Accident de pont roulant : étude de cas d'une collision avec une charge entraînant un décès

On a certain day in December 2022, a safety accident involving overhead crane occurred at a certain industrial and trade company, resulting in one fatality and direct economic losses of over 1.3 million RMB.

Accident Equipment Overview

The lifting equipment involved in the accident was an electric hoist overhead crane, manufactured in September 2022. The main hook has a rated lifting capacity of 20 tons, and the auxiliary hook has a rated capacity of 5 tons, with a lifting height of 9 meters. The crane is operated via ground remote control. Both the manufacturing and installation were carried out by a certain crane machinery company. Installation began in late October 2022, and the hoisting was completed in early November. At the time of the accident, the crane had not passed the inspection and certification, and it had not been registered for use.

Accident Description 

On a certain day in December 2022, at around 7:00 PM, a foundry worker, Lin, was operating an electric hoist overhead crane at the casting workshop, attempting to simultaneously lift three sandboxes. He stood between the sandboxes being lifted and the other sandboxes. The hook began lifting before it was positioned directly above the sandboxes, causing the sandboxes to sway after lifting off the ground. Due to the cramped working space, poor visibility, and lack of safe clearance, the swinging sandbox collided with Lin’s head. Lin was not wearing his safety helmet properly. The impact caused injury and bleeding to his temple, and his body reflexively squatted down.

At the time of the incident, another foundry worker nearby heard the sound of a sandbox colliding with an object and noticed something unusual. He immediately reported it to the foundry supervisor, Lian. The two workers searched the area and found Lin squatting between two sandboxes, with his head bleeding and his safety helmet on the ground. They immediately informed the company’s main supervisor, Zheng, who rushed to the scene to organize a rescue operation. Workers were instructed to lift the sandboxes away from Lin, and emergency services (120) were called. Upon arrival, emergency personnel worked with the workers to move Lin using a stretcher to an open area in the workshop for treatment. Despite efforts, Lin was declared dead around 15 minutes later.

The accident resulted in one fatality, no damage to equipment, and direct economic losses of 1.31 million RMB.

Accident Causes 

Direct Cause  

The direct cause of the accident was that Lin did not maintain a sufficient safety distance from the load and failed to wear his safety helmet properly. During the operation of the overhead crane to lift the sandboxes, improper slanted hoisting caused the sandboxes to sway and collide with Lin’s head.

Indirect Causes  

1. Company’s Safety Management Failures: The company did not fully implement its safety responsibilities and production management practices. The casting workshop was poorly managed, with disorganized placement of materials, uneven floor surfaces, and no designated safety passageways. There was insufficient safety education and training for employees, and inadequate handling of violations. Additionally, uninspected and unqualified lifting equipment was put into use.

2. Lifting Equipment Company’s Responsibility: The crane machinery company delivered lifting equipment that had not undergone proper inspection and certification for use.

Main Cause 

The main cause of the accident was the failure of the industrial and trade company to enforce safety production responsibilities and implement safety management systems effectively. There was disorganization in on-site safety management, and safety inspections, education, and training were inadequate. The company also failed to rigorously enforce safety operating procedures and provide adequate warnings and supervision. Lin lacked awareness of safety production and violated safety operating procedures, including the improper use of personal protective equipment.

Secondary Cause

The crane machinery company, responsible for the installation of the lifting equipment involved in the accident, failed to take effective measures to prevent the equipment from being used before passing inspection and certification. The equipment was put into use despite being non-compliant.

Nature of the Accident  

This is a typical production safety responsibility accident involving special equipment, caused by the company’s failure to strictly implement its safety production responsibilities, incomplete safety management systems, inadequate safety education and skills training, illegal use of lifting equipment that had not been properly inspected and certified, and violations of operating procedures.

Responsibility Determination and Recommended Actions  

1. Industrial and Trade Company: The company failed to properly enforce its safety production management system, inadequately provided safety education and training for employees, and did not effectively stop or correct violations of operational procedures. Additionally, it illegally used lifting equipment that had not been inspected and certified. As the responsible party for this accident, it is recommended that the local Market Supervision Bureau handle the case in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.

2. Crane Machinery Company: The crane machinery company did not cooperate with the inspection agency to implement the required inspection processes during the installation of the lifting equipment. It illegally delivered equipment that had not passed supervision and inspection. As the responsible party for this accident, it is recommended that the local Market Supervision Bureau handle the case in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.

Accident Prevention

For the Company: 

• The company should source high-quality, compliant lifting products from reputable crane suppliers.

• The company must strengthen its safety management system, employ workers with high-risk work permits, and provide regular safety education and training.  

• OSHA 1910.179 (Overhead and Gantry Crane Regulations):  This OSHA regulation covers the operation, inspection, and maintenance of overhead and gantry cranes used for heavy lifting, defining the relevant terms, and providing general safety guidelines.

• OSHA Overhead Crane Training Requirements: This OSHA regulation provides guidelines for the operation, inspection, and maintenance of overhead and gantry cranes used for heavy lifting, ensuring that safety standards are met.

For Crane Suppliers:  

Once the crane is installed at the site, the crane supplier must assist in conducting a type test. The crane should not be officially delivered for use until it passes the inspection and is deemed compliant.

For Crane Operators:  

Crane operators must strictly follow safety operating procedures during work and cannot be negligent. 

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