Tower crane incidents worldwide

Since 2000 there have been five major incidents on UK construction sites that involved the collapse of a tower crane.

Since 2000 there have been five major incidents on UK construction sites that involved the collapse of a tower crane. These five being Canary Wharf in 2000, Worthing in 2005, Battersea in 2006, Liverpool in 2007, Croydon in 2007 and Liverpool in 2009. Subsequent investigation into these incidents by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), assisted by the Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL), showed that these collapses were due to different causes.

HSL were requested to identify tower crane incidents that had taken place around the world between 1989 to 2009 and obtain, where possible, the causes of each incident and the tower crane involved. The intention underlying the research was to use the information obtained to assist in advising and guiding the UK tower crane industry to help improve safety.