Crane Operators & Ergonomic Injury

Ergonomic design refers to adaptations made in the workplace that reduce the chance of injury to the employee. Crane operators are exposed to high risk situations that require ergonomic adaptation to decrease the risk of injury.

Types

• Safety-related injuries sustained by crane operators vary from musculoskeletal disorders due to awkward postures and poor body mechanics when lifting to bodily injury resulting in death. An Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) survey revealed 127 crane-related deaths from 1997 to 2003.

Causes

• Safety-related injuries sustained by crane operators are most commonly caused by electrocution, crush injuries, falls from the operator work station, improper crane operation and crane tip-overs.

Adaptations

• OSHA has made ergonomic adaptations and put new provisions in place for training and qualifying crane operators for certification based on the data related to crane operator injury. More emphasis is placed on educating employees about safety hazards and how to react in emergency situations such as contact with an electrical power line. Injuries related to falls from the operator workstation have been addressed through the installation of grab bars, ladders and steps.