On April 27, 2019, tragedy struck when a tower crane crashed into busy South Lake Union visitors, killing our daughter, Sarah Pantip Wong, and three others. This devastating incident was utterly preventable. Authorities highlighted vital steps that ought to have been taken to keep away from such a catastrophe.
Tower cranes function at vital heights, usually above busy streets and dense city housing and workplaces. A regulatory hole exists that exposes our society to potential dangers as tower cranes tower over busy thoroughfares, houses, leisure areas, cultural facilities and workplace buildings.
To reduce these dangers and enhance public and employee security, State Senator Noel Body and State Consultant Julia Reed have launched laws to stop future crane disasters and save lives. Home Invoice 2022 handed the Home of Representatives on February 9 and moved to the Senate for consideration.
The invoice accommodates three vital parts geared toward filling the regulatory gaps:
1. Designation of a piece zone throughout crane meeting, disassembly and reconfiguration that minimizes dangers to the general public and establishes a notification course of for close by companies and residents.
2. Establishing an approval course of that ensures all safety protocols and acceptable personnel are in place for ongoing compliance with safety requirements.
3. Including legal penalties to discourage shortcuts on the expense of public security.
If these frequent sense measures have been in place on that fateful day, Sarah would have graduated from Seattle Pacific College and been on her method to pursuing her dream profession as a pediatric nurse.
All of us have the proper to work, store, journey on the streets, get residence safely and be secure in our houses. With out correct pointers, the protection of our communities is in danger. That is what the tower crane security invoice is all about.
State lawmakers should act rapidly to guard motorists, pedestrians, residents and staff. Seattle leads the nation within the variety of building cranes with a reported 45 cranes.
We thank Rep. Reed to champion HB 2022 and the overwhelming majority of Home lawmakers who assist sensible and affordable tower crane reforms. We urge the Senate to work with Senator Body to rapidly go the invoice for Governor Jay Inslee to signal into legislation.
We’re additionally asking the general public to get entangled and demand from their leaders on frequent sense reforms to create a safer setting for all whereas permitting Washington’s cities to thrive and develop. Let’s apply the teachings realized from the 2019 tragedy and create a safer Washington for all.
Let no household endure this sort of ache. Let no household fear about sending their youngster to school in a metropolis with quite a few tower cranes. Assist assist complete tower crane security.