FLORIDA– Walb.com reports that two people suffered injuries following a crane collapse in a Florida neighborhood on Wednesday, May 30, 2018. The fell onto two homes and crashed through one of the roofs.
One of the houses was severely damaged while the other’s roof was damagedto a lesser extent. Florida Power & Light was using the equipment to install electrical poles. The construction accident caused a power outage in the area.
The operator of the crane sustained minor injuries and a person in the more severely damaged home was also hurt, although the injuries are considered minor. The unnamed occupant of the home was transported to the hospitalfollowing the accident.
The cause of the accident has not been reported.
Cranes present certain risks and are involved in an average of 80 fatal accidents every year in the United States. In about half of all crane accidents involving injuries, someone was killed. The risks include being hit by the falling crane or its load, which occurs in 40% of crane-related injuries, and electrocutions, which happen in 45% of accidents involving cranes. Electrocutions are a common problem because mobile cranes can come in contact with power lines when they are being operated.
Most crane accidents are avoidable. About 90% of these accidents are the result of human errors. It is important that anyone operating a crane has received adequate training with the equipment.
About one out of every five work-related deaths happens in the construction industry. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) says that “falls, followed by struck by an object, electrocution, and caught-in/between” accidents accounted for about 63.7% of construction worker deaths. OSHA says that an estimated 631 people could be saved every year if these categories of the accident were eliminated.
