Crane operations are a crucial part of construction but can also be incredibly dangerous. If you’ve been injured on a construction site, you know how quickly things can go wrong.
This blog will explain the risks associated with crane operations to help inform those seeking compensation. Whether you’re dealing with an injury or want to learn more about staying safe, this information may help you get the support you need.
What are the risks to watch out for?
Construction workers use cranes to move and lift heavy machinery and materials. These machines are popular in various sectors of the construction industry, from manufacturing to material loading.
Unfortunately, operating cranes comes with dangerous hazards that put workers at risk of sustaining fatal injuries. These are five of the risks associated with crane use:
- Overloading: Each crane has a specific lifting capacity. Exceeding this limit can cause the load to be dropped, endangering workers below and potentially leading to severe injuries or fatalities.
- Boom collapse: The crane’s boom can collapse if the operator extends it beyond its limits, especially under heavy loads. This overextension puts too much pressure on the crane’s systems, leading to potential failure.
- Falls from cranes: Workers may fall if they do not use proper safety gear when climbing on or off the crane. This problem highlights the importance of ensuring all personnel complete adequate safety training before operating this machinery.
- Contact with electric power lines: Another common cause of crane-related accidents is contact with power lines, which often results in electrocution. It can also cause extensive damage to equipment and property.
- Tip-overs: Environmental factors like high winds or uneven ground can cause cranes to tip over. Improper preparation or misuse of equipment also increases this risk.
Understanding and mitigating these dangerous risks are essential to safeguarding workers. This step must be a priority for construction site managers to ensure safe crane operations.
Prioritizing safety in construction sites
Crane operations are essential to construction projects, but they come with inherent risks that project leaders must mitigate. Awareness and proactive safety measures are key to preventing fatal accidents and ensuring the safety of all workers on site.