Crane-Related Deaths and Injuries in Construction, 1992 - 2006

Crane-Related Deaths and Injuries Crane-Related Deaths and Injuries in Construction, 1992 - 2006in Construction, 1992 - 2006Michael McCann, PhD, CIHMichael McCann, PhD, CIHJanie Gittleman, PhD, MRPJanie Gittleman, PhD, MRPMary WattersMary Watters

Regulatory OverviewRegulatory Overview

On July 9, 2004,On July 9, 2004, the Federal Advisory the Federal Advisory Committee on cranes and derricks (C-DAC) Committee on cranes and derricks (C-DAC) reached a consensus for a new crane and reached a consensus for a new crane and derricks standard.derricks standard.

In May 2008,In May 2008, as part of its semiannual regulatory as part of its semiannual regulatory agenda, OSHA mentioned plans to publish a agenda, OSHA mentioned plans to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking on cranes and notice of proposed rulemaking on cranes and derricks in the derricks in the August 2008August 2008 Federal Register. Federal Register.

Selected Fatal Crane IncidentsSelected Fatal Crane Incidents

Crane lifting bucket of cement collapsed onto scaffold inside Crane lifting bucket of cement collapsed onto scaffold inside cooling tower. Willow Island, WV. 4/27/78cooling tower. Willow Island, WV. 4/27/78

51 construction workers died 51 construction workers died

Tower crane fell 16 stories while being jumped. San Tower crane fell 16 stories while being jumped. San Francisco, CA. 11/29/89Francisco, CA. 11/29/89

4 construction workers died4 construction workers died

1 bystander died1 bystander died

22 bystanders injured22 bystanders injured

Selected Fatal Crane Selected Fatal Crane Incidents (cont.)Incidents (cont.)

““Big Blue” mobile crane collapsed hitting 3 workers in crane basket. Big Blue” mobile crane collapsed hitting 3 workers in crane basket. Winds 25-30 mph. Milwaukee, WI. 11/14/99Winds 25-30 mph. Milwaukee, WI. 11/14/99

3 construction workers died3 construction workers died

4-ton chunk of steel fell from crane crushing a taxi. New York, NY. 4-ton chunk of steel fell from crane crushing a taxi. New York, NY. 9/29/069/29/06

5 bystanders injured5 bystanders injured


Crane collapsed on a condo. Bellevue, WA. 11/16/06 Crane collapsed on a condo. Bellevue, WA. 11/16/06

1 bystander died1 bystander died

1 construction worker injured1 construction worker injured

Tower crane collapsed while being jumped, damaging several Tower crane collapsed while being jumped, damaging several buildings. New York, NY. 3/15/08buildings. New York, NY. 3/15/08

6 construction workers died6 construction workers died1 bystander died1 bystander died13 construction workers injured13 construction workers injured11 first responders injured11 first responders injured


20-foot section crane fell 30 stories while jumping the crane. 20-foot section crane fell 30 stories while jumping the crane. Miami, FL. 3/25/08 Miami, FL. 3/25/08

2 construction workers died2 construction workers died5 construction workers injured5 construction workers injured

Crane cab, boom, and machine deck separated from the Crane cab, boom, and machine deck separated from the tower mast and collapsed onto the street. New York, NY. tower mast and collapsed onto the street. New York, NY. 5/30/085/30/08

2 construction workers died2 construction workers died 1 construction worker injured 1 construction worker injured 1 bystander injured 1 bystander injured

Crane-Related Deaths in Crane-Related Deaths in Construction, 1992-2006Construction, 1992-2006

323 crane-related deaths323 crane-related deaths from 307 incidents in from 307 incidents in construction from 1992-2006construction from 1992-2006

12 multiple-death incidents12 multiple-death incidents involving a total of involving a total of

28 deaths28 deaths

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Research File

Crane-Related Deaths in Crane-Related Deaths in Construction by Year, 1992-2006Construction by Year, 1992-2006


Causes of Crane-Related Deaths in Causes of Crane-Related Deaths in Construction, 1992-2006Construction, 1992-2006

* 52 of 59 struck by booms/jibs were due to falling booms/jibs** Other causes includes 14 struck by other crane parts and 9 highway incidents.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Research File

102

68

59

24

21

18

31

Total deaths:

323

Types of Cranes Involved Types of Cranes Involved in Fatalitiesin Fatalities

Mobile cranesMobile cranesTower cranesTower cranesFloating or barge cranesFloating or barge cranesOverhead cranesOverhead cranes

Mobile CranesMobile Cranes

Mobile cranes were involved in:Mobile cranes were involved in: 80 of 95 (84%) of overhead 80 of 95 (84%) of overhead

power line incidentspower line incidents 37 of 59 (63%) of crane 37 of 59 (63%) of crane

collapsescollapses 35 of 59 (60%) of struck by 35 of 59 (60%) of struck by

boom/jib incidentsboom/jib incidents

Types of Cranes Involved:Types of Cranes Involved:

71% of all crane-related incidents involved 71% of all crane-related incidents involved mobile cranesmobile cranes

Tower CranesTower Cranes

Tower cranes were Tower cranes were

involved in:involved in:16 of 306 (5%) of all 16 of 306 (5%) of all

crane related incidentscrane related incidents5 of 24 (21%) of struck by 5 of 24 (21%) of struck by

crane load incidentscrane load incidents5 of 59 (8%) of struck by 5 of 59 (8%) of struck by

boom/jib deathsboom/jib deaths


Other/unspecified cranesOther/unspecified cranes

Other/unspecified cranes were involved in Other/unspecified cranes were involved in 24% of all crane related incidents, including:24% of all crane related incidents, including:13 floating or barge crane incidents13 floating or barge crane incidents12 overhead crane incidents12 overhead crane incidents


Main Causes of Worker Main Causes of Worker Deaths, by FrequencyDeaths, by Frequency

Electrocutions – from overhead power linesElectrocutions – from overhead power linesCrane collapseCrane collapseStruck by falling boom/jibStruck by falling boom/jibStruck by crane loadStruck by crane load

31%

19%

11%

39%Worker on foot

touching/ guiding load cables

Other

Worker on foot touching crane

Operating crane

Overhead Power Line ElectrocutionsOverhead Power Line Electrocutions

1992 - 2006

Number of Deaths: 102


Why Workers Died:Why Workers Died:

Crane CollapsesCrane Collapses

56%16%

20%

8%

Uneven/ unstable or icy surface

Other/ unknown causes

Crane load/ boom

shifted

Overloaded


1992 - 2006

Number of Collapses: 61



Struck by Falling Booms/JibsStruck by Falling Booms/Jibs

40%

48%

12%

Dismantling Boom

Lengthening Boom

Other



1992 - 2006


Struck By Crane LoadsStruck By Crane LoadsWhy Workers Died:Why Workers Died:

38%

21%

41%Loading/ unloading

Crane-related work

Worker not involved with crane


1992 - 2006


Trades of Workers Who DiedTrades of Workers Who DiedCrane-Related Deaths in Construction, 1992-2006

Construction laborers

Heavy equipment operators*

Supervisors/ Managers/ Admin

Ironworkers

Mechanics

Other trades**

* Includes 50 crane and tower operators and 14 operating engineers** Includes 14 carpenters, 11 electrical workers, 8 truck drivers, and 7 welders

and cutters.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

Research File

Total Deaths: 323

RecommendationsRecommendations

Crane operators should be certified.Crane operators should be certified. Presently only 15 states and a few cities (including New Presently only 15 states and a few cities (including New

York City and Chicago) require certification. York City and Chicago) require certification.

Crane riggers and signalpersons should be Crane riggers and signalpersons should be certified.certified.

Crane inspectors should be certified.Crane inspectors should be certified. OSHA only requires that they be competent personsOSHA only requires that they be competent persons

Recommendations (cont.)Recommendations (cont.)

Cranes should be inspected after assembly Cranes should be inspected after assembly or modification.or modification.

Only trained workers under the supervision Only trained workers under the supervision of a qualified person and competent person of a qualified person and competent person should assemble or disassemble cranes.should assemble or disassemble cranes.

Crane loads should not be allowed to pass Crane loads should not be allowed to pass over street traffic.over street traffic.

Recommendations (cont.)Recommendations (cont.)

OSHA should conduct more thorough OSHA should conduct more thorough investigations of crane-related fatalities and investigations of crane-related fatalities and capture more complete data in its reporting capture more complete data in its reporting system. system.

OSHA should immediately take action on the OSHA should immediately take action on the proposed consensus crane and derrick standard proposed consensus crane and derrick standard for construction and include recommendations for construction and include recommendations from this report.from this report.

For Further InformationFor Further Information

Mike McCann: Mike McCann: [email protected] [email protected] Janie Gittleman: Janie Gittleman: [email protected]@cpwr.com Mary Watters: Mary Watters: [email protected]@cpwr.com Electronic Library of Construction Safety and Electronic Library of Construction Safety and

Health (eLCOSH): Health (eLCOSH): www.elcosh.org www.elcosh.org CPWR – The Center for Construction Research CPWR – The Center for Construction Research

and Training: and Training: www.cpwr.comwww.cpwr.com

CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training – is the research arm of the Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO. This research was funded as part of a grant with CPWR from the National Institute for occupational Safety and Health, NIOSH (NIOSH Grant 1 U54OH008307). The research is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of NIOSH.

Crane-Related Deaths and Injuries in Construction, 1992 - 2006

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