RR820 - Tower crane incidents worldwide - HSE

The total numbers for each category are:
• Erection/Dismantling/Extending of the crane – 3 Incidents (33.5%)
• Extreme Weather – 3 Incidents (33.5%)
• Mechanical or Structural Issues – 1 Incident (11%)
• Misuse – 1 Incidents (11%)
• Electrical/Control System Issues – 0 Incidents (0%)
• Unknown cause – 1 Incident (11%)
Table 1 below compares the contribution of incidents in each category (neglecting the unknown
cause category) between the U.K. and the rest of the world. In Table 1, the U.K. incidents have
been subtracted from the total of 57 incidents identified in Section 5.2.2. for each category.
Table 1 – Comparison of Incidents in the U.K. with the rest of the world
U.K. Rest of the World
Erection/Dismantling/Extending 3 38% 26 53%
Extreme Weather 3 38% 12 25%
Foundation Issues 0 0% 2 4%
Mechanical or Structural Issues 1 12% 3 6%
Misuse 1 12% 5 10%
Electrical/Control System
Issues
0 0% 1 2%
Total 8 100% 49 100%
Despite a smaller number of incidents in the U.K. and so perhaps being statistically less valid,
the general trend of the circumstances surrounding each incident in the U.K. are very similar to
those for the world wide incidents. i.e., the two dominant circumstances are
erection/dismantling/extending and extreme weather, which are associated with 76% of these
eight incidents with lesser contributions made to the overall total of incidents by the other four
categories.
This would suggest that the overall experience of incidents in the U.K. is in keeping with the
rest of the world.
5.4
MANUFACTURER OF CRANES INVOLVED IN INCIDENTS
Fourteen separate makes of crane have been identified as being involved in the 86 incidents.
Table 2 overleaf shows the number of incidents a particular make of crane has been identified as
being involved in.
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