Seven Statistics on Crane Incidents

While cranes can handle some pretty spectacular lifting feats, when things go wrong, watch out. Here are seven statistics relating to crane incidents

1. Between 2002 and 2006 there were 632 crane-related construction deaths across the US. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
2. Of those 632 deaths, 25 percent involved electrocution from crane contact with overhead power lines.
3. Eight percent of all crane incidents are caused by the boom on a crane collapsing or buckling. (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
4. Three types of crane-related injuries/fatalities involve electrocution as a result of a crane boom touching overhead power lines, being caught in or crushed in rotating/moving parts or by the swinging superstructure of the crane, and being struck by a falling or swinging load.
5. 90 percent of crane incidents occur as a result of human error. (Crane Inspection and Certification Bureau)
6. 80 percent of crane upsets are caused by operators exceeding their cranes’ operational capacities. (Crane Inspection and Certification Bureau)
7. Following the January 2008 crushing death of a 22-year-old crane operator in a tip-over incident in Vancouver, BC, WorkSafeBC fined two companies a total of $315,000, one of the highest such penalties ever imposed in Canada. WorkSafeBC said the worker’s death was linked to insufficient supervision, experience and training.

Cranes are capable of amazing lifting feats, but when lifts go wrong, devastating things can happen not only to workers, but to anyone else in the area. Here are some statistics relating to crane injuries and fatalities.