How Often Are Workers Crushed by Crane Loads?

The crane is among the most dangerous machinery on any construction site. When workers are ill-trained or rush to move the crane’s load, it often leads to catastrophic and fatal crushing accidents.

Crushing injuries caused by cranes are the most common types associated with crane accidents, accounting for over half of the crane injuries over a ten-year period. These are not innocent accidents. Most of the time, serious regulatory violations caused the crane accident. Some construction site owners and general contractors do not adequately train workers to operate the crane safely. Many accidents resulted because they neglected to regularly inspect the crane for defects or assign someone specifically for that task. Other victims are crushed because the crane was negligently manufactured. Our lawyers can help determine who is ultimately responsible for your crushing injuries and file your lawsuit against them.

For a free case analysis with our Massachusetts construction accident lawyers, contact the Law Office of John J. Sheehan today at (617) 925-6407.

How Often Do Crane Loads Crush Workers?

Unfortunately, devastating crane accidents occur all too often despite the numerous Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations placed on construction site owners, contractors, and other employers. By far, the most common reason for crane injuries and fatalities is crushing accidents. According to a recent study that researched 249 industrial crane accidents over a 10-year span, 37% of crane incidents involved the victim getting crushed by the crane’s load. Crane load crushing accidents accounted for 36.8% of all reported injuries and 33.8% of all workplace deaths. The study also found that 838 OSHA violations occurred over the 249 crane accidents.

According to the report, crushing accidents can be caused in many ways. 27% of workers were injured when the load dropped on them, which usually resulted from bad rigging practices, but a manufacturing defect in the crane might also be responsible. In other cases, the crane’s load is swung into the victim because the operator is not looking out for other workers. The deadliest accidents tend to be the ones where the crane falls on top of the victim, either because it was placed in a precarious spot or the load was unstable on the crane.

Another 11% of the analyzed accidents were caused when an overhead, or gantry, crane crushed or ran over the victim. These cranes are typically used at ports and worksites to quickly move around large shipping containers. Unfortunately, a majority of gantry crane accidents result in fatalities, with 93% of victims succumbing to their injuries.

Overall, 75% of the accidents studied resulted in crushing injuries from a crane load. Our Massachusetts construction accident attorneys can obtain evidence to determine how your crane accident occurred, which will help indicate who to sue for it. Several parties typically have a duty to ensure cranes are safely installed and operated, opening the possibility of recovering compensation from multiple defendants. Of course, crane accidents can happen in other ways, but our team has the experience to help no matter how the incident occurred.

What Are Other Common Ways Workers Are Negligently Injured by Crane Loads?

The most common type of cause of crane injuries and deaths other than crushing is falling from a height of eight feet or higher, accounting for 12% of the 249 incidents. Another 6% happened because a worker did not or improperly placed a “lock out” tag on the crane, leaving it operational. The remaining 7% of accidents were caused by various reasons, like improper assembly and breakdown or putting the crane too close to power lines. Again, narrowing down the exact cause of your crane accident will help determine who is liable.

Who Can I Sue if I Am Injured in a Crane Accident?

Industrial cranes are complex pieces of machinery, so it is quite possible that more than one person is responsible for the accident. Just because a contractor or crane operator acted negligently does not mean that the crane did not have a defect that contributed. Generally, each party can be held liable for their role in causing the accident.

Property Owners and Contractors

Property owners and general contractors are ultimately responsible for a worksite’s safety and a crane’s operation under 29 C.F.R. § 1926.20. They must ensure that the crane is designed for the job at hand, installed correctly, and adequately trained and qualified employees to use it, as per § 1926.21. Contractors and site owners must also frequently and regularly inspect cranes to ensure they stay in safe working order. They must also provide personal protective gear appropriate for working with a crane, according to § 1926.28(a). If we find that any of these OSHA regulations were violated, we can use it as evidence of negligence in a lawsuit.

Crane Operators

The crane operator will likely be sued since they controlled the machinery when the accident occurred. Many times, workers move a load too fast, causing it to sway and lose control. This is how the high number of crushing injuries discussed above occurs. Like contractors, operators must also inspect cranes for defects before using them, and both can be held liable if they neglect to do so. We will also sue the crane operator if they fail to put a lock out tag after operating it.

Crane Manufacturers and Designers

Cranes are constructed from numerous parts. If any one of them is negligently designed or manufactured, it can cause structural failure and deadly accidents. Our team can gather and review complex evidence to determine where the flaw occurred. Crane designs usually require very specific materials to be used in the manufacturing process, such as certain metals meant to bear the weight and stress the loads will put on the crane. If the design was as flawed, we can file your lawsuit against both parties and sort out liability during litigation.