Injured In A New York City Crane Accident?
Crane accidents can cause catastrophic injuries when a load falls, a boom or counterweight strikes a worker, equipment collapses, rigging fails, or a crane contacts an energized power line. These incidents can injure crane operators, riggers, signal workers, construction laborers, and people working or walking nearby.
The Dearie Law Firm, P.C. represents workers and families affected by serious New York City construction accidents. Call (212) 970-6500 or contact us online for a free consultation.
Learn more about common safety and legal issues in our guide to construction crane accidents in New York City.
Types of Crane Accidents
Due to the size, weight, and power of cranes, it’s frighteningly easy for these machines to cause major damage. Let’s take a look at some of the more common kinds of crane accidents in New York.
- Dropped loads – Cranes are undeniably powerful, but, even so, there are limits to the weight they can be expected to carry. Attempting to pick up an oversized object may lead to a serious accident if the overburdened crane accidentally drops the load from a great height. This can happen if the crane’s load moment indicator, which helps to safeguard against this eventuality, is not working properly.
- Contact with power lines – Under OSHA’s crane power-line safety rule, the employer must determine whether any part of the equipment, load line, or load could enter the power-line danger zone. Depending on the voltage and work plan, the employer may need to deenergize and ground the line, maintain a 20-foot clearance, or use OSHA’s Table A minimum approach distance together with required encroachment-prevention measures.
- Improper assembly/disassembly procedures – Under OSHA safety regulations, the assembly and disassembly of a crane must always be performed under the supervision of a qualified individual. Without this supervision, the equipment may end up in sub-optimal working condition—which could lead to a future crane accident.
- Inadequate inspection procedures – OSHA rules also call for periodic inspections of a crane and its various components. There are a number of different inspections that must be carried out, covering different aspects of the equipment; some of these examinations should take place on a monthly basis, others yearly. It is also required to inspect each crane component before it is erected. This is another area where it is often tempting to take shortcuts, and this temptation has led to more than a few construction accidents.
- Failure to use a signal person – Another aspect of OSHA rules that isn’t always observed is the requirement to use a signal person when necessary. This is a trained individual who communicates with the crane operator via hand, voice, or other appropriate signals in situations where the operator’s view is obstructed. Without a signal person onsite, the operator can’t safely use the crane.
Injuries from Crane Accidents
Contact with an improperly handled crane can easily result in fatal or life-changing injuries. Crushed or amputated limbs are not uncommon. If the machinery gets tangled up in power lines, the crane operator and/or others in the immediate area may sustain severe electrical burns.
Who May Be Responsible For A Crane Accident?
Depending on how the accident occurred, potentially responsible parties may include a property owner, general contractor, crane owner, crane operator, rigging contractor, maintenance company, equipment lessor, manufacturer, or another party that created or controlled the hazard.
A prompt investigation can help preserve lift plans, inspection records, maintenance records, operator qualifications, contracts, photographs, and witness testimony.
Related Construction Accident Practice Areas
- Scaffold Accident Lawyers
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- Workplace Machine Accident Lawyers
- Construction Vehicle And Forklift Accident Lawyers
- Construction Electrical Accident Lawyers
- Trench And Excavation Accident Lawyers
- Demolition Accident Lawyers
- Elevator And Hoist Accident Lawyers
Contact New York City Crane Accident Lawyers
The Dearie Law Firm, P.C. has represented injured New Yorkers for more than 35 years. If you were injured in a crane accident, call (212) 970-6500 or contact us online for a free consultation.