NYC still searching for cause of crane collapse

NEW YORK (AP) -- Work remained suspended Thursday at the site of New York City's latest crane collapse as engineers try to determine what caused the equipment to fall.

The Department of Buildings said investigators were still at the construction site in the borough of Queens a day after the collapse injured seven construction workers.

The crane's 170-foot-long boom fell Wednesday afternoon onto metal scaffolding and the wooden framework that made up the first floor of what will be a 25-story apartment building. None of the workers' injuries are life-threatening.

The equipment was leased from New York Crane and Equipment Corp. by a subcontractor for TF Cornerstone, the project's main contractor. The company did not respond to a call seeking information on the project.

Construction cranes have been a source of safety concerns since two giant rigs collapsed in Manhattan in 2008, killing a total of nine people. One of those was owned by New York Crane. Owner James Lomma was tried and acquitted on manslaughter charges stemming from that incident, which killed two workers.

The Empire State Development Corp., which is overseeing the project, said work on the tower started in November. It is the last residential building at the Queens West development, located behind the landmark neon "Pepsi-Cola" sign near the East River waterfront. The building is slated to be completed in early 2014 but city officials could not say how long work will be shut down.

Engineers will examine the history of the crane involved in Wednesday's collapse as part of the investigation, including the equipment's maintenance and operation records.

The 2008 accidents led to new safety measures, including hiring more inspectors and expanding training requirements and inspection checklists.