Crane accidents and their prevention revisited

Abstract The paper “Crane accidents and their prevention” from the year 1978 is analyzed from today's viewpoint. The aim of the paper was mainly on the basis of accident records to draw conclusions for further developments in technical measures to prevent crane accidents and to identify priority areas of further research in crane safety. Methodology evolved in subsequent research projects so that hazard analysis and experimental evaluations of safety solutions by users were included to have a more comprehensive picture about the safety situation. In recent years the number of fatalities at work and crane accidents have reduced. In spite of the intensified safety efforts the main reason seems to be in the structural and technological changes in industry which lessen exposures and reduce use of cranes in many fields. However, crane drivers are nowadays more often victims of accidents because they mostly control nowadays their cranes at a floor level and the specialist crane drivers are not used any more in many industries. Two recent accident cases demonstrate the importance of procedures, good preplanning of lifting operations, and safety management. These aspects were not considered in detail in the early crane paper of the author. A more integrated risk management approach and new directions in safety science are proposed.