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Mishap Leaves Derrick Drooping Atop Salesforce Tower

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- A massive steel derrick used in the building of the 1,070-foot high Salesforce Tower was leaning off the side Friday after a construction mishap.

Cal/OSHA spokesman Frank Polizzi said his agency received a call Thursday, reporting a malfunction involving a rooftop-mounted derrick.

He said Bragg Crane and Rigging was disassembling the roof-mounted derrick when the boom fell unexpectedly and came into contact with the ornamental metal outside of the building.

Cal/OSHA inspectors arrived at the building and inspected the derrick on Thursday.

"(They) concluded that the roof mount was stable, the derrick was not in danger of falling or further collapse and no damage was done to the building," Polizzi said in an email to KPIX 5.

Bragg Crane was in the process of developing a plan for bringing the boom back up and continuing to disassemble the derrick.

Polizzi said the plan would have to approved by Cal/OSHA before it is implemented.

The construction company on the project -- Clark/Hathaway Dinwiddie -- released a statement Friday afternoon regarding the roof-mounted crane.

"Just before 2 p.m. yesterday, in the process of dismantling a roof mounted crane, a piece of the jib came to rest on top of the architectural screening panels," the statement read. "The crane was secure throughout the procedure, there were no injuries, and there is no risk to the public or construction workers."

Cal/OSHA said they're working with the crane's operator to make sure it gets taken down safely.

The 61-story building has been in the making for about a decade. It's expected to open this spring.

The $1 billion tower will be the second tallest building on the West Coast behind only the 1,100-foot tall Wilshire Grand Center in Los Angeles.

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