WorkSafeBC provides many Occupational Health and Safety resources for workers, employers and others. Here are a few that relate to crane operations in BC.
Crane Operations Resources
Mobile Cranes and Boom Trucks
Visit the WorkSafeBC page Mobile Cranes and Boom Trucks for a full current list of resources.
Annual Inspection and Certification Requirements for Mobile Cranes and Boom Trucks
Mobile cranes and boom trucks have the potential to fail and cause serious injury or death. This equipment must be inspected and certified annually to reduce the risk. This bulletin outlines the responsibilities of machine owners and certifying engineers in the inspection and certification process.
Mobile Crane Failures: Why Maintenance and Inspections are Critical
This video explains why maintenance and inspections of mobile cranes is so important. When crane inspection or maintenance is skipped or isn’t thorough, critical parts can fail with devastating effects.
Mobile Crane Inspection Checklist
This checklist is a reference tool for employers. It is used by WorkSafeBC prevention officers to inspect mobile cranes. It provides specific OHSR references for each aspect of safe crane set up and operation. There is also a crane lift capacity analysis section, where description and weights for load information can be added.
Mobile Crane Requirements for Planning and Operation – Plan the Lift, and Lift to the Plan
Every mobile crane lift is potentially hazardous and must be planned and carried out safely, according to the requirements of the Workers Compensation Act and Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. This bulletin explains how.
Hand Signals for Hoist and Crane Operations
This Toolbox Talk guide provides illustrations of hand signals used in hoisting and crane operations.
Tower Cranes
Visit the WorkSafeBC Tower Cranes web page for a full, current list of resources.
Tower Crane Inspection Checklists
This inspection checklist has been designed to assist you and your company to meet the requirements of WorkSafeBC regulations for inspecting your cranes.
- Construction Site Tower Crane Report
- Tower Crane Foundation Inspection Requirements
- More coming soon
Top climbing a tower crane: Ensuring safe assembly and dismantling
The importance of tower crane safety was brought to the forefront in July 2021 when a tower crane collapsed while being dismantled at a construction site in Kelowna. As a result, five people were killed, including four workers and a person unrelated to the construction site. Another worker was injured.
The bulletin notes that failure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions may result in a structural failure that puts lives and property at risk. It provides an overview of top climbing, discusses the hazards, employer responsibilities, safe work practices, and legal and regulatory requirements.
General Resources for Crane Operations
Preventing Lifting Point Failures in Construction
A lifting point is used for attaching rigging so an item can be lifted to height. When a lifting point fails, it can result in a serious injury or fatality to workers on a construction site. This bulletin provides best practices to employers, suppliers, manufacturers, crane operators, riggers, and prime contractors for preventing lifting point failures.
A Bright Arc: A Guide to Power Line Safety
This video deals with the dangers of working near overhead and underground power lines. Dramatic footage and computer animation show what can happen if you or someone on your jobsite accidentally contacts an energized power line.
Creating a fall protection plan for your worksite: Fillable template and guide
Safety planning plays a key role in protecting workers from fall hazards on a construction site. Employers can use this fillable template and companion guide to help create fall protection plans that meet the unique needs of every worksite.
Ensure crane operators are qualified and competent to operate a specific machine
This 2018 bulletin examines the factors that contributed to a load-failure incident and gives an overview of the competencies that crane operators need to demonstrate.
This bulletin describes how to inspect crane hooks following an incident of equipment failure in 2014.
Crisis Support
Crisis Support Line – 1-800-624-2928
Contact WorkSafeBC’s Crisis Support Line if you or your family is in emotional crisis and you’ve been injured at work. Crisis counsellors can provide support to you and your family, refer you to other services in your community, and alert WorkSafeBC so they can follow up with you. This line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Working in BC – Law and Policy
The WorkSafeBC Law and Policy page contains BC laws and regulations related to Occupational Health and Safety including:
- Workers Compensation Act – OHS Provisions
- Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (OHSR) and Guideline
- OHS Policies
- WorkSafeBC Standards
For more information about the parts of the Workers Compensation Act and OHSR specific to crane operations, please visit our OHS Resources page.
CONTACT
BC CRANE SAFETY
PO Box 42066, RPO Guildford
Surrey, BC V3R 1S5
PHONE: 604-336-4699
FAX: 604-336-4510
EMAIL: info@bccranesafety.ca
