The accident at the refinery in Houston may not have been anything that could have prevented due to operator licensing or certification. The investigation is just now occurring to determine what happened. Crane Operator Certification would only prevent operator errors and not necessarily equipment failures.

While operator error might not directly be responsible in this case, poor operator practices, like shock loading, accelerate parts wear. Operator certification would (hopefully) teach better methods, which would cut down on bad habits, and reduce parts wear and the resulting equipment failures.

Though this is another in a long line of crane accidents, it might be worthwhile to look at the rigging side of the lifting equation. There are two skills involved in every crane lift. Operating and Rigging. Both trades require different types of training and experience. Too often the Operator is the catch-all person who is supposed to know what is in the minds of the Riggers.

Dan Cashin
Rigger Trainer USN Retired

It may take some time before we hear the real story. Unfortunately the early reports often turn out to be filled with "mis"information. But it almost appears as though the crane's boom was boomed up too high, like maybe a backward stability issue. But then, hopefully we'll eventually get the facts and maybe even some lessons learned. Sometimes, in legal battles it appears that the final settlement of the case conditionally precludes disclosure of what really happened. So maybe my rant here is just spinning also. I sincerely hope that some improvement in the safety and health business comes out of this so these lives will not be lost in vain. However, it is a shame to think that it could take something this bad happening, to drive something good to happen.

STATISTICS say that 95% of crane accidents are OPERATOR ERROR!! Certified,competant,journeyman operator's and MANDATORY, yearly certification of cranes by CERTIFIED CRANE INSPECTOR'S is a vital step towards bringing these crane accident numbers down. Speaking from experience,I for one, as a crane operator have cleaned up and visited my share of crane accidents.Ironically, every one of them OPERATOR ERROR!! I live in a country where crane regulations are strictly enforced by the government. All crane operators and crane inspection companies MUST BE CERTIFIED!!! We also offer crane awareness programs for other trades that are directly involved with crane and rigging operations. These programs are taught by certified crane operators and riggers that have been in the hoisting industry for years. Through these practices and strict on site safety programs we have done a better job at keeping these incidents and fatalities to a minimum. I am aware that many jurisdictions in different countries do not require crane operators or crane inspectors to be government certified. Until this happens,this rate of incidents will continue. Certified Crane Operator : Operating Engineers,CANADA

looks to me like the only way it could have gone over backwards is if the main boom got to high and the live mast pulled it down backwards.

I was in Houston when the accident happened. the crane had just been setup and it was schedule to make a pick until the next week. It will be very interesting when this one comes full circle.

Unlike Big Blue in Milwaukee, at Miller Park, which went over with a load, because of wind gusts no one forced the issue of working, or over working the crane.

Maryland's new crane safety regulations. This is a regulation to require all crane operators to be trained and certified by an accredited agency. However, the commissioner of the DOL has excluded union crane operators grand fathered them) from these new rules and regs. This exclusion of union crane operator certification certainly give these operators a great advantage, even tho facts prove they have been responsible for the most accidents. This definitely places a great hardship on the non-union crane industry. How can this be legal? Why is this not considered a violation of the Antitrust Laws (Unfair Competition)? When these regs are law, and under the terms of these regs, the union operators wil be the only crane operators qualified to perform crane activities? Please advise, thank you! Peter Ellis, MD Crane Operator