Legal Aspects of Safety and Health - Essay Example

Running Head: CRANE-RELATED DEATHS IN CONSTRUCTION Crane-Related Deaths in Construction and Recommendations for their Prevention Module: Lecturer: Date of submission: Crane-Related Deaths in Construction and Recommendations for their Prevention The article was developed by The Centre for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) in order to verify data on fatalities and injuries resulting from crane accidents. CPWR found that the data provided by Census of Fatal Occupational Injury (CFOI) was hugely underestimating the reality.

By using the key word – crane in the search, CPWR found that CFOI had halved the number of fatalities between 1992 and 2006 (CPWR, 2010). CFOI data reported that deaths resulting from crane related accidents averaged 22 annually while the new findings by CPWR found 42 on average per year within the same period. Electrocution by overhead power lines was seen to be the biggest cause of deaths. OSHA has been in the process to come up with a comprehensive Crane Safety Standard since that of 1971 and the 2000s acted as the decade for formulation of the new standard (CPWR, 2010).

Key issues It seems that there have been differences in the figures brought forth by the various bodies that do research on construction accidents. The differences are attributable to the different methods of coming up with the required data. The latter analysis by CPWR sheds real light on situation on the ground which is rather serious. Fatalities clocking above 40 yearly from crane related accidents and hundreds of injuries are alarming numbers considering that most of the accidents are avoidable.

It is also important to note that categorization enables users of data to easily relate various aspects involved as the case is with the categorization of construction deaths by cause, cranes involved and employer size (CPWR, 2010). This way it is easy to narrow down on areas and circumstances that are more prone to accidents. This in turn facilitates investigators and law makers to identify what safety measures are being overlooked more and what rules to apply to curb such cases in future. The aforementioned categorization and different searching techniques by CPWR give somehow different picture on the accidents that occur and their causes.

However, the CPWR report and that of CFOI correlate in that Overhead Power Lines Electrocutions lead in the cause of deaths at 25% (CPWR, 2010). This is an area that authorities and construction companies need to look into so as to ensure stiffer safety procedures are carried out. Workers’ activities have been seen to contribute to accidents in almost all categories leading to the need for intensive training and supervision. Conclusion Crane accidents are quite many and they result into many injuries and fatalities annually.

Overhead Power Lines Electrocutions lead in causing fatalities followed by crane collapse incidents. Smaller firms recorded more deaths more so to those who had two trades in that they operated heavy equipment and were also construction laborers. Mobile cranes seem to be more involved in the fatal accidents. These findings help to pinpoint the high risk areas and where much focus should be directed. Training is also quite deficient in all levels of crane handling and supervision. It is high time that stiff standards are put in place to ensure only highly trained personnel handles and supervises crane operations.

References CPWR (2010). Crane-related deaths in construction and recommendations for their prevention. CPWR.