Safety campaign launches to tackle tower crane construction accidents

The launch of a new crane safety campaign this autumn has highlighted the dangers of construction accidents involving tower cranes where fatalities have totalled eight since the year 2000.

The fatal statistics are a small proportion of the latest accident figures for the construction industry - with more than 530 deaths occurring over the same period. But another seven official reports of crane accidents have also been recorded.

In addition, media coverage of the construction industry indicates crane accidents are becoming more common with many accidents going unreported. And such anecdotal evidence also coincided with an upsurge, last year, of annual deaths reported in the industry to 77, the highest for five years.

In one horrific incident two years ago, a tower crane fell on to flats at Battersea, London, killing two people.

The UK's tower crane population is now four times larger than ten years ago with numbers of highly-trained, expert crane operators failing to grow at the same rate, it has been reported. Again anecdotally, media coverage reports that maintenance and operation standards are falling as a result because there are fewer experienced workers to share round growing numbers of cranes.

The 'Safe Crane Campaign' has been launched mainly as a result of this growing and widespread concern for people's lives. The campaign is designed to help ensure the UK construction industry manages and operates tower cranes to the highest safety levels.

Developed as a health and safety initiative by the Strategic Forum for Construction, the campaign comprises several initiatives to tackle tower crane safety. Various crane guidance documents and a monitoring scheme have been created:

Tower crane operator best practice
Working conditions overview to ensure operators' health and safety as well as others affected.

Maintenance and examination best practice
Advice on effective maintenance of tower cranes and their safe and efficient operation.

Erection, climbing and dismantling
Guidance on site management for safe use of tower cranes, including site inductions.

Competency guidance
Sets out minimum qualifications and competency requirements for planning and using cranes.

Incidents / near misses
Monitoring of tower crane near hits and incidents, and sharing information as necessary.

Posters are also due to be published and posted on construction sites to draw attention to the campaign and online information provided by the strategic forum.

Compensation for construction accident injuries
Do you know someone who has been affected by a tower crane accident, or any other construction-related injury?

YouClaim has access to personal injury lawyers and other legal experts who can help. We can bring a no win, no fee compensation claim against those responsible for the accident. We provide a guarantee that you will receive 100% of any compensation that is won with no other fees or costs payable at any time.

It is easy to find out about making a claim - you can talk to us on our free phone number, 0800 107 57 95, use our online e-chat service, fill in a few details on YouClaim's online form or request a callback.