Crane Accidents-Fatalities-Injuries

United States Department of the Interior

Content:
Kumkum Ray
703-787-1604

Pagemasters:
OMM Web Team

National Safety Alert No. 1
November 5, 1998

Crane Accidents-Fatalities-Injuries

Three very serious crane accidents have occurred on the OCS in 1998. These accidents resulted in the deaths of four workers and injuries to several others. The first accident occurred when a platform crane failed while offloading a rental crane. Two workers were killed. The preliminary investigation indicated that mechanical failure contributed to the accident and that poor crane maintenance may have been a factor.

The second accident also involved the offloading of a rental crane. However the operation of a crane was not a factor in this accident. The likely cause of this accident was the improper disassembly of the rental crane (human error and lack of proper preparation and supervision). One worker was killed and three others were seriously injured.

The third accident involved a crane on a semi-submersible drilling rig making a lift to a workboat. The crane toppled into the Gulf of Mexico during the lift, killing the crane operator and injuring another person. Investigation of this accident is ongoing.

To prevent a recurrence of these types of accidents, MMS recommends lessees take the following actions:

Have an effective preventive maintenance program and conduct appropriate and complete crane inspections;

Ensure cranes are adequate to lift loads;

Emphasize the importance of communication, work planning, and supervisory controls when moving or disassembling cranes;

Ensure loads are properly rigged; and

Ensure crane operators and riggers are properly trained.

For more information on crane accidents that occurred from January 1995 through August 1998, we encourage you to visit our Safety Page on the Internet at and read a recent report on crane accidents. We invite you to comment on the report and its recommendations. You may email your comments to Bill Hauser, (703) 787-1613 or Wilbon Rhome, (703) 787-1587.

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Last Updated: 02/01/2006, 12:48 PM