NZ crane operators urged to review safety

The Department of Labour in New Zealand is urging crane operators to review their health and safety practices after the sentencing of a company following a fatal accident in 2008.

A crane operator died after he was struck in the head by a metal shackle attached to a lifting strop in 2008. The crane was attempting to lift a 10.5-tonne load when the slings snapped. The maximum lifting capacity of the Hi-Ab (crane unit on the back of a truck) in the configuration in which it was set up at the time of the accident was just five tonnes.

Ian Roebuck Crane Hire was fined $105,500 and ordered to pay $50,000 in reparation after pleading guilty to one charge under section 6 of the Health and Safety in Employment Act of failing to take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of a worker while at work; and to a second charge under section 13 of the Act of failing to ensure the worker was adequately trained and supervised in the safe use of the crane.

Company director Ian Roebuck was convicted and discharged after pleading guilty to one charge under sections 6 and 56 of the Act.

Labour Department Workplace Services Acting Manager Jo-Ann Pugh said the death could have been avoided had basic health and safety practices been observed: “At the time of the accident that caused the death, the company did not have an operating manual for the unit being operated. This accident shows it is imperative that people who operate cranes are adequately trained in the safe use of their equipment.”

The company also failed to ensure the crane was fitted with a safe load chart to help the operator identify safe loads for the crane. Crane companies should ensure employees have access to manuals and safe load charts, essential to the safe performance of their jobs.

Pugh said the company also failed to ensure the crane’s slings were maintained in a safe condition: “They were frayed, had nicks on them, were not certified, showed signs of excessive wear and were not clearly marked with their Safe Working Load (3 tonnes).

“This accident serves as a reminder that employers need to ensure equipment is regularly inspected. If safety deficiencies are identified the crane unit should be removed from service until they are fixed.”

The Department of Labour has been working closely with the industry in reviewing the Approved Code of Practice for Cranes to help ensure it is kept up to date and in line with advances in technology and industry practice.