CPWR — The Center for Construction Research and Training: Research: Small Studies Program
  In light of the large number of recent fatalities in New York City and Las Vegas, CPWR examined the data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to evaluate trends over time and propose necessary changes to prevent future injury and death.  

Crane-Related Deaths in Construction and Recommendations for Their Prevention*

*This report will undergo a revision with new data in the near future.  Check back periodically for an updated report.

PowerPoint with new data AVAILABLE November 7.

An in-depth report on U.S. crane fatalities found the number of crane-related deaths among construction workers is significant, with an average of 22 workers killed annually. The report’s findings, released June 17, used Bureau of Labor Statistics’ worker fatality data from 1992 to 2006 on construction workers: the numbers and causes of death, the trades of workers involved, the size of employers, and types of cranes involved.

Perhaps most important, the report gives eight recommendations to prevent fatalities and injuries from occurring.

The Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO, the Greater New York Building Trades Council and the International Union of Operating Engineers joined in the release of the report.

 View/Download the full report

 View/Download the press release

 View/Download PowerPoint presentation

Watch a crane collapse
“Big Blue,” one of the world’s largest mobile cranes, collapsed at Milwaukee stadium, killing three workers 

In 2003, OSHA formed a Crane and Derrick Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee (C-DAC) of representatives from industry, labor and government to develop a new safety standard for the construction industry to aid in reducing the number of  crane-related deaths.   The committee first met in July 2003, and reached a consensus on regulatory language for the new standard on July 9, 2004.  In May 2008, OSHA published its semiannual agenda and announced that the proposed crane standard will be published for public comment in the Federal Register in August 2008.

 View/Download the proposed crane standard


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