Updates on Safe Use of Cranes

Er. Tan Kee Chong,

Deputy Director, OSH Specialists
Occupational Safety and Health Division
Crane Safety Symposium 2017

Outline

 Crane-related Statistics
 Sharing of Case Studies
 Inspection Ops Findings
 Leveraging Technology
 Crane Related Incident Statistics
Crane-related Dangerous Occurrences –

30 26
2009 to 2017
12
25 22 Dangerous
21 20 19
20 18 19 Occurrences from
Jan – Sep 2017,
15 12 12
10
compared to 17
5
same period last
0
year
 By Industry
Crane Related DO by
Industry 2017

Construction is the top

Others
42% contributor with 50% of crane-
Construction
50% related Dangerous Occurrences
MFG
8%

Con Marine MFG Others

 By Crane Types
Crane Related DO by
Crane Type for 2017

Mobile
8%
Crawler Lorry Cranes contributed 8
17%

Lorry Crane
67%
Tower
8%
cases or 67%

Mobile Crawler Tower Lorry

 The main Causes

Causes of crane related DO

2017
Mechanica
l failure, 1,
8%

Ground
Issues, 2,
17%
Unsafe Operation is top
Unsafe cause of DOs
Operation
9, 75%

Unsafe Operation Ground Issues Mechanical failure

 Looking at Lorry Cranes
Crane-related Dangerous
Occurrences – 2014 to 2017 Causes of Lorry Crane DO
(2014-2017)

25 Mechanic
22 al Failure
19 21%
20

15 12
12
Ground
10 Failure
11%
5 Outriggers not
6 8 extended/deployed,
1 4
0 Unsafe 63%
2014 2015 Operation
2016 2017 5%

Lorry Crane
DO
 Case
Studies
 Lorry crane toppled
The lorry crane operator was unloading a 3 ton forklift when the lorry crane collapsed to
the passenger side of its cabin. There was no injury as a result of the incident. Outriggers
were not fully extended.
 another Lorry crane toppled
A lorry crane operator was lifting a container from a trailer parked on its right side. He
was tasked to lift the container to the left (passenger) side of the lorry crane to be
placed on the ground. When the load was lifted slightly off the trailer, the lorry crane
toppled to its right (driver) side. Outriggers were not fully extended.
 lorry crane load dropped
the lorry crane operator was unloading a pellet of cement bags in a HDB carpark when the
crane’s hydraulic arm failed. As the load was being lifted over the vehicles, the arm
lowered itself uncontrollably, resulting in the load crushing into one of the vehicles.
Possibly mechanical parts had failed
 crane boom back flipped
crane operator was lifting a concrete bucket and was lowering the boom of crawler crane
when the crane started to tilt forward. The crane operator then raised the boom up in order
to stabilize the crane, causing it to back flipped.
 Tower crane boom failed
A tower crane was lowering and slewing a concrete bucket when the crane boom
suddenly buckled and collapsed
 Mobile crane Tilted
A mobile crane operator was lifting a concrete bucket for a house construction when the
crane started to tilt towards its left side. The ground which one of the outriggers was
deployed had failed
Sharing of findings from Data
Logger Inspection Ops
 install data logger NOW
Date of implementation

All new mobile cranes registered with MOM on or after 1 August

2015 will have to be equipped with data loggers; and

All existing registered mobile cranes will be required to be

retrofitted with data loggers by 1 August 2018

Co-funding scheme

WSH Council launched a co-funding scheme

which will cover 50% of the cost of
installation up to $5,000 for each registered
crane.
An ops was conducted with a focus on data logger

Focus of
inspections:
Monitoring of use of mobile crane DL

• Carried out physical inspection of the crane

• Conducted functionality check on the data
Objective:
loggers
• Reviewed DL records for possible misuse
 Failed to Maintain

Key issues

Failure of crane owner to maintain data logger in good

working condition

• Unable to retrieve records due to software issues

• Unable to retrieve records due to corrupted SD card
• Data loggers not calibrated
• Data loggers not recording tested parameters
 Failed to Check

Several cases of crane operators found to have neglected their

duty to carry out their pre-operational checks

The DL report revealed that the crane A safety time-out was carried out to remind
operator did not carry out the pre-operational the lifting team of their responsibilities
checks despite completing the ‘daily checklist’

The DL was effective in revealing contraventions which

could not be earlier detected
 Failed to Review

Failure to ensure that adequate safety measures are taken

in respect of any crane used at the workplace

Several cases where overloading incidents were detected

Overload detected in DL report Occupier explained that it could be due Occupier revised procedures to place
to the frictional forces subjected on the bucket on a platform to reduce the
bucket when it is placed on mud frictional loading

The DL was effective in revealing unsafe conditions which

was difficult to anticipate
 What you SAY
DL implementation can help improve crane safety
management at the worksite
Eng Lee Engineering Pte Ltd

“With the use of data loggers on our cranes, we can regularly monitor the performance and usage
of our machines at regular basis. The data logger is able to capture necessary data and help us
identify possible machinery problems in advance so that we can proactively maintain/repair the
machine before any possible breakdowns.

We can use the data to counter check the adequacy of the crane used and know if our lifting plans
are effective. We can also know the safety commitment and performance of our lifting teams
(particularly the crane operators) during the lifting operations from the data gathered.”

- Mr Kong Chee Kwan (Site Manager)

“The data logger helps me prove that I have done my due diligence to ensure safe
lifting operations. Records from the data logger supports my explanation of the site
and crane limitations to my supervisors”

-Mr Lim Tian Soon (Crane Operator)

 What you SAY
DL implementation can help improve crane safety
management at the worksite

“we received a report from our client that the sheave of a

mobile crane was damaged at a worksite. We had originally
thought that the cause of the damage was due to
overloading of the crane. However, upon downloading the
data from the data logger and conducting a thorough
analysis, we discovered that the failure was instead due to
incorrect and unsafe work methods. With this finding, we
collaborated with onsite personnel to develop new and safer
work methods to prevent similar incident from occurring”

- Mr Andrew Tan (General Manager)

Going Forward
Beyond Data Loggers
“Safety and risk managers
on the site can see the light
on the device. A green light
indicates whether the
qualified operator is running
the crane, and it has passed
the daily inspection”
International Scan at Integrating Technology into Crane Safety Symposium 2017
Safety
Computer aided Controls

“Manufacturers with
asymmetrical
outrigger systems
help cranes fit into
confined spaces on
the job”
International Scan at Integrating Technology into Crane Safety Symposium 2017
Safety
Including HEALTH

Technology and Health –

Looking into comfort of
Crane Operators
International Scan at Integrating Technology into Crane Safety Symposium 2017
Safety
leveraging Technology

How to leverage Technology in

raising safety standards ?
THANK YOU