D.C. orders emergency crane inspections

WASHINGTON - Emergency inspections started Friday on all cranes operating in the District after a fatal crane collapse in New York.

The first cranes to be inspected will be those that swing out over public sidewalks and roads, WTOP has learned.

The D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs is urging construction companies with cranes to call 202-442-9557 for inspections.

Right now, there are about 42 cranes operating in the city.

Over the past six months, the District has shut down two cranes for violations. One of those cranes was operating on K Street, the other on New York Avenue.

Because D.C. has height restrictions on its buildings, its cranes are not as tall as those in New York.

Michael Rupert, a spokesperson for the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, says most of the cranes in D.C. are anchored to a concrete foundation, as opposed to high-rise construction where they are not.

Rupert says he can't recall the last time a collapse occurred in the District.

In Virginia, the state Department of Labor and Industry says no additional action will be taken to inspect cranes.

In Maryland, the Division of Labor & Industry tells WTOP after the first crane collapse in New York City in March, the commissioner brought industry representatives, labor officials and safety professionals together to develop a response and to share information.

According to an official, the group is focused on issues related to crane operator certification, rigger training & certification and pre-lift safety requirements.

On March 15, seven people were killed when a steel support broke in New York City. The collapse in New York City Friday killed at least one person when the crane smashed into a 23-story apartment building before crashing on to the street.

(Copyright 2008 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)