Personal Injury Law

Construction Safety - Construction Accidents: Cranes and Personnel Platforms

By Justin Rogers

There have been a number of recent accidents within the construction industry related to cranes and crane operation. On June 13^th, three workers at the new stadium for the Dallas Cowboys were injured when they jumped off of a crane cab in order to avoid cables and other equipment falling from another crane. Only a day before in Dallas, a man was killed when a piece of equipment fell from a cable and struck him. In May, one worker was killed and three others were injured when a fifteen-story crane fell on its side near Kansas City, Missouri. In 2006, there were 72 fatal occupational injuries involving cranes.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) standards and regulations require that employers comply with manufacturer specifications and limitations as they apply to the operation of cranes. In addition, all machinery and equipment prior to each use is required to be inspected by a competent person to ensure that the crane is in safe operating condition. A competent person is one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards within the work area, and who is authorized to take corrective measures to eliminate identified hazards.

Injuries involving cranes can occur anytime anywhere. Accidents often occur when the crane is overloaded, when the crane comes into contact with power-lines, loads are improperly rigged, when workers are struck by moving loads, or when workers are standing within the swing radius of a cab or counterweight.

Another common cause of crane accidents involves the use of personnel platforms, also known as manbaskets. Personnel platforms allow for workers to be hoisted into the air by a crane or other device. Due to the significant danger posed by the use of personnel platforms, they are strictly prohibited by OSHA unless conventional means of reaching the elevated worksite are infeasible or more hazardous. Dangers in using personnel platforms are numerous. Personnel platforms can tip as a result of movement of workers occupying the platform, especially if the suspension system is incorrectly designed.

OSHA requires that personnel platforms be constructed to meet certain specifications. Each platform must be constructed with a guardrail system. Access gates shall not swing outward, and are to be equipped with a latch to prevent it from accidentally opening. All rough edges on the platform must be ground smooth to prevent worker injuries. All welding involved in constructing the personnel platform must be completed by a qualified welder who is familiar with the materials used in platform design.

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on July 30, 2008 (boomark / email).