27.08.2012
Suicide mission?
We have received a photograph today that showing a very new looking machine at work on a bridge.
The the mid range truck mounted lift is demonstrating its impressive below ground level reach, but right over what looks like a busy road and at a height that looks certain to catch all but the lowest of passing traffic.
Taken in Germany, the camera angle may have distorted the facts a little? But it is hard to think that this is anything other than a Death Wish, if not a suicide mission.
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Some form of traffic game? can this be real?
Oh and the machine? It looks like a new 46 metre Ruthmann T460 surely the operator knows something we don't?
Dear Mr Editor,
Thank you for publishing this Photo, as it is a perfect example of someone not performing an elementary Risk Assessment before putting down the Outriggers and Operating the Hydraulics. All they had to do was ask themselves ' What I f' ( My MEWP swings into the Carriageway of the Road) and in the process, not only imperilled the Men on the Inspection Platform.
But
Also put at risk all other Road Users, for there is nothing to stop the Vertical Boom of this MEWP from being swung into the path of passing Traffic, in particular any Bus full of School children just returning from Summer Holidays.
The Camera Lens for-shortening the Focal Distance is BS, as the Vertical Boom can be seen to be alongside the Concrete Bridge Pillar and only 3 metres or so from Passing Traffic. In the event of Triggering off a Multiple Fatality Incident, this kind of negligent behaviour would attract Criminal Charges in the UK.
Kind Regards
Mike Ponsonby BA
Tmayes
Even if the man basket was no where near to the carriageway some traffic management on the hard shoulder wouldn't have gone a miss??
Ruthmann Marketing
Dear Vertikal,
short note: It was the camera angle that has created this look. The platform was not at all close to the road. The man or machine were never in any danger!
Long note:
We have seen this report and do understand where you are coming from with this article. We took this picture in order to demonstrate the new Ruthmann T460s fantastic ability to work below ground level and for bridge inspection work but it never dawned on us that it would be taken the way you have. We have learned much from this and can now see how it looks, in reality the platform was nowhere near the carriageway of the road and the man or machine were never in any danger.
As Ruthmann we would not want to send out the wrong message and would always implore our customers and their customers to use machines wisely and not to take stupid risks. So while we can see now that this photo looks bad and as a result of that should probably never have been used.
We appreciate the point of the article but would also very much appreciate it if you could point out that it is the camera that has created this by foreshortening the focal length and that in reality the platform was not at all close to the road.
Many thanks