Crane experts are watching William Rapetti’s trial closely. Many believe that regardless of the outcome, more stringent safety and certification codes for crane operations are on the way.
“A catastrophic loss like this is always a shot heard around the world,” says Edward Shapiro, president of Heavy Equipment Services Co., Niantic, Conn., referring to the industry’s response to the 200-ft tower-crane collapse on March 15, 2008. “It’s too bad it takes a catastrophic loss to focus in on [safety] issues.”