Truck, crane, swinging boom

The truck, crane, swinging boom, was designed to handle ton containers of toxics and was prescribed equipment for airfields where chemical... 

A lack of standard layout or design can also be confusing. In mobile truck cranes, for example, pulling back on a given lever on a crane from one manufacturer may raise the load. Pulling back on a similar crane from a different manufacturer may raise the boom, and pulling back on a similar lever from a third manufacturer may swing the boom. Errors should be expected from operators who move from one make of crane to the other. 

In addition to toxic, incendiary, and smoke ammunition and bombs, as well as chemical warfare offensive weapons and equipment, the CWS was responsible for the procurement of a variety of service equipment. The latter included a truck mounted with a swinging boom crane, a chemical service truck, a chemical service trailer, a unit for mixing toxic and incendiary agents in the field, and a set for maintaining and repairing chemical warfare equipment in the field. Several of these items presented unusual problems of development and procurement. Table 8)... 

The crane operator off-loaded the truck, and at about 8 40 a.m. the truck driver returned and tried to start the truck. However, the lights had run down the battery to the point where it would not start. About this time, a second truck arrived. Unable to pull into the desired off-loading location, the driver parked on the opposite side of the crane. The crane could reach the truck without relocating, but the load radius was fifty-four feet rather than twenty-seven feet. The crane operator started to off-load the second truck at about 8 52 a.m. When he started to swing the load, however, the crane overturned as the load cleared the truck (approximately 8 55 a.m.). The accident caused no injuries and no damage to either of the trucks or to the load, but the crane boom, cab, and one outrigger were damaged (repair estimate of 16,000). 

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