According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, cranes have been a major reason behind construction site accidents from 2011 to 2017. Over this time, around 297 construction workers lost their lives at the hands of crane accidents. On average, there were 42 deaths per year! The statistics are both alarming and unfortunate!
What really causes crane accidents? Here are a couple of reasons:
Electrocution
Electrocution is one of the deadliest causes of crane accidents and takes place when the crane comes in contact with overhead power lines. This happens when either the crane operator or the workers in the crane basket aren’t aware of the presence of power lines.
In the United States, hundreds of workers lose their lives at construction sites. One out of every ten of these deaths is caused by electrocution.
As per OSHA regulations, such accidents can be avoided by taking the following measures:
Make sure all the overhead power lines are not only de-energized but also separated from the crane and its load.
Invest in independent insulated barriers and use them to prevent any sort of physical touching between the power lines and the crane.
If it’s not possible for the crane operator themselves to maintain clearance between the power lines and the load, hire an additional person to do so.
Invest in additional proximity warning systems, insulating links, and cage-type boom guards.
The line owner should always be notified before any work takes place near the power lines.
If there are power lines nearby, your crane operators should be instructed to operate the crane at a slower-than-normal rate.
Two-block situation
A two-block situation happens when the lower hook block is raised to a point that it comes in contact with the boom tip hardware. As a result, the lower hook block draws over the top sheave, and the wire rope breaks down. This can cause the load to fall unexpectedly. This can lead to a loss of life if there are workers below the crane load.
This type of accident usually occurs if the operator extends the boom too much, without leaving some slack in the cable. Most importantly, it’s an easily preventable accident. All you need to do is invest in an anti-two-blocking device (A2B).
The device comprises a weighted ring that is suspended down the hoist line from a limit switch. The switch is attached to the boom tip and alarms the operator as soon as the hook assembly comes in contact with the weighted ring. The switch opens, and an alarm goes off. This indicates that the operator should stop hoisting.
If you’re looking to invest in RaycoWylie crane warning systems, look no further than Crane Warning Systems Atlanta. The anti two block for crane is one of our best-sellers. You can call us at 1-877-672-2951 for details.
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