What is one of the leading causes of accidents involving cranes?

Miscommunication or misunderstanding signals is one of the leading causes of accidents involving cranes because effective communication is critical during operations. Signal persons are responsible for ensuring that the crane operator clearly understands the intended actions, and any failure in this communication can lead to dangerous situations. For example, if a signal is not seen or interpreted correctly by the operator, it might result in improper lifting, swinging loads into personnel or equipment, or placing loads in unsafe locations.

While equipment malfunction, lack of training, and poor weather conditions can contribute to crane accidents, many incidents occur due to errors in signaling, which directly impacts the coordination between the signal person and the crane operator. Effective communication practices, including the use of standardized signals and confirmation protocols, are essential in preventing such accidents.