Series of Accidents involving Cranes and Lifting Operations In the ...

30 April 2007, 0708014
>> Series of Accidents involving Cranes and Lifting Operations
In the past 8 months, there was an increase in industrial accidents involving cranes and lifting
operations which sadly, could have been prevented. Here are the summaries of three such recent
accidents.
>> Case 1
While slewing without carrying
any load, the mobile crane
toppled to its side. The crane
outriggers were not extended
during the operation.
>> Case 2
Crawler crane toppled during
demobilization. No one was
injured in this accident.
>> Case 3
While being lifted, one end of a
6T pipe dropped and hit a
supervisor, who subsequently
succumbed to his injuries.
MOM urges all occupiers to take ownership of safety and prevent workplace accidents. The
Workplace Safety and Health (Risk Management) Regulations requires all workplaces to
conduct risk assessments to identify the source of risks, actions that should be taken and
parties responsible for doing so. Safe work procedures must be instituted, communicated
and implemented to ensure the safety and health of workers.
>> Advisory Note
(Please note that the following advisory note is provided for the benefit of enhancing workplace safety and health and in no way
should the information be misconstrued as implying any liability on any party)
1. Risk assessments should be conducted and safe work procedures implemented for all lifting
operations, not just for heavy loads. The weight of the load should not be the only determining
criteria for conducting risk assessments. Many accidents involving cranes and lifting operations
occur during routine lifting of light loads and even in situations where that are no loads lifted.
2. It is of vital importance to ensure that materials to be lifted are securely rigged. Under the

Factories (Operation of Cranes) Regulations, riggers and signalmen engaged in lifting operations
involving mobile, crawler or tower cranes must attend and pass the courses prescribed by the
Commissioner for Workplace Safety and Health.
3. Occupiers shall also appoint a lifting supervisor who has successfully completed a training course
approved by the Commissioner for Workplace Safety and Health to supervise any lifting operation
involving the use of any crane, mobile crane or tower crane.
4. Crawler, mobile and tower cranes shall only be operated by trained and competent operators who
are registered with the Commissioner of Workplace Safety and Health.
5. All lifting equipment and lifting gears must be inspected and certified safe to be used by a MOM
authorised examiner for lifting equipment. Lifting gears and equipment should NOT be modified to be
used in any lifting operations unless such modifications are examined and approved by the
authorised examiner.
6. All lifting operations should be properly planned by a competent person before the actual
execution and not left solely to the ground crew such as the crane operator or rigger.
7. Do not allow anyone to stand beneath any suspended load or within the danger zone during a
lifting operation.
8. Cranes must not be overloaded under any circumstances. The weight of the load must always be
made known either from specifications or through calculations. Once the overload indicator is
activated, the lifting operation must be stopped immediately.
A Safe and Healthy Workplace is Good Business
- Make it Yours!
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