Two workers would not have died in a crane tipover if their employer had operated the crane correctly. Keep reading to find out what went wrong, then check out our 12-point checklist for crane safety to prevent similar incidents at your company.
OSHA inspectors discovered that a Massachusetts electrical contractor had not erected the crane according to manufacturer’s instructions and had not trained employees in its proper operation. The victims, who were working on power lines, were on a raised personnel platform attached to a mounted crane. The crane overturned and fell more than 150 feet to the ground.
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OSHA Area Director Brenda Gordon said the employer did not refer to or use readily available information that could have allowed the work to be performed safely. “This lapse,†she said, “placed two workers in harm’s way and needlessly cost them their lives.â€
According to OSHA, employees were not properly trained or evaluated on the crane before use. Supervisors failed to follow procedures for setting up and operating the crane, even though the instruction manual was in the crane at the jobsite. As a result, OSHA cited the contractor for two willful and four serious violations with total penalties of $168,000.
12-point crane safety checklist
Fatalities can occur when the crane boom, load line, or load contacts power lines and shorts electricity to ground. Other incidents happen when workers are struck by the load, caught inside the swing radius, or fail (as in this case) to properly assemble/disassemble the crane.
Note these OSHA requirements and be sure employees follow them.
- Cranes are to be operated only by qualified and trained personnel.
- A designated competent person must inspect the crane and all controls before use.
- Be sure the crane is on a firm/stable surface and is level.
- During assembly and disassembly, do not unlock or remove pins unless sections are blocked and secure.
- Fully extend outriggers and barricade accessible areas inside the crane’s swing radius.
- Watch for overhead electric power lines and maintain at least a 10-foot safe working clearance from the lines.
- Inspect all rigging before use.
- Use the correct load chart for the crane’s current configuration, setup, load weight, and lift path.
- Do not exceed the load chart capacity while making lifts.
- Raise the load a few inches and then hold, verify, and test the brake system before delivering the load.
- Do not move loads over workers.
- Follow signals and manufacturer instructions.
