Safety is the Key to a Successful Project

On Sunday February 23, 2018, a team of contractors from McClure Company, Greiner Crane and Whiting-Turner and several Lancaster General Hospital (LGH) staff members met at the hospital for an early-morning Safety Huddle meeting. The objective: to safely lift, by way of crane, a chiller to the 4th floor of the building and a smoke exhaust fan and several pieces of ductwork to the 9th floor in a series of 9 separate lifts.

To do this, numerous safety measures were put in place before and during the lifts. Nearby streets were closed to prohibit automobile traffic, and pedestrian foot traffic was rerouted away from the building. Loading dock operations (laundry, flower deliveries, food service, etc.) were rerouted or rescheduled to avoid lifting interruptions. To ensure occupant safety, specific areas of LGH facilities were evacuated throughout the day. Finally, construction crews and the hospital’s Heli-Pad personnel stayed in constant contact regarding incoming helicopters.

Once onsite assembly of the 200-ton crane was complete, lifting operations began. With a 185-foot radius, the crane picked up the 2,482-pound chiller and placed it on the 4th floor rooftop. Next, the smoke exhaust fan and several pieces of ductwork were lifted and placed on the 9th floor rooftop through a series of nine back-to-back lifts.

After countless hours of planning and attention to detail, all lifts were done successfully. And, the safety and welfare of LGH patients, hospital staff, the public and construction personnel were maintained throughout the process.

Great job and thank you to everyone involved. A special thank you to Pipefitter General Foreman Jeremy Flickinger and his crew, Sheet Metal Foreman Shawn Leiphart and his crew, and Project Manager Justin Seigler for following our many safety protocols and ensuring everyone went home safe at the end of the day!

Tom Scott, CSP
Safety Manager
McClure Company