylaw.com/5-major-crane-collapses-their-resulting-settlements/) — A summary of some of the legal outcomes of the collapse
- [303 East 51st Street](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/303_East_51st_Street) — The Wikipedia page on the building where the collapse occurred
- [Crane Collapse in Manhattan Kills 7](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6Yl0w3Qf1g) — A video report by CBS News on the collapse
- [Crane Collapse NYC](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y1a7v0Q1k0) — A video compilation of footage and interviews on the collapse
¹: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/303_East_51st_Street
²: https://www.slcearch.com/project/halcyon-303-east-51st/
³: https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/15/nyregion/15cnd-crane.html
⁴: https://www.oreskylaw.com/5-major-crane-collapses-their-resulting-settlements/
⁵: https://www.osha.gov/construction/engineering/2008-09
⁶: https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/15/nyregion/15cnd-crane.html
⁷: https://www.osha.gov/construction/engineering/2008-09
⁸: https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/15/nyregion/15cnd-crane.html
: https://therealdeal.com/issues_articles/the-crane-collapse-fallout/
: https://www.oreskylaw.com/5-major-crane-collapses-their-resulting-settlements/
(1) Investigation of the March 15, 2008 Fatal Tower Crane Collapse at 303 …. https://www.osha.gov/construction/engineering/2008-09.
(2) Crane Topples in Manhattan, Killing at Least 4 People. https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/15/nyregion/15cnd-crane.html.
(3) 5 Major Crane Collapses & Their Resulting Settlements. https://www.oreskylaw.com/5-major-crane-collapses-their-resulting-settlements/.
(4) 303 East 51st Street — Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/303_East_51st_Street.
(5) Halcyon — SLCE Architects. https://www.slcearch.com/project/halcyon-303-east-51st/.
(6) 303 East 51st St. in East Flatbush — StreetEasy. https://streeteasy.com/building/303-east-51-street-brooklyn.
(7) E. 51st St. crane collapse site still lacks permit — The Real Deal. https://therealdeal.com/2011/10/31/turtle-bay-crane-collapse-site-at-303-east-51st-street-owned-by-hfz-capital-group-ziel-feldman-is-still-without-a-permit/.
(8) East 51st Street Mobility Project | AustinTexas.gov. https://www.austintexas.gov/department/east-51st-street-mobility-project.
