With the construction industry ramping up and getting busier by the day, the temptation may be there to let some fundamental safety protocols slide. While it’s understandable that company managers and/or crane operators might be tempted to take shortcuts in order to keep up with the high demand, it’s important that they remember that safety should always come first!
Mobile crane boom failure
Worksafe Queensland reported an incident that occurred in May 2022, where a worker suffered facial injuries when a steel beam fell from a mini-crawler crane at a construction site. Early investigations indicate the mini-crawler crane was lifting the beams while the worker was using a tag line when the crane’s wire rope failed. As a result, the steel beam fell approximately 5m hitting several precast props before striking the man’s face.
Obviously this incident could have resulted in a fatality, and it highlights the importance of a thorough risk assessment, pre-start inspections, and a regular scheduled maintenance program to eliminate or minimise the risks around crane set up and operation.
Building and maintaining an effective WHS Management System
Crane owners, operators, and construction companies hiring crane services are required to provide safe systems of work around crane operations on a construction site. When building an effective WHS Management System, you will need to comply with the current WHS/OHS Act and Regulations in your state or territory. The WHS management system should have policies and procedures that are easy for workers to read, understand, and implement on a construction site. Your WHS management documents will need to be reviewed regularly by a competent person and revised or improved when there is an incident, near miss, or system failure.
The implementation of these policies and safe work procedures is the most important part of the process, and the pressures of running a business during periods of high demand can leave contractors stretched and time poor. Unfortunately this scenario often leads to cutting corners and winding back on routine checks and safety protocols, which exposes workers and pedestrians to the risk of serious injury or death.
Developing good safety habits will minimise lost time injuries, and most importantly, save lives! For the sake of your workers and others in close proximity to crane operations, plan and implement a purpose driven safety program. Take the time required to develop an effective WHS management system and implement the relevant policies and procedures every day. Habits take time to establish, but they will yield a great returns on investment with long term gains.
Mobile Crane Safety Resources
Worksafe Queensland has provided a Mobile Crane Code of Practice 2006 for PCBU contractors who own and/or operate mobile cranes. It is important to reference and follow this code of practice when implementing, reviewing, or improving current work health and safety procedures around crane inspections, maintenance, and safe operations.
For other states and territories, Safe Work Australia provide clear guidelines, information, and procedures on crane inspections and maintenance requirements.
Check out this guide: Guide to inspecting and maintaining cranes (safeworkaustralia.gov.au).