Brothers accused of compromising safety when dismantling crane, which fell and killed a site worker

Charges have been issued against two of the crew members responsible for dismantling the crane, which collapsed in New York on 4 September.

The New York Times reported that brothers James and Christopher Van Duyne were accused of compromising safety by cutting the safety guardrail on a work platform, which was attached to the tower crane based 40 floors above the street.

The charges laid, said that the cutting of the guardrail had compromised the rigging and structural integrity of the platform from which Anthony Esposito, the brother-in-law of one of the accused, fell to his death.

The safety harness of Esposito had not been secured. He was the brother-in-law of one of the accused, and also had himself a brother on site who was part of the eight-member team dismantling the crane, although there is no question about his conduct.