(Tallahassee, FL) - A crane collapse during Hurricane Milton in 2024 has led to the state passing safety regulations. Today, the Florida Building Commission outlining guidelines to secure tower cranes and hoisting equipment before a storm.
Dr. Jennifer Bridge with the University of Florida's college of engineering found safety requirements during a hurricane include determining if a crane has the capacity to survive turbulent winds even in the weathervane postilion. Dr. Bridge says that manufacturer guidelines don't always account for Florida's specific coastal wind conditions.
Other recommendations include adherence to manufacturer guidelines and determining who is in charge of the equipment at each site because unclear responsibilities have led to miscommunication in several Florida crane failures.
Dr. Bridge says the new law mirrors the ordinance passed by Miami-Dade in 2008 which is not in effect due to an injunction.
Florida Senate Bill 180 passed in June 2025 replaces the patchwork of local ordinances that were blocked by prior state law.