Crane Accidents And Documentation

Crane Accidents

Fig. 1: A crane lifts a car but tips over

In the event that there is an accident on site, the authorities will be asking questions and will ask for proof that these procedures have been followed. The only way for an employer to prove that they have in fact been following the rules is if they were to provide documentation of A/D Supervisor meetings held daily, or before each shift. If the employer were to include sign-in sheets from these meetings, they would be able to prove their due diligence in ensuring all precautions were taken prior to operations.

In the news we’ve heard stories of Inspectors being paid to sign off on the safety of hundreds of others’ lives without conducting a valid inspection. Unfortunately these careless acts do not go unnoticed, and when push comes to shove, those that were paid off have come forward. In any case, the only risks involved lie with those who choose not to conduct valid inspections or to put the schedule ahead of safety.

These new requirements came with a lot of defiance in the industry, likely because those who did follow the rules felt that they shouldn’t pay for those who chose not to. In any case, as a person who knows the requirements of a competent individual, I feel safer knowing that the decision was made to increase the safety requirements surrounding such unpredictable beasts of power.

Documentation

No matter the operation, where there are existing requirements for safety, a general contractor who understands the importance of managing risk should follow these requirements to the tee. The consequences outweigh the perks, ranging from fines to legal action to death of innocent people.

The smart contractor will document his safe actions and file at the jobsite (and store electronically to prevent loss in the case of a serious accident that damages the property). He will keep a consistent practice of managing risk related to all kinds of origins, but the most preventable are risks related to safety. Any smart contractor knows that accidents are preventable given the appropriate amount of training and focus on a safe workplace for the employees.