[jmacusa]

At this point there is a big problem in that the steel has been damaged and could collapse at any moment. The best hope would be to use steel cables to secure it somehow to the building, get a small ''lifting crane'' or derrick in place on the floor above where it's hanging and using cutting torches try to remove the damaged part of the boom and lower it down. This could have been avoided though and thats the damnable thing. There is a trade union, Operating Engineers&Riggers who install cranes and take them down, they do this work.. At the base of platform, where the bottom of the booms attaches are large bolts or ‘’pins’’ that secure the boom to the platform and the cables at the end of the boom (the wheel) are wound around a drum in the cab and much like a spool of thread, hydraulic gears run the drum forward and in reverse, rasing and lowering what ever it is the crane is lifting. Once the pins are removed and a ‘’guyline’ or guide line is attached to the boom to prevent it from swaying the operator simply runs the cable foward lowering the boom(hence the expression to ‘’lower the boom’’) slowly to the ground. It's how the crane is installed floor by floor in the construction process and how it's removed after. However, depending on the size of the crane and its weight, it's sometimes necessary to use a heavier ‘’lifting’’ or ‘’erecting crane’’ to do the job. This type of equipment is different than a ‘’derrick’’ which is a lighter type of machine. Judging from this crane it appears as if an experienced could have done the job in a few hours. I've seen done lots of times. It's not rocket science. The men who do this work are a union and they are very well paid by the hour, very well paid believe me.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Thanks for an insightful answer.

If you don't mind, perhaps you could answer further questions.

1. Without the big crane to lift it, how would they get "a small ''lifting crane'' or derrick in place on the floor above"? Elevator? Helicopter? Install a second crane?

2. How would they attach steel cables to the damaged boom? Crawl out onto it while wearing a safety harness?

Sounds like someone is gonna get really paid now!