Crane Accident
Crane Accident Compensation Claims
If you or a family member has experienced an injury at work involving a crane accident you could be eligible for a personal injury compensation claim. Why not speak to one of our expert advisers today and find out if you could be eligible for financial compensation for your injury?
Recent Background
Between 2000 and 2010 the economic boom in construction has been blighted by a number of high profile crane accidents in which eight people have been killed. Because of the nature of cranes and especially tower cranes, when it goes wrong, frequently the injuries are serious or fatal.
Crane Usage
Cranes are extensively used in the construction industry but can also be found in heavy use in the following industries:
- Oil and gas rigs
- Shipbuilding
- Maritime
- Engineering
- Mining
- Port authorities
Reasons For Crane Incidents
Crane accidents have often been caused by mechanical failure.
Other reasons for crane accidents include:
- Cranes falling over.
- Cranes hitting overhead power lines.
- Human errors, including signalling miscommunications.
- Overloading the crane.
- Loads falling from cranes on to persons below.
- Falls from the crane’s cab.
- The crane and its load knocking into buildings.
- Accidents happening while persons climb into the crane cab.
If negligence occurs on behalf of your employer, then any of the above could be situations leading to successful reparations for your crane injury.
Crane Accidents In The UK – Crane Health and Safety
Annual crane accidents in recent years have been a stark reminder of the dangers that crane drivers, workers and operators face when working with or in proximity to cranes in the UK.
Since 2000, in particular, there have been a number incidents and deaths involving tower cranes in the construction industry.
Such fatalities are rare and constitute a fraction of the overall number of accidents in the UK construction industry; however at the end of 2009 the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) announced plans for a conventional tower crane register which was expected to come into force in late 2010.
There are almost 2,000 tower cranes in use on construction sites in towns and cities around the UK, a tower crane being a crane with a boom on a tower. Tower cranes are often used for lifting materials during high rise and skyscraper constructions.
With the HSE registry there will be a duty upon the employer to:
- Notify the HSE that a conventional tower crane is being used onsite.
- Notify within 14 days of a thorough examination of the crane.
- There will be a requirement for cranes that are already erected when the regulations come into force to be registered within 28 days.
Construction companies and others operating tower cranes are also warned by the HSE about the importance of the safe erection, operation, maintenance and dismantling of such cranes.
Regulations for those responsible for the management of tower cranes onsite include:
- Lifting operations should be properly planned and supervised.
- Tower cranes must be erected and dismantled by competent people who have the necessary training and experience.
- Companies should draw up written procedures for each type of tower crane based on manufacturer instructions.
- A thorough examination of the crane should be undertaken after its erection by a competent and independent person.
- Only competent people are allowed to operate the crane.
- Pre-checks by the crane operator at the start of each shift to ensure the crane has not suffered any damage or failure and is safe to use should be carried out.
- In-service inspections carried out by crane operators and records kept.
- A planned maintenance system.
- Thorough examinations after major alterations or repair or other appropriate circumstances.
The failure to complete with any of the above safety procedures resulting in an injury could lead to a successful compensation award for the injured party.
