The investigation into a September crane collapse in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, has reportedly resulted in five indictments, including officials at lead contractor Saudi Binladen Group.
A large part of the U.S. construction industry may not be aware that crane operators will need to be certified by 2017, according to a report that a training company has published.
Lifting technology and industry standards have advanced significantly since the mid- 1990s, when the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association put out the Exxon Crane Guide.
The U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration plans to issue a new proposal next year revising its controversial regulation setting certification requirements for operators of cranes at construction sites.
For decades, crane engineers have created new markets with incremental changes to their tried-and-tested lifting systems. However, the ongoing quest to make heavy-lift cranes more powerful and efficient regularly comes down to one problem: counterweights.