Causes of Crane Operator Injuries, Death
In massive cities filled with skyscrapers like New York City, cranes and crane operators are a regular fixture on almost every single construction site. These workers and machines make so much work possible, but they can also face a considerable amount of danger on construction sites that don’t carefully follow safety regulations.
Between 2011 and 2015, the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) tracked deaths related to cranes, and over that time reported 220 fatalities. According to this data, the most common causes of crane-related fatalities included:
- 112 deaths were caused by the victims being struck by equipment or an object. 69 of these deaths were caused by falling objects – 60 of those deaths were caused by objects falling from the crane.
- 30 deaths were caused when the victim fell down to a lower level.
- 30 deaths were caused by transportation incidents.
While crane-related fatality statistics are kept by safety agencies, crane operator injuries have not been tracked for some time – the most recent data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics is more than a decade old. However, it’s unlikely that the causes of these incidents have varied dramatically. The most common causes of injuries are:
- Falling objects
- Falls
- Transportation incidents
- Electrocution
Other data collected by various agencies that track the causes of
crane accidents report that approximately 90 percent of all crane accidents are the result of human error or negligence. The most common causes of these types of accidents include:
- Hazardous conditions around the crane
- Falling objects
- Poor weather conditions
- Improper crane selection
- Using the crane for tasks other than what’s specified by the manufacturer
If you were seriously injured in a crane accident, our
New York construction accident attorneys at The Perecman Firm, are ready to provide you with the experienced legal representation you deserve. Since our firm first opened its doors, we have successfully secured more than $350 million in verdicts and settlements for our clients, including some of the highest verdicts and settlements in New York State.
Send us your information through our online form today to set up a free case evaluation, or give our firm a call at (212) 577-9325 to discuss your legal options over the phone.