The crane operator killed himself with the hook
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It is a relatively rare accident for a crane operator to kill themselves with the hook. On May 7, 2021, in Shenzhen, a crane was being retracted after completion of its work; the hook fell downward and struck the control cabin, resulting in the death of the crane operator!
Accident report: At 18:10 on May 7, at a construction site in Shenzhen, one driver was operating a truck crane from inside the control cabin, while another worker stood outside the cabin and chatted with the driver. During this time, the driver moved the main hook and the auxiliary hook of the truck crane up and down without any load; suddenly the auxiliary hook dropped, hitting the top of the control cabin and then striking the head of the worker involved, resulting in the death of the driver on the spot. Preliminary analysis of the accident cause: A height limiter for the auxiliary hook was not installed at the top of the auxiliary arm of the truck crane involved. The driver operated the crane without any supervision; during operation, the auxiliary hook rose rapidly and experienced over-retraction, causing it to pass over the pulley at the top of the auxiliary arm as well as the pulley anti-disengagement device. The falling auxiliary hook penetrated the roof of the control cabin and struck the driver in the head, resulting in the accident.
A glorious life, having hung everything, yet unable to escape the fate of being hung on a hook
Safety operating procedures for lifting operations – every rule is the result of painful lessons learned. For one’s own sake, as well as the safety of others, care must not be taken lightly
Are there any third-party inspection requirements for cranes? Or is it sufficient to conduct the check by oneself? It was found that many cranes have numerous safety issues
Yes, usually regular inspections (such as annual inspections). Before entry, the supervisor and the Party A’s management department check the permit issued by the construction supervision authority, as well as conduct an on-site inspection. Self-inspection is part of Party B’s routine management procedures.
In February 2014, Wei, a crane operator at a company in Wuxi, used a remote control to operate the crane in the casting workshop, controlling both the main hook (with a rated lifting capacity of 40 tons) and the auxiliary hook (with a rated lifting capacity of 10 tons). Since the main hook moved downward at a slower speed while the auxiliary hook moved upward at a faster speed, Wei, following his usual operating habits, stopped operating the auxiliary hook once it reached its upper limit and focused on operating the main hook instead. At this time, due to the failure of the upward limit limiter, the auxiliary hook hit its upper limit and snapped the wire rope; the hook assembly of the auxiliary hook fell and struck Xu, a worker who was working on hanging parts below, in the lower back, causing him to fall to the ground. Xu later died despite efforts to save him at the hospital.
In September 2017, while Li, a crane operator at a metal products company in Wuxi, was using the main hook of the crane to lift workpieces, the height limit switch for the crane’s auxiliary hook failed. As a result, the auxiliary hook rose to its maximum height, causing the wire rope connected to it to break; the auxiliary hook then fell and struck Zhu, who was working on the ground. Zhu died despite efforts to save him at the hospital.
To thoroughly learn from the lessons of such accidents, this document specifically outlines the problems and weaknesses identified in these two incidents, as well as the areas that need improvement in the operation of lifting machinery and safety management, for reference by those working with lifting machinery. 1. The operator failed to follow the company’s established \"Safety Operating Procedures\" strictly, which led to the accident. Therefore, it is recommended that every operator of lifting machinery follow these steps: (1) Before operating the crane, it is necessary to verify the safety and reliability of electrical safety devices such as the lift height limiter, the limits for the boom and trolley movement, and the emergency stop button. ⑵ It is strictly prohibited to use the lifting height limiter for parking. ⑶ Working in the area below the hook is strictly prohibited. ⑷ Actively participate in the company’s safety training, master the company’s Safety Operating Procedures, and strictly follow those procedures in all operations. 2. The entities that operate lifting machinery should carefully review the \"Safety Operating Procedures\" established by their company; if items 1(1), 1(2), and 1(3) are missing, they should be added promptly, and the relevant personnel should receive safety training on these additional provisions. At the same time, the user units should also do the following: (1) Strengthen the maintenance and self-inspection of electrical safety devices, and eliminate potential safety hazards before using them. ⑵ Increase the frequency and intensity of safety inspections for lifting machinery, and promptly correct any irregular behaviors by operators. ⑶ The user entity shall earnestly fulfill its primary responsibility for safe production, strengthen safety training and education for operators of lifting machinery, improve employees’ ability to identify potential accident hazards, and ensure that operations are carried out in strict accordance with safety procedures. 3. Safety managers of special equipment shall conduct regular inspections on the operating condition of lifting machinery in accordance with the law, and address any safety hazards identified immediately.