NYC Enacts New Safety Measures After Fatal Crane Collapse

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced a lowering of the wind-speed threshold at which cranes and other construction equipment must be shut down following the deadly collapse of a crawler crane last week.

The new rules will require crawler cranes to stop operating and go into safety mode when there is a forecast for steady wind speeds of 20 miles per hour or higher or gusts of at least 30 miles per hour and when actual readings reach those levels. The previous rules were for wind speeds at 30 miles and hour or 40-mile-per-hour gusts.

[VIDEO] Watch as a 565-ft. Crane Collapses onto a Lower Manhattan Street

The temporary rules went into effect Monday February 8. A task force will be convened to find long-term restrictions within the next 90 days. 

(more on the new NCY crane wind safety rules...)