Cranes are commonly used in construction and maritime industries. Cranes are complex and have plenty of moving parts, all of which are critical to operation. Due to their size and use, cranes are a major cause of workplace injury and even death if used incorrectly or if parts malfunction. Failure of a crane’s parts such as the cables, winches, rigging, the boom itself or other hardware such as slings and shackles can easily kill workers.
Common Causes of Crane Accidents
As the largest piece of equipment on a construction site, cranes are responsible for more accidents than any other piece of heavy equipment. Most often, the causes of crane failures can be traced to either faulty equipment maintenance or improper crane operation. According to OSHA, most of these accidents are caused by:
- Poor equipment maintenance
- Lifting unbalanced loads
- Lifting loads which exceed the weight limit of the crane
- Improper mounting of the crane
- Crane operator error
- Defective parts
- Boom or crane contact with an energized power line
- Cranes overturning
- Booms collapsing
Crane Safety Recommendations
In order to avoid serious injury or death, crane operators should undergo intense training and licensing procedures to learn the correct ways to operate cranes and to familiarize themselves with potential hazards and safety measures. Employers and Crane owners should frequently inspect the machinery and conduct regular maintenance procedures to ensure that the cranes are operating smoothly.
Are You the Victim of a Crane Accident?
One of the largest and most dangerous pieces of machinery on a construction site is a crane. If an individual is untrained, inattentive or generally negligent in his or her duties, catastrophic or even fatal injuries can occur. If you were injured, or a loved one was killed, as a result of a crane accident, it is important to contact a skilled attorney. The crane accident attorneys at The Lambert Firm have over 35 years of experience handling crane accidents. We will immediately perform a detailed examination of your accident in order to identify the responsible parties and determine if there were any safety violations or defective parts. Contact The Lambert Firm today.
