Chicago Workers' Compensation Attorney Blog

Two men are lucky to be alive after a crane toppled over, reports the Chicago Tribune.

Our Chicago workers' compensation attorneys know that construction remains the deadliest occupation in Illinois. Of the 158 work place fatalities in 2009, 27 were in construction.

The two construction workers were on a South Side bridge project when a lift-crane toppled over, hitting one of them. The accident happened on the 9900 block of South Genoa Avenue in the Washington Heights neighborhood around 10 a.m. As the crane fell over, it hit the upper body of a 59-year-old worker but thankfully he was not crushed. He was taken to Advocate Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn and though his injuries were serious they did not appear to be life threatening. The operator of the crane was also injured and was taken to Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park and was reported to be in good condition. Law enforcement launched an investigation to determine what caused the accident.

Common causes of crane accidents:

-Cranes tip over or collapse because the ground beneath them is uneven or unstable or the load is above the crane’s capacity.

-Contacting power lines is the leading cause of crane accidents. If any part of the crane hits a live power line the electrocution of the crane operator, as well as any other workers in the area can occur.

-Crane assembly and disassembly needs be done according to the manufacturer’s instructions. After assembly tests should be done to determine the stability of the crane to avoid an accident.

-A crane boom collapse happens when it is extended beyond the manufacturer’s instructions. Over extension can lessen the crane’s capacity to carry loads, and can cause tremendous stress the mechanical, structural and hydraulic components of the crane.

Tips to prevent crane accidents:

-Properly train crane operators and those working around cranes.
-Cranes should have regular maintenance to prevent part failures.
-Crane loads need to be properly rigged to avoid workers being crushed.
-Never overload a crane, know the cranes load capacity.
-Make sure the crane assembly and disassembly is done properly and performed on level ground.