A survey conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration states that the United States has approximately 125,000 cranes operating in the construction industry.
While the giant machinery is essential to conduct integral tasks on construction sites, it also poses a great number of risks. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, crane-related accidents lead to an average of 44 deaths in America every year.
The first step we can take toward preventing fatal accidents on job sites is to understand the reasons behind it, so we can develop effective strategies to minimize the risks of injury and death.
Here are some of the most common causes of crane accidents you should know about.
Over-tipping
Although over-tipping cranes incidents occur very rarely, but when they do, they can cause a lot of damage. Cranes over-tip because of improper outrigger use on unstable ground; there’s a high chance of the operator losing control of a crane’s positioning when the surface is uneven and wet or there are depressions and excavations.
To prevent a crane from tipping over due to unstable ground conditions, it’s important that you inspect the location before starting your operations. If you have no choice but to continue working in the area, take extra precautions to prevent any misfortunate events.
Dropped Loads
The main role a crane plays at a construction site is of lifting heavy objects and transporting them from one place to another. Unfortunately, due to improper rigging, the heavy items are sometimes dropped by the crane causing damage to the property and injuring workers in close proximity. This type of crane accident often takes place because of human error, such as utilizing broken parts and failing to follow proper protocol.
To avoid load dropping incidents, it’s essential to stick by the book! Follow all safety precaution and use proper equipment.
Boom Collapsing
Overloading a crane beyond its capacity can cause the boom to collapse. This leads to dropped loads and consequently, damages materials and injures workers.
When creating and executing your lifting plan, make sure you adhere to the weight limit of the crane you’re using as excess weight can lead to major consequences. Moreover, it’s extremely important to schedule regular crane inspections to ensure that the boom and other parts of the assembly are in top condition.
Lastly, to enhance the safety at your construction site, you need to upgrade your crane with technologically advanced safety devices, including Anti Two Block systems, Crane RCI indicators and more!
If you’re in Atlanta and want to upgrade your crane with high-quality safety equipment in, get in touch with Crane Warning Systems Atlanta.
We provide top-quality Crane Indicator systems to customers that are both, cost-effective and user-friendly.
Contact us today for more information.
Comments