NSC, NCCCO Foundation Report on the Role of Technology in Crane Safety – Occupational Health and Safety

NSC and NCCCO Foundation report on the role of technology in crane safety

New technologies such as proximity sensors and drones can significantly reduce the risks and dangers faced by crane operators and improve safety in the crane industry.

• By Robert Yaniz Jr.
• Oct 3, 2024

A new report from the National Safety Council (NSC) and the NCCCO Foundation highlights the potential of new technologies to improve safety in the crane industry. With the cost of a crane-related fatality estimated to be over $4 million, the report identifies 13 technologies that could reduce risk while increasing efficiency.

According to a recent press release, NSC surveyed more than 2,000 crane operators in 2023 as part of its Work to Zero initiative to better understand the hazards they face. Based on this research, the report identifies 13 technologies that can improve crane safety. These are the following:

• Anti-two-block systems
• Camera systems and computer vision
• Drones
• Wearables for fatigue monitoring
• Ground radar
• Load moment display systems
• Load rotation and maneuvering devices
• Location geofencing
• Proximity sensors
• robotics
• Virtual and augmented reality
• Wearables for monitoring vital functions
• Wind speed indicator

The report also includes two case studies that show how drone technology and camera systems can be used to improve crane operations, from emergency response to blind spot incident prevention.

“While there are many serious risks associated with the crane industry – from electrocution and boom collapse to crane tipping over and colliding with a moving load – it is clear that more work is needed to improve safety in this important area.” Katherine Mendoza, NSC senior director of workplace programs, said in a statement. “There is no better way to gain insight into possible solutions to reduce risk than by learning from those affected. That’s why we partnered with the NCCCO Foundation to survey workers in the crane industry and identify hazards and technology innovations to reduce injuries.”

According to the Census of Fatal Occupational Accidents, fatal injuries during transportation and material handling, including crane work, were among the highest in 2022. NSC and the NCCCO Foundation intend to continue working together to educate the crane industry about potential workplace hazards and technology solutions to minimize risks.

For more information about the report, “Potential Technology Solutions to Address Hazards in the Crane Industry,” visit the NSC website.