Legal Information on Crane Accidents Occupational Injuries
Crane accidents occur in manufacturing and construction sites. These industries use cranes that move large and heavy loads. And although technology has made cranes a lot safer for workers, accidents still occur. There still exists safety concerns for crane operators and others working around or near cranes. In America, more than 250,000 crane operators take place across cities. The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides that more than 79 fatal work injuries are related to cranes. In fact, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration found that 71 crane accidents fatalities occur each year.
Adequate Safety Regulations Requirements:
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has occupational requirements and safety regulations that manufacturing and construction industries must abide with. These include:
- Periodic inspection of cranes
- Trial runs conducted when no workers aboard the platform
- Operating cranes with the presence and assistance of a qualified person
Understanding the Causes of Crane Accidents
There are many causes of crane accidents that take place in the manufacturing and construction industries. But there are two main causes for these accidents: malfunction and negligence.
Malfunction:
If you ever saw a crane, you know that they are large and heavy. They have a complex mechanical design. Hence, you can imagine what a simple error or a mistake could lead to. Operational errors and mistakes can have devastating consequences including wrongful deaths. In this case, you can file a product liability claim can. A way to do this is through filing a personal injury case.
Negligence:
This is more common than malfunction because many crane accidents are caused by some form of negligence. Crane accidents caused by negligence include inexperienced or distracted operations. Sometimes, negligent behavior includes failure to abide by the safety rules and measures. This can be done by the workers or the company.
In the following list, you can read about common ways that crane injuries take place.
- An injury is sustained as a result of the crane dropping an item it was carrying
- Injuries can be sustained due to an accident caused by the crane’s hook
- Unbalanced or improperly mounted cranes. This usually happens when the object lifted is significantly heavier than the mount resulting the crane to topple or tip.
Injured in a Crane Accident? Call an Injury Attorney
If you or someone you know were injured in a crane accident, it is very likely that they did while they were working. This is because the majority of crane accidents happen at work cites. Therefore, there are two ways to recover your damages. First, you can file a workers compensation claim. If you go that route, then you will not need to prove liability or who was responsible for the accident. Second, you can file a personal injury lawsuit. In this case, you must prove who is at fault and show that your injuries are directly caused by the crane accident. And you can do both depending on special circumstances. Regardless of the route you choose to take, it is important to have professional legal advice. Call Napolin Law for a free consultation.
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