Analysis of accidents with tower cranes on construction sites and recommendations for their prevention

Abstract

Analyzing and investigating accidents with tower cranes on construction sites is a particularly important preventative measure to ensure their accident-free work and reduce the number of occupational accidents at the construction site. The urgency of this problem is increasing very much in view of the relatively long operational life of the tower cranes on construction sites. This article presents various types of results from researches related to the analysis of accidents with tower cranes on construction sites worldwide. In addition, an approach for analysis of the absolute probability of a major tower crane accident caused by failures of mechanical components is considered, as well as analysis of possible sequences of failures of mechanical components leading to a tower crane accident, which are analyzed based on Fault Tree Analysis (FTA). An adequate statistical approach is proposed to establish the most significant organizational and technical causes, mainly related to the organization of the construction site and the activities for maintenance of the machine park, which cause accidents with tower cranes. An approach is proposed to calculate the conditional probability (weighting factor) of a specific organizational and technical cause to lead to a serious accident with the tower crane using Bayesian formulas, as well as an approach to determine the total assessment for each organizational and technical cause regarding its potential for causing accidents. Finally, proposals and recommendations are made related to the identification of key technical and organizational measures, the adequate and timely implementation of which could lead to a reduction in the number of occupational accidents with tower cranes on construction sites.