Accidents of Cranes – Part 1

The number of accidents by cranes has increased in the last several years, which results in serious injuries and deaths. They have occurred due to collapses, tipping, falls, overloading, operator errors, mechanical failures, falling equipments, dropping of loads from the improper ringing, operating in harsh weather conditions like high winds, general negligence, lack of inspection of cranes, electrocution due to the contact of high voltage wire, injuries while taking down or setting up the crane, lack of operator training and defects in crane design.

Although the number of accidents by cranes has increased they do not occur too often on construction sites. This can be easily understood by imagining the total number of construction sites would be so high that it is impossible to calculate it, from that large number even hundred accidents per month (which is only an arbitrary number) is said to be negligible. Hence, they are rare on most construction sites. However, when they happen, serious injuries or even deaths can result. Since cranes are heavy machines and are designed to lift heavy load and lift them high in the air, when an accident is caused there (such as collapse, dropped load, tip-over, or other accidents of similar nature), the force of gravity raises the severity of injuries.

Because of high risk of the crane operation, more companies are now investing in crane accident education programs. If you give the controls of your crane to an operator with inadequate training, It can put almost everyone within the danger zone of a particular piece of the machine in danger. Even a single reckless or careless mistake can kill or injure a very large number of people. The crane education programs are solely designed to teach the operators how to set them up properly, the danger involved with their operation, and how to assure proper rigging.

No matter how much specialized trainings and education is provided to operators, accidents will still happen by cranes, and when they do happen, negligent parties should be held accountable.