Crane Operation: Safety is a Must!

Schuylkill Products Inc. in Cressona, Pa was just cited by OSHA for alleged workplace safety and health violations, proposing $65,800 in penalties. The investigation, in response to a complaint, cited the company for one willful violation and two serious violations. Investigators issued the willful citation after finding cranes being loaded beyond their rated load capacity during normal operations. "The employer regularly lifted 60-107 tons of precast concrete beams with cranes ill- equipped to handle this kind of load, exposing workers to a variety of hazards," said Mark Stelmack, area director of OSHA's Wilkes-Barre office.

On March 15, 2008, six construction workers and a bystander died when a crane collapsed in New York City. Less than two weeks later,in Miami, a crane fell 30 stories killing two construction workers and injuring five. New York experienced another crane tragedy less than three months later that killed two workers and injured two others. Just yesterday, August 09th, a 130 ton crane turned right-side-up in Sylvan Beach, fortunately no one was injured. From 1992-2006, a total of 323 construction workers deaths involved 307 crane incidents.

What conclusions can one draw from this? One of them is the possible lack of worker training, a lack of adequate crane inspections,and a lack of safety plans. It is vital that companies participate in crane safety and training; 90 percent of crane accidents are caused by operator error. This means many, if not all, of crane accident deaths are preventable. "Crane operations carry a greater potential for disaster than nearly any other activity on a construction job site," according to John Merrill, the general manager for the crane division at Maxim Crane Works.

Look below for past video of crane accident in New York City on March 15, 2008.

Sources:
www.cpwr.com/cranereport/CPWR_crane_rept_recmmdtns.pdf
www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=16188
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/25/national/main3966907.shtml
http://www.9wsyr.com/news/local/story/Crane-turned-right-side-up/2Du5_YvwN0mZrv8b7CRcOQ.cspx
ehstoday.com/construction/news/Managing_Crane_Safety_2938/