Crane Mechanic Escapes Jail Time for Accident that Killed Two
It’s been several years since the crane repaired by Tibor Varganyi collapsed on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, killing two workers. But he was finally sentenced this week to a year of community service, much to the outrage of the victims’ family members. His boss, who he testified against, was acquitted, escaping all punishment.
The crane accident occurred in May 2008. Varganyi admitted to arranging repair on the crane that was more concerned about the bottom line than the ultimate safety. Authorities called the job a “penny pinching, shoddy” repair job.
Both Varganyi and his the crane owner James Lomma were charged with manslaughter. In a plea agreement, Varganyi escaped jail time by testifying against Lomma. Lomma, however, escaped punishment.
Both men admit the crane repair was done in an effort to save time and money, with little thought given to safety.
The 200 foot crane came toppling down just one month after the repair. Just two months prior another crane in Manhattan had collapsed, killing seven.
Cranes are dangerous simply because of their size. But when they are not maintained properly, they become an accident waiting to happen. Because of this, employers are required to adhere to strict standards when working with cranes and when repairing them.
According to OSHA, failure to inspect, improper usage, and poor maintenance can all increase the chances of a crane accident. Continue reading
Equipment Owner Acquitted in Fatal 2008 Crane Accident
James Lomma was acquitted last week by State Supreme Court Justice Daniel P. Conviser on charges including manslaughter for his alleged role in a deadly crane accident. Lomma is the owner of the crane that collapsed in 2008, killing two construction workers. Prosecutors alleged that he knowingly took a shortcut in getting the crane repaired, putting everyone at a substantial risk.
Though the judge did not expand on his reasons for the acquittal, Lomma’s defense attorneys argued that repair work done on the crane was not to blame for the accident.
The accident happened as the crane began work on the 14th floor of what was going to be a 32-story building. As the crane lifted a load, “the top portions came off,” hitting a building across the street before falling.
Crane operator Donald C. Leo was killed when the crane nearly decapitated him. Twenty-seven year old Ramadan Kurtaj was also killed. Continue reading
New training rule may increase New York construction accidents
In the coming weeks, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will make a decision that could potentially increase the occurrence of construction accidents in New York City. Under a proposed new rule, construction workers could become licensed to operate giant tower cranes without any prior experience in New York City.
Under the current regulations, tower crane operators must operate cranes in the city as an apprentice for at least three years prior to being approved for a license. The proposed new rule eliminates that requirement, and simply states that crane operators must have two years of prior apprenticeship experience in any “urban area of comparable density.” Continue reading
One of Several Lawsuits in 2008 Crane Accident Settled
In March 2008, a crane accident killed seven people and injured several others on East 51st Street. Several lawsuits resulted, the first of which was settled a few weeks ago. Though the specifics are not yet being released, a judge has ordered that the details be made public to help settle the remaining cases.
Seven people were killed in the crane accident-six construction workers on the site and a tourist. Twenty-four were injured and 18 homes were evacuated, when the crane released a six-ton steel collar. The collar came loose when a support strap snapped, according to the NY Daily News. When the collar fell from the crane, it flattened a brownstone, causing local evacuations and a significant number of injuries.
This crane accident shows just how dangerous construction sites can be and why the highest in safety standards must be adhered to. Continue reading