Despite the media attention given recent crane collapses, the report found the leading cause of death among workers was electrocution when the crane touched an overhead power line. Of the 323 worker deaths recorded by BLS, 102 workers (32%) were electrocuted and 68 workers (21%) died due to a crane collapse. Of the 59 deaths (18%) of workers struck by crane boom/jib, 52 deaths were caused by falling booms or jibs (the jib is the short piece that extends on the other side of the boom). A falling boom or jib can happen when the crane is being assembled or dismantled. Other causes of crane-related deaths are described in the report.

The findings show more than half of worker deaths were among construction laborers and heavy equipment operators. Workers employed by small contractors represent a large portion (about one-third) of total deaths. Although tower crane collapses are dramatic, most crane-related deaths involved mobile cranes. The intersection of electrocutions from power lines and mobile cranes bears noting.

The report was written by Michael McCann, director of safety research at CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training, a charitable organization affiliated with the Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO.

Perhaps most importantly, the report gives eight recommendations to prevent fatalities and injuries from occurring:

First, crane operators should be certified by a nationally accredited crane operator testing organization, such as the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO). Presently only 15 states and a few cities (including New York City) require certification or licensing of crane operators, and some have their own certification program. We recommend that states and cities should require certification by a national certification organization for reasons of standardization of qualifications and to promote the transfer of credentials between states.

Second, riggers who attach the load to the crane and signalpersons who visibly or audibly direct the crane operator on where to place the load should be certified. NCCCO will in the future offer certifications for these types of workers.

Third, crane inspectors should also be certified. OSHA requires that employers designate a competent person to inspect machinery and equipment prior to each use, and during use, to make sure it is in safe operating condition [29 CFR 1926.550(a)(5)]. OSHA also requires annual inspections. For some work activities, such as use of cranes for maritime activities and work at nuclear plants, OSHA may require a higher degree of inspection. However, since inadequate inspections have been implicated in work-related crane deaths, we recommend that crane inspectors should have the same degree of qualification as crane operators.

Fourth, in addition to other mandated inspections, cranes must be inspected thoroughly by a certified crane inspector after being assembled or modified, such as the “jumping” of a tower crane.

Fifth, according to the proposed OSHA consensus standards on cranes, only trained workers should assemble, modify or disassemble cranes, and they should always be under the supervision of a person meeting both the definition of qualified person and competent person specified in the standard. In many instances, especially with rented cranes, there are no trained personnel present when cranes are set up and dismantled. This issue must also be addressed.

Sixth, crane loads should not be allowed to pass over street traffic. If rerouting is not possible, then streets should be closed off when loads pass over streets and pedestrian walkways.

Seventh, more complete reporting of data, particularly after a crane collapse, is necessary. OSHA should conduct more thorough investigations of crane-related fatalities and capture more complete data in its reporting system.

Eighth, after OSHA publishes the proposed crane and derrick safety construction standard in August 2008 for public comment, all efforts should be made to speed up the adoption of the C-DAC consensus standard and the additional recommendations provided in this report.

“The deaths of Donald Leo and Ramadan Kurtaj May 30 when a tower crane collapsed in New York City are just the latest in a long list of workers who have died in work-related incidents involving cranes,” said Mark H. Ayers, President of the Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO. “We in the trades mourn every single loss, and we offer our thoughts and prayers to the families of these men. These losses are bitter to us because, in almost every instance, they are preventable. CPWR’s recommendations would benefit all construction workers, as well as those who live and work near cranes, if they are implemented nationwide.”

“We need to hold government accountable for its role in ensuring the lives of America’s workers,” said Vincent J. Giblin, President of the International Union of Operating Engineers. “We need OSHA to enforce the standards they have and create new standards where there is an obvious need.”

“Construction workers are counting on employers and OSHA to keep them safe on the job,” said Edward Malloy, President of both the Greater New York and the New York State Building and Construction Trades Councils. “Union contractors and unions spend millions of dollars training workers – we know we bring that to the table. But poorly maintained equipment or a ‘speed up’ work schedule can bring disaster to any worker, even the best trained one.”

BCTD President Ayers agreed, saying, “OSHA needs to put in place its Safety Standards for Cranes and Derricks, which have been gathering dust at that agency for four years. In 2003, OSHA established a rulemaking committee that had representatives of suppliers, manufacturers and users on it. They produced a consensus document in July of 2004, and OSHA has failed to move it to the next step, publishing the proposed standard. Secretary Chao’s December 2007 regulatory plan stated they would have the standard proposed by January 2008, and that didn’t happen. Then the May 2008 plan said it would be out August 2008. Meanwhile, more construction workers die, bystanders and first responders are injured, killed and put at risk, and we wait for OSHA to act.”

The report’s findings, released June 17, used Bureau of Labour Statistics’ worker fatality data from 1992 to 2006 on construction workers: the numbers and causes of death, the trades of workers involved, the size of employers, and types of cranes involved.



Related Files
The crane report in full