Five people died in December when a construction lift collapsed 20 meters in Sundbyberg.
Photo: MAGNUS LEJHALL
Five construction workers died when a construction lift plunged twenty meters to the ground in Sundbyberg.
After the accident on December 11, the then elevator fitter ABC Bygghissar was fired. What went wrong, and who is to blame, is not yet clear, but according to the manufacturer Alimak, two sections were not properly bolted.
During Friday, work began on getting a new lift up – of the same model as before – on the construction of Ursvik’s tower. The assembly is done by Cramo.
– It is an extra responsible assignment, we understand that. It is necessary to approach the assignment with respect and humility because everyone is so strongly affected by what has happened, says communications manager Ola Rantatalo.
A modest pile of withered flowers, burned-out grave candles, roses frozen to the ice on the ground remain at the memorial site for the five builders who died.
Photo: MAGNUS LEJHALL
About 30 workers are on site during Friday and work in the lower buildings.
Several people we meet answer in broken English that they were not working on the construction site at the time of the accident.
– This is how it is in the construction industry, people always die, says a construction worker from Hungary who works with roof work.
– I feel safe here, says a colleague who has worked here for just over two weeks.
In the taller building, which will have 14 floors, construction is still at a standstill.
– Right now we are working a lot on the mental part on site, says on-site work manager Jerker Danarp at the main contractor Andersson Company.
The new construction lift must be mounted on the same building as the previous lift.
Photo: MAGNUS LEJHALL
The elevator model has been on the market for the past 20 years.
– We do about 500 of this type of installation every year, so we feel confident in setting up safe lifts, says Samuel Alteborg, CEO of Cramo.
During Friday, the first shipments of material arrived.
Cramo will have both its own staff and hired specialists on site.
– We have had a broad discussion with the manufacturer and gone through all conceivable scenarios regarding this with them and our experts. If this model is correctly installed and assembled, there are a number of different safety mechanisms that prevent a serious accident from occurring. So it is clear that something extraordinary has happened, says Samuel Alteborg.
The accident is being investigated from several sources, including the police, the National Accident Commission and the Work Environment Agency.
Photo: MAGNUS LEJHALL/TT / TT NEWS AGENCY
Unlike before, an independent inspection will be made of each new rise of the lift, as construction progresses upwards.
– The controls are in addition to the current regulation. We have great confidence that Cramo will install a completely safe elevator, says Patrik Toresäter, CEO of the responsible contractor Andersson Company.
Expressen has applied for the former elevator fitter ABC bygghissar and the CEO of the elevator manufacturer Alimak.
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