Crane Collapse

[RFreund]

http://news.yahoo.com/nyc-crane-collapses-7-people-hurt-3-seriously-204056148.html

I couldn't help but notice that construction workers in NY have an odd sense for the strength of plaster...

"The crane cut down the framework of the building "like a hot knife in butter," White said, because there was no plaster on it yet."

Unless plaster means masonry in New York???

EIT

http://www.HowToEngineer.com

 

[JStephen]

I noticed that quote myself.

 

[strucguy]

I think they were referring to concrete.

 

[chicopee]

So what caused the collapse? After all I understand that NYC has stringent requirements for mobile crane setups.

 

[steellion]

In fairness, "plaster" was not part of the quote. Reports on structural issues by non-technical journalists are notorious for these types of mistakes.

What is going on with cranes in NYC (besides proven widespread corruption in the crane inspection department)?

 

[boo1]

To many phantom inspectors, riggers and oilmen

 

[Debaser]

@ strucguy

'I think they were referring to concrete.'

Don't some of you colonials colloquially refer to concrete as 'mud'? So the sentence could have been even worse;

'The crane cut down the framework of the building "like a hot knife in butter," White said, because there was no mud on it yet.'

 

[JStephen]

"...The operator of a crane that collapsed at a New York City construction site was trying to lift a load more than twice as heavy as the crane's capacity... Buildings Commissioner Robert Limandri also said Geer couldn't see what was being lifted by the crane..."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/11/queens-crane-collapse-city-suspends-license_n_2456246.html