NY Crane Accidents
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that about 250,000 crane operators operate about 125,000 cranes in the construction industry, and anywhere from 80,000 to 100,000 cranes in the general and maritime industries.
When cranes are not operated or maintained properly, NY crane accidents can cause serious injuries, or even death. A crane accident in NYC can involve any components of the large machinery or the equipment involved in its use, such as derricks, hoists, and hoisting accessories.
Crane injury in NYC
There is a high risk of injury or death in the event of an NY crane accident. Oftentimes individuals suffer NYC crane accident injury on the job due to the following main causes of crane accidents in NYC, as identified by OSHA:
- Boom or crane contact with an energized power line
- Accidents under the hook lifting device
- Cranes overturning
- Loads being dropped
- Booms collapsing
- Crushing by the counter weight
- Outrigger use
- Falls from the crane
- Failures in rigging
While these are the most common types of crane accidents in NY, it is clear that cranes are complicated machines. If you suffer a crane injury in NY, contact a crane accident lawyer in NYC who can assess your case.
NYC crane accident law
OSHA stipulates a number of NY crane accident laws and regulations that employers are required to follow. Consider the following safety measures your employer must take:
- Maintain a safe minimum clearance when power lines cannot be de-energized
- If the crane operator is unable to visually determine safe clearance, another worker must be charged with the responsibility of observing the clearance and to provide sufficient warnings when the crane approaches safe clearance limits
- Do not use cage-type boom guards, insulating links, or proximity warning devices as a substitute for de-energizing and grounding lines or maintaining safe clearance
- De-energize and visibly ground electrical distribution and transmission lines at the location of work
- Use insulated barriers that are not a part of the crane to prevent contact with power lines
When injury occurs because an employer fails to comply, it can be beneficial to consult with a NY crane accident attorney about initiating a crane accident lawsuit in NYC.
Crane accident attorneys in NYC
If you or a loved one suffers a construction, ladder, scaffolding, or crane accident injury in NYC, the NY crane accident lawyers at Burns & Harris are here to help. For more information or to schedule a free evaluation of your case with one of our attorneys, call 1 888 PAIN-LAW. We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis.
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Seth A. Harris