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The luffing jib of a crawler crane came down onto the steel framework of a new office block going up in Charlottesville, Virginia yesterday, injuring a construction worker on the upper floors of the building.
The jib came down onto the building
According to the emergency services the jib struck the man and he suffered a compound fracture to his leg but was responsive during the rescue - which was achieved by using a fire ladder - and is expected to make a full recovery.
The crane itself remained perfectly stable
The crane, which appears to be a Manitowoc from the Buckner heavy lift fleet, remained perfectly stable, but it looks as though the jib pendant cables or retaining pins failed, allowing the jib to drop.
Representatives from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating the cause of the incident, while the city of Charlottesville has issued a stop work order on the construction project until a structural engineer evaluates and reports on the damage to the structure.
