Crane accidents
They are not politically controversial or sexy, but the proposed new regulations for crane operators in Maryland could save lives and state officials deserve credit for taking up this matter. It's serious business with potentially deadly consequences. A fatal accident in Anne Arundel county last May, preceded by the devastating collapse of a 20-story crane in New York City, brought the issue of worker safety and crane operations to the forefront.
Officials at the state's Labor and Industry Division had been reviewing equipment accidents when the 2008 mishaps occurred. A special task force recommended specified training levels for crane operators, operator trainees, riggers and signal people and drug testing for them as well. Employers also were required to keep training records under the recommendations that took effect April 6. Though not as tough as requiring operators to be certified, they are an improvement over what Maryland had up until now, which was basically not much. The new regs should make the work place safer for on-the-job laborers.
Contractors and their crews have until the end of the year to undergo this training and state officials say they will monitor employer compliance.
The Center for Construction Research and Training, basd in Silver Spring, reports the deaths of 3423 workers in 307 accidents between 1992 and 2006. That's an average of 22 a year. In February of this year, a 46-year-old crane operator working in Parole Plaza in Anne Arundel county was critically injured when pieces of the equipment fell on the cab of the crane. It was the second serious crane accident at that location in less than a year.
