Crane safety incident causation

Summary

This research project aimed to identify causes and contributing factors associated with safety incidents involving fixed and mobile cranes used in the construction industry. In particular, the primary data collection focused on the construction industry in New South Wales. The research also explored strategies to reduce the risk of crane-related safety incidents in the construction industry.

The research was conducted in three component parts:

• a literature review was undertaken
• an extensive process of qualitative data collection and analysis was pursued, and
• analysis of SafeWork New South Wales data pertaining to crane-related safety activities was undertaken.

The research identified factors/contributing factors operating at one of three levels in the system of work involving the use of cranes. These were:

• originating influences
• shaping factors, and
• immediate circumstances.

A crane safety incident causation model (which was validated by further industry consultations) reflecting the operation of causal/contributing factors at these three levels was developed.

Team

• Helen Lingard
• James Harley
• Ehsan Gharaie
• Ron Wakefield   
• Payam Pirzadeh
• Tracy-Lee Cooke

Partners

• Centre for Work Health and Safety NSW
• SafeWork NSW

Testimonial

This research project has helped us better understand the cause of crane safety incidents in the Australian construction industry and identify what actions can be taken to prevent them - The Hon. Kevin Anderson, MP, Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation, NSW Government.

Publications

• Technical report: Crane Safety in Construction
• Research to Practice report: Preventing crane safety incidents in the construction industry

Peer-reviewed papers/outputs

• LINGARD, H., COOKE, T., ZELIC, G. & HARLEY, J., (2020), A qualitative analysis of crane safety incident causation in the Australian Construction Industry, Safety Science, Volume 133, January 2021, 105028.