Analysis of crane and lifting accidents in North America from 2004 to 2010

Abstract

Cranes are the fundamental machinery used during lifting operations, and are crucial to the construction industry. Several key construction processes would be impossible without cranes and the benefits they provide. Cranes are often massive pieces of equipment capable of causing significant damage to both property and human life. Because of their importance to the construction industry, and their potential to cause harm, the safe and correct use of these machines is imperative. This study documents 75 recent accidents involving cranes in North America, systematically cataloguing them into detailed categories. Comprehensive data sets have been compiled for each of the 75 incidents. Each data set includes: the date and location of the incident, crane type and capacity, a review of the responsible parties, conditions during the accident, causative factors, and the outcome of the accident. Cataloguing of these incidents is based off of forensic engineering reports from licensed engineers who are well established in the field, input from industry experts, photos, research of consensus industry safety standards and regulations, and any other available documents. Upon being catalogued into a database, these accidents have been statistically analyzed for patterns. Patterns in these crane accidents are then used to identify areas where increased safety standards and regulations are needed. The study reviews the importance of careful lift planning and offers data to be used to improve crane design, industry safety standards, and lift coordination.