Study urges national crane certifications

WASHINGTON, June 17 (UPI) -- A report released Tuesday found an average 22 U.S. workers a year are killed in mishaps involving construction cranes.

The Center for Construction Research and Training said the statistics from 1996 to 2006 indicate that a national certification program is needed for crane operators and inspectors as well as the riggers and signalers who work with the loads.

"We need to hold government accountable for its role in ensuring the lives of America's workers," Vincent Giblin, president of the International Union of Operating Engineers, said in a statement. "We need OSHA to enforce the standards they have and create new standards where there is an obvious need."

The report was compiled from U.S. Department of Labor statistics after two workers were killed in the collapse of a massive crane in New York City last month. Such collapses were the second-leading cause of crane fatalities after electrocutions caused by booms coming in contact with live power lines.

Among the report's recommendations were inspecting cranes before they are allowed to begin operations, and not lifting loads over streets where traffic is present.