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 completely preventable. Authorities highlighted essential steps that ought to have been taken to keep away from such a disaster.
Tower cranes function at vital heights, typically over bustling streets and dense city residences and workplaces. A regulatory hole exists that exposes our communities to potential dangers as tower cranes loom over busy thoroughfares, houses, leisure areas, cultural facilities, and workplace buildings.
To attenuate these dangers and improve public and employee security, state Sen. Noel Body and state Rep. Julia Reed have launched laws to forestall future crane disasters and save lives. Home Invoice 2022 handed within the Home of Representatives Feb. 9 and moved to the Senate for consideration.
The invoice consists of three essential parts that purpose to fill within the regulatory gaps:
1. Designating 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 a allowing course of that ensures all security protocols and applicable personnel are in place for ongoing compliance with security requirements.
3. Including felony penalties to discourage shortcuts on the expense of public security.
If these commonsense measures had been in place on that fateful day, Sarah would have graduated from Seattle Pacific College and been on her approach to pursuing her dream profession as a pediatric nurse.
All of us have the correct to work, store, journey our streets, come house safely, and be safe in our houses. With out correct tips, the protection of our communities is in danger. That is what the tower crane security invoice is all about.
State lawmakers should act swiftly to safeguard motorists, pedestrians, residents, and employees. Seattle leads the nation within the variety of development cranes with a reported 45 cranes.
We thank Rep. Reed for championing HB 2022 and the overwhelming majority of Home legislators who help sensible and affordable tower crane reforms. We urge the Senate to work with Sen. Body to swiftly move the invoice for Gov. Jay Inslee to signal into legislation.
We additionally ask the general public to become involved and demand from their leaders commonsense reforms to create a safer setting for everybody 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 everybody.
Let no household endure this type of ache. Let no household fear about sending their youngster to varsity in a metropolis with quite a few tower cranes. Please be part of us in supporting complete tower crane security.
