Years ago, safety rules governing crane operations were scattered here and there. And, most of the time, those accidents are the result of not fully understanding how cranes work, ignoring the physics involved with their operation, or simply failing to follow basic steps to safeguard workers. The direct costs related to damage, injuries, and OSHA fines tend to be very small when compared to the indirect costs of lawsuits from victims’ families and owners of damaged property. And while you may think that a 5,000-pound load is less dangerous than a 50,000-pound load, rest assured that it can kill you just as quickly and effectively.Ĭrane accidents tend to be very costly in equipment losses, damage to property, and injuries to workers. The accident described earlier happened with one of those smaller, truck-mounted cranes that are used by a wide variety of contractors in an even wider array of settings. However, those giant pieces of equipment are usually operated by professionals who are well aware of the hazards. When we think about crane accidents, we tend to remember the dramatic incidents that happened with huge cranes.

But all too often, workers fail to treat cranes with the respect they require. Nearly everyone who works in construction is fascinated with cranes and their ability to lift and move massive loads with pinpoint accuracy.

The scenario is all too familiar to safety professionals, as cranes are some of the most misunderstood workhorses on job sites. The man raced away from the controls, but didn’t get far enough before the crane and load tipped over, crushing and killing him instantly. He quickly moved to lower the load back to the ground, but the crane began to tip. Co-workers reported that the man felt the crane had the capacity to lift the load without any problems, so he didn’t choose to take the couple extra minutes to set the outriggers.Īs the generator came up, the operator realized that the crane had become unstable. His task was to move a 5,000-pound generator. A 25-year-old man working for a wireless tower installation company climbed behind the controls of a small crane in Indianapolis. By Dave Remter, Account Manager, and Mark Steinhofer, Ph.

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