Photographs of crane mishaps where Insurance Companies used cowboy repairers.

This crane folded in Brisbane in June with 80kg (that's right 80kg) where it was legal for 1100kg. It had returned from the repairers in late April where to save money the insurance company had instructed them to weld the boom rather than replace it after a previous accident, needless to say it failed right on the repair, this was the first time it had been fitted with the fly and needle since it had been returned. Makes you wonder about the repairers load test procedures. Incidentally both the repairer and insurer are major players in the industry not backyarders, SCARY HUH!!!!

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On October 1, 2003, a 45-year-old superintendent, with 27 years experience, was fatally injured at a surface sand and gravel operation. The victim was operating a crane to lift a hydraulic power pack that was positioned on the bank of a settling pond. The outrigger pads were not fully extended at the time of the lift. When the power station was raised and swung toward the left, the crane tipped over on the ground, pinning the victim inside the cab. This is the 19th fatality reported in calendar year 2003 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries.

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Look at the crane level on the floor in back of the crane operator. This was installed by the crane manufacturer. The crane tipped over at night and there was one fatality. I was just thinking, if the level was where he could see it, would this accident have happened. But then, this type of level is not accurate, and does not tell the crane operator what percentage of level the crane is off. There is a sensor that can be built into the crane that can accurately tell just how off level the crane is, and can even shut the crane down when approaching dangerous limits.

Can anyone tell me what sort of crane is under the tires? (below)

Just pulling sheet piling. Would they listen to me WHEN I said NO? Now I hope they will listen to the next CRANE Operator after repairs.

The same Crane Inspection Company had done the inspections on this crane and never reported the welding on the crane that was not allowed. So the crane operator is lucky to be alive today. One leg was amputated and the other leg has so many pins in it that he can not even bend it. It was reported that this was an approved OSHA accredited company.

Click here to view more pictures related to this accident.

OSHA fines subcontractor in employee’s death
By Julie R. Smith – Staff Writer

Contractor of Wando, S.C. has been fined $1,400 for failing to follow manufacturer’s specifications for equipment on a crane boom that killed an employee in Summerville in October 2002.

Company X is a subcontractor on a state Department of Transportation interchange upgrade project at Highway 17-A and Interstate 26. The company was cited in December 2002 and originally fined $3,500 for violating safety guidelines by the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, Office of Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

On Oct. 5, John Russell Odom, of Summerville, was sitting in a truck cab near exit 199 as co-workers used a crane to load chunks of a dismantled overpass on a flatbed trailer. A piece of concrete weighing more than 10 tons was dangling from the crane boom when a cable snapped. The boom crashed on top of the cab, killing Odom instantly.

Work at the site was halted while OSHA inspectors investigated the accident. Employees with the prime contractor, Company X, Company A and DOT were interviewed.

A 16-page report issued by OSHA said the wrong size boom and main hoist lines were installed on the Manitowoc crane involved in the fatality, and the lines were “kinked and broken.”

The problems were identified during operators’ inspections as early as May 2002, but the defective equipment was not removed from service, the report states.

The boom hoist cable was weakened by repeated “pinching” which caused it to fail and the boom to collapse, the report said.

The OSHA penalty was reduced from $3,500 to $1,400 when Company X invoked the Employer Penalty Option, which can reduce a fine by up to 60 percent. “When an employer is cited by OSHA and they have a prior clean safety record, they can invoke the EPO. By doing that, they allow OSHA to require them to actually do more to ensure employees’ safety,” OSHA spokesman Lesia Kuldeka said.

Company X officials must submit a stringently upgraded safety plan to OSHA by Feb, 28, she said.

The $13 million interchange upgrade project started in September 2001 and has a tentative completion date of August or September 2003.

Below Are Photos Of A Manitowoc 2250 Crane Boom Collapse
That Took Place At A TX Refinery.

Some photo's of crane related accidents on the water.

Patch on crane boom. This crane was inspected and failed. The contractor had a 2nd inspection done and it passed. Some of the problems included patches and dents on main cords, the boom run, ring gear teeth missing, hydraulic oil leaks throughout.

Notice how the load was rigged and the angle of the nylon straps

Cranes and Power Lines

The cause of the accident is suspected to be BOOM HOIST CABLE FAILURE

Contractor says a unexpected puff of wind tipped the crane over and Santa comes in JULY

Just putting these big cranes together accidents can happen. Cause of the accident is unknown at this time.

Using cable clamps for lifting with cranes is a big NO NO and this job they were pile driving OUCH!

V/R, Kevin Parrish Navy Crane Center

As seen in the Anchorage Daily News. Photo used with permission. July 31 1993 taken by Mark Dolan

Boom Me Up Scotty! What happens when you leave your boom out in the wind? It falls down!

Look at the Photos below! This is not a Mishap Yet!

What a Safe Crane, Right?

All Sections Had Gaps Like This One!

Do you see anything Wrong with these pictures? Do you believe this crane has passed four inspections? No Door No Boom Indicator No Operators Manuel No Warning Decals

What a crane operator has to put up with to keep his job. An improperly made window from a roll of plastic.

An accidental electrocution. BE WARNED - GRUESOME PICS!! Please note that these pictures are EXTREMELY gruesome! If you have a weak stomach or are easily affected by the sight of death or electrocution please DO NOT view any of these images.

Click here if you can stomach it.