Crane collapses, sending one worker on a 75-foot fall

SUPERIOR, Wis. - A massive, century-old bridge crane being prepared for demolition collapsed prematurely Thursday at an industrial site on the Superior waterfront causing one worker to fall about 75 feet and another to be rescued while he dangled from his safety harness.
Both men apparently had only minor injuries.
The accident happened at the Graymont lime plant at about 3:45 p.m. as two demolition workers were up on the crane preparing stress points to ensure it collapsed properly, said Superior Deputy Police Chief Matt Markon. The crane was set to be demolished on Sunday.
The workers had just cut a copper bus bar, part of the electrical service to the crane, when the structure collapsed, authorities said.
Superior Fire Chief Steve Panger said firefighters rescued one worker who was dangling from a lift by his safety harness. A second man who had been up on a separate lift was already on the ground by the time firefighters arrived. Markon said the man fell an estimated 75 feet when the bridge collapsed.
Both men were conscious and walking around, Panger said, and they were taken to St. Luke’s hospital for evaluation.
The Graymont plant brings in limestone by freighter from quarries in Michigan and processes it into lime products. The bridge crane had been used to pick up raw material on the site and transport it to processing kilns.