Ohio Tree Company Under OSHA Investigation After Crane Tips, Damages Two Homes
Critical for any company running cranes on residential removals
Summary
Down to Earth Tree Service LLC of Olmsted Falls, Ohio is under OSHA investigation after a crane tipped during a residential tree removal in Bay Village, damaging two homes and taking down power lines. The company's owner said the ground gave way under the crane's stabilizers. The homeowner who hired the crew said her front wall and windows were pushed in when a stabilizer arm crashed into her house. No one was injured.
TSN Take
Ground failure under outriggers is one of the most common ways crane jobs go sideways. Cribbing and outrigger pads aren't optional — they're the difference between a clean pick and OSHA on your doorstep. Soft soil, recent rain, buried utilities, septic lines, and old fill all hide under suburban lawns. If you're running a crane in a backyard, the setup is the job. Slow down, pad up, and verify ground bearing before the first lift.
Why It Matters
One bad setup can damage multiple homes, take down power lines, and trigger an OSHA inspection that puts your whole operation under a microscope. Every crane operator and crew lead should treat outrigger setup as a non-negotiable checklist item.
Read the full story at News 5 Cleveland
Read Source ↗Operator Question
What's your standard for cribbing and ground bearing checks before a crane lift?