Incident alert
ACTIVITY:
TRANSPORT / DELIVERY
DATE ISSUED:
08/08/2017 10:43:48
TITLE
60t Crane Rollover
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
United Kingdom
ACCIDENT / INCIDENT DETAILS
A mobile crane driver, accompanied by a banksman, was driving down a narrow country lane on route to a quarry to undertake a lift.
The road is very narrow with foliage on one side, and a soft verge and 5 foot deep ditch on the other. A rut had developed at the roadside and it appears that the front wheel of the crane dropped into this.
The driver continued onwards and tried to steer the crane out of the rut, but was unsuccessful; the trailing wheels also dropped into the rut and eventually the soft verge gave way, causing the crane to overturn.
This incident occurred when the road would have been very dark. By chance the Quarry Manager and Deputy were following behind the crane and assisted with rescue of the two occupants. The route used by the crane is the normal route used by quarry traffic.
ACCIDENT / INCIDENT IMAGES
Click image to enlarge
Access Road
Click image to enlarge
Rut to side of road
LEARNING POINTS / ACTIONS TAKEN
KEY FINDINGS
- The crane was being driven at low speed and both occupants were wearing their seat belts; thankfully they only sustained very minor injuries.
- The driver was breathalysed by the Police and found to be below the legal limit.
HOW COULD THIS INCIDENT HAVE BEEN AVOIDED?
- Effective journey planning would have identified a different route to site
- Keep away from unmarked edges and soft roadside verges
KEY REVIEW POINTS
- Remind drivers about the dangers of soft verges, and how easily a vehicle can roll over.
- Wearing a seat belt and not carrying any loose equipment in the cab will help to prevent injuries
- Journey Planning should be undertaken for all deliveries, and could identify where an alternative / safer route is necessary. In this case a movement order had been applied for but had not been issued. The Police had instructed the crane provider to use an alternative route but this had not been communicated to the driver.
LEARNING POINTS / ACTIONS IMAGES
Click image to enlarge
Overturned Crane
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