More Details on Third-Party Inspections of
General Crane at Marlins Stadium

February 24, 2010

Yesterday we reported on an OSHA investigation into General Crane’s Linden 8752 tower crane formerly working on the Marlins stadium project in Miami, Florida.

The investigation revealed that the project’s general contractor, Hunt-Moss, ordered General Crane to dismantle the tower crane in December 2009. At the time of the OSHA site visit, the investigator found a sign posted on the crane by Hunt-Moss, dated 11/18/09, stating: “THIS CRANE HAS BEEN FOUND DEFECTIVE: DO NOT OPERATE THIS CRANE.”

OSHA also obtained results from multiple third-party safety inspections of General Crane’s Linden tower crane erected on the construction site.

A General Crane USA document dated November 30, 2009, addressed to Baker Concrete (a subcontractor on the Marlins project), discloses numerous “deficiencies and recommendations” cited by the third-party inspectors. Below is a list of some of the identified tower crane deficiencies.

• “Before placing the crane into service, the equipment owner will need to mount a load chart in the cab of the crane.”
• “Before placing the crane into service, the equipment owner will need to install a wind speed indicator in the cab of the crane.”
• “There are 2 missing mounting bolts for the AM80 jib section to the CM80 cathead. The missing bolts need to be installed before the crane is placed into service. The equipment owner's technician did not have 2 longer bolts at the time of inspection.”
• “Aeronautical lights are required for any lower crane over 150', or as required by FAA permit. The lights will need to be installed before placing the crane into service.”
• “D: One platform bolt is missing in the area between the jib and the counterdeck”
• “D: The fire extinguisher is discharged and must be replaced. ASME B30.3-1.17.5 and 3-3.4.6”
• “D: The main hoist wire rope sheave in the jib (section AM30) is corrugated and must be replaced. ASME B30.3-1.5.4”
• “D: The main hoist wire rope is not secured in the wedge socket properly. The live end of the rope is on the dead side of the socket.”

General Crane claimed in the document that “corrective actions” were taken to “satisfy the items on the report.” Click HERE to read the document in its entirety.

For a full re-cap on the events at the Marlins project, visit the General Crane Safety page

 

New Details Surface on General Crane’s
Marlins Stadium Tower Crane

February 23, 2010

Hunt-Moss, the general contractor for the Marlins Stadium construction project, ordered General Crane USA to dismantle its onsite tower crane in December, according to a newly-available OSHA inspection report.

The OSHA investigation, initiated on December 3, 2009, discovered third-party crane safety reports citing “deficiencies” in General Crane’s Linden 8752 tower crane, erected originally in mid-November 2009. Another third-party crane inspector reported welding failures that weakened the pins at the base of the crane.

When the Fort Lauderdale Area OSHA investigator arrived at the Marlins Stadium construction site on December 3, the investigator noted: “Hunt Moss prohibited Gulfstream Crane, LLC to operate the crane until a third party inspector certifies the crane.” The OSHA official also observed that “the Linden 8752 tower crane had a red tag posted by the General Contractor that read ‘DO NOT OPERATE THIS CRANE.’”

The OSHA investigator learned during the site visit that the tower crane was “pending to be dismantled as per Hunt Moss request.”

While conducting the inspection the investigator obtained a third-party crane inspection report by PIC Crane Safety Services, LLC. The report, according to the OSHA official, “indicated a series of deficiencies and recommendation to be performed on the crane before a certification is issued.”

Two other third-party crane inspectors were also brought in to examine General Crane’s Linden tower. One of the inspectors cited structural problems with pins at the tower crane base:

The northeast leg has been welded several times and the welds have failed. The high carbon content of the steel on both pin connections have been compromised by the welding resulting in the loss of the strength of the pins. Before the crane is placed into service, these critical pin connections need to be replaced with new pins and lock plates as designed.

During the process officials from Gulfstream Crane provided the OSHA inspector with a letter from crane manufacturer Linden Comansa America “authorizing General Crane to fix or replace any structural components of the Linden Comansa Tower cranes.” In December 2009, Linden Comansa America, LLC sued General Crane USA in Harris County, Texas court, alleging that General Crane had unlawfully “stolen” over $800,000 in tower crane parts.

As reported earlier by CraneWatchdog.com, General Crane dismantled the Marlins Stadium tower crane on December 8, 2009, and then quickly thereafter re-erected the crane on December 11. Upon returning to the construction site on December 14, the OSHA investigator noted that the crane was in operation. General Crane was able to “provide a copy of the certification from a third party inspector and a copy of the certificate of inspection of the crane pins from OC Laboratories, Inc.” The OSHA official subsequently closed the investigation.

However, the narrative involving General Crane’s Marlins stadium tower crane did not end there. A little over a month later, on January 20, 2010, General Crane again dismantled the Linden tower crane on the stadium construction site. At this time we are awaiting verification for the reason behind the second tear-down. To date, General Crane has not erected a new tower crane at the construction project, which is currently in full swing.

The ongoing chronology of General Crane’s tower crane issues at the Marlins stadium in Miami continues below. Also, a full copy of the OSHA inspection report is available HERE.

 

General Crane’s Marlins Stadium Tower Crane Disassembled Twice in 2 Months

January 28, 2010

During a two-month span at the new Marlins stadium construction project, from mid-November 2009 to mid-January, General Crane USA erected a tower crane (Nov. 12-13), then disassembled the crane (Dec. 8-9), re-erected the same crane (Dec. 11-12), and then most recently tore down the crane again (Jan. 20-21).

To date, no tower crane is standing on the project. The Marlins stadium webcam continues to provide photos of the construction every fifteen minutes.

Click on the image below for a picture timeline of General Crane’s tower at the Marlins ballpark.

For additional pictures of the stadium crane, click on the photo below.

General Crane disclosed in its ongoing bankruptcy case that as of December 8, 2009 the company was owed nearly $115,000 from two contractors, MCO Construction & Services, Inc. and Colasanti Specialty Services, Inc., for worked performed on the stadium.

We will continue to keep viewers apprised of any breaking news or information on General Crane’s involvement at the Marlins stadium job.

 

General Crane’s Stadium Tower Crane
Nears Dismantlement

January 21, 2010 (3:07pm)

Snapshots taken this afternoon by the Marlins stadium webcam show that General Crane’s tower crane on the site is almost completely disassembled. As first reported on this site, General Crane began dismantling yesterday. To date, we have not yet confirmed the reason for bringing down the crane in the early stages of the construction project.

Yesterday’s Image: January 20, 2010, 11:30AM

Today’s Image: January 21, 2010, 1:30PM

According to General Crane’s December 30 filing of bankruptcy schedules, the company was hired to work on the project by at least two construction firms: MCO Construction & Services, Inc. and Colasanti Specialty Services, Inc.

This site will provide a more detailed update, with additional pictures, regarding the Marlins Stadium situation in the coming days.

If you would like to share with us any information on General Crane’s involvement in the Marlins Stadium project send your emails to contactus@cranewatchdog.com or call at 1-877-272-4514.

 

Breaking News: General Crane Dismantling Tower Crane
on Marlins Stadium Project

January 20, 2010 (2:54pm)

According to multiple sources on the ground, General Crane USA is currently disassembling its tower crane on the Florida Marlins new baseball stadium construction project.

According to the Marlins’ website, the park is scheduled to be completed by Opening Day 2012.

The team’s site provides a ballpark webcam providing “high-speed, Multi-Megapixel images” updated every fifteen minutes throughout the day. The snapshots are also archived so viewers can see construction progress for the duration of the project. Click on the stadium picture below to track General Crane dismantling the tower.

The General Crane tower is the blue crane located on the right side of the image. At this time, we do not know what led to the decision to take down General Crane’s tower.

The long-planned Marlins ballpark broke ground this year on July 18. The project, partly financed with public money, is managed by a joint venture between Hunt Construction Group and Moss & Associates.