NYC Construction Work Suspended After Crane Accident

The MTA has suspended all work at one of its No. 7 Extension project sites after a crane collapsed on Tuesday night, killing one worker and injuring another.
NYC Construction Work Suspended After Crane Accident
Zachary Stieber
4/4/2012
Updated:
6/5/2012

NEW YORK—The MTA has suspended all work at one of its No. 7 Extension project sites after a crane collapsed on Tuesday night, killing one worker and injuring another.

New York City Department of Buildings investigators were joined by NYPD officers, OSHA personnel, and staff from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office on Wednesday at the worksite to explore the cause of the incident, which occurred at about 7:20 p.m. at site J, located between 33rd and 34th streets on the east side of 11th Avenue.

All cranes on all MTA Capital Construction sites will be inspected by order of MTA Capital Construction President Michael Horodniceanu.

The failed crane was last inspected on July 14, 2011. The next inspection, scheduled for Jan. 10, was delayed three months because the crane was in operation.

Christine Quinn, city council speaker, called for the MTA to enter a Memorandum of Understanding with the city, allowing the city to oversee work at all construction sites, including those operated by the MTA, suggesting the city’s safety rules are more rigorous.

“We at the MTA grieve for this loss and vow to do everything we can to ensure that everyone working on projects to better the lives of all New Yorkers can do so as safely as possible,” said the MTA in a release.

The MTA also said it will examine the speaker’s proposal.