Crane accidents
All employers have a duty to take reasonable care for the safety of their staff. Employers must, by law, provide a safe working environment for their employees.
Cranes are regularly used on construction sites, but can cause serious and sometimes fatal damage if used incorrectly. Such accidents are usually caused by insufficient planning and supervision.
All employers must now comply with the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 and the Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 when carrying out any mechanical lifting operation. Employers must now ensure that every operation involving lifting equipment is carried out in a safe manner, properly supervised and suitably planned by a competent person.
Crane operators must take various safety measures to reduce the risk of an accident. These measures include:
- Inspecting all rigging before use
- Never leaving a load unattended
- Ensure that the load does not exceed the relevant capacity
- Attaching the load above the centre of gravity to ensure stability
- Lifting the load a few inches and verify the rigging
- Slowly starting and stopping
- Keeping personnel a safe distance from the lift area
- Checking for obstructions
- Making sure the pathway is clear before making a lift
- Using suitable hand signals
- Attaching the tag line before lifting
- Knowing the appropriate capacities of rigging and slinging
- Making sure that the hook closes completely
If you have experienced an accident at work involving a crane, Ashton Morton Slack’s experienced personal injury team can help you claim compensation.
To find out how to make a claim for compensation for a personal injury caused by defective machinery or equipment at work, call our team on 0114 275 2888 and talk to one of our personal injury experts.