Post on 17-Jan-2016
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. Winds 25-30 mph. Milwaukee, WI. 11/14/99Big Blue” mobile crane collapsed hitting 3 workers in crane basket. Winds 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
Selected Fatal Crane Selected Fatal Crane Incidents (cont.)Incidents (cont.)
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
Selected Fatal Crane Selected Fatal Crane Incidents (cont.)Incidents (cont.)
20-foot section crane fell 30 stories while jumping the crane. Miami, FL. 20-foot section crane fell 30 stories while jumping the crane. Miami, FL. 3/25/08 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
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Research File
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
Types of Cranes Involved:Types of Cranes Involved:
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
Types of Cranes Involved:Types of Cranes Involved:
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
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Research File
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
Why Workers Died:Why Workers Died:
1992 - 2006
Number of Collapses: 61
Number of Deaths: 68
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Research File
Struck by Falling Booms/JibsStruck by Falling Booms/Jibs
40%
48%
12%
Dismantling Boom
Lengthening Boom
Other
Why Workers Died:Why Workers Died:
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Research File
1992 - 2006
Number of Deaths: 52
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
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Research File
1992 - 2006
Number of Deaths: 24
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: mmccann@cpwr.com mmccann@cpwr.com Janie Gittleman: Janie Gittleman: jgittleman@cpwr.comjgittleman@cpwr.com Mary Watters: Mary Watters: mwatters@cpwr.commwatters@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.