Worldwide Crane Accident Stats Show Need for Cameras on Cranes

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Crane Accident Fire

Crane Accident Fire

According to a 2012 report from eTraining, “Crane safety stats this year have been marred with worldwide mishaps resulting in deaths, injuries and property damage.” The report goes on to say, “The geographic scope of the crane accidents reported show that crane operating safety is a serious matter.” While not all of these accidents could have been avoided, evidence shows that may of them may not have happened with the use of HoistCam’s cameras on cranes. How can cameras on cranes help?

Cameras on Cranes Alert Operators to Power Lines

A report from Crane Accidents brings the sad news of the death of a Russian crane operator in late July. According to the article, “The driver/operator of a loader crane burnt to death after his boom contacted high tension overhead power lines in Krasnoyarsk, central Russia, late last month. The man had been unloading building materials for a block of flats when he raised the straight telescopic boom firmly into the power lines which then continued to arc for quite some time, before the power lines burnt out.”

The story went on to explain that while the fire service did all that they could do, they could not save the crane operator. The electric current was so powerful that even attempting to douse the flames could have cost the firemen their lives. The electric arcing was so strong, in fact, that several other fires were started from this one.

How HoistCam Can Help

HoistCam is always saddened by such news, and strives to see to it that these types of accidents are prevented in the future. By Adding HoistCam’s cameras on cranes, blind spots such as this can be eliminated. Not only can lives be saved, but millions of dollars in damage to equipment, buildings, and other property could be saved as well. The crane, the load, and other property was likely destroyed by the initial fires and the other fires which were started as a result. With HoistCam’s cameras on cranes, there is a good chance that this type of accident need never happen again. How?

Had the crane operator had one of HoistCam’s cameras on the boom of his crane, he would have known that the power lines were in his path just by simply glancing at a monitor in the cab of his crane. Even without the aid of riggers below to guide him, he could have been warned in time to avoid this type of catastrophe. HoistCam’s camera feed sent straight to his monitor could have helped this man guide his boom away from the power lines, and brought home safe when the job was done. And that, after all, is always the main goal of any crane operator’s job.