RR820 - Tower crane incidents worldwide - HSE

3 SOURCES OF INFORMATION
The research was primarily conducted using the internet. During the course of the research the
most useful websites that were regularly referred to were:
• http://www.vertikal.net/en/
• http://www.cranestodaymagazine.com
• http://craneincidents.com
• http://towercraneincidents.blogspot.com
The vertikal and cranes today magazine websites are websites of trade magazines associated
with the lifting and access industry. Both sites have news sections that are regularly updated and
have archive sections of older news stories that can be searched.
Craneincidents.com and towercraneincidents.blogspot.com are websites of two U.S.A. based
private individuals who have knowledge and connection with the lifting industry.
Craneincidents.com was launched on 27 January 1999 and is operated by a Mr Doyle Peeks
who, according to his resume, on the website has been involved in the construction industry for
more than half a century, as an equipment operator (including cranes), master mechanic,
equipment manager, superintendent and as a business owner.
Towercraneincidents.blogspot.com is operated by a Mr Gaytor Rasmussen who, according to
information on his website works as a crane erector and inspector.
In addition to the above, websites of media local to an identified incident was also referred to
where possible or available. Usually this was local newspapers (e.g The New York Times) and
websites of other media including local radio and television stations. In the U.K., the BBC
website was also referred to.
Internet research does have limitations and due regard must be given to the accuracy and
relevance of information gained from the internet. In this research the principal limitations of
using the internet were found to be:
• No single source of reliable accurate information was identified.
• Not all the four websites detailed above had knowledge of all the incidents.
Some incidents were given on one website but not another.
• The two “trade” websites tended to be satisfactory when initially reporting the
incident. Facts were given when facts were known about the incident and
logical conclusions that followed from what was known were also expressed.
In addition, if further information about a particular incident became known
after the event, then this was generally followed up.
• The two websites of the private individuals were sometimes prone to
speculation concerning an incident.
• Local media reports concerning an incident were usually in the immediate
aftermath of the incident and tended to focus on the damage caused, number of
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