Accidents, incidents and near miss-events occur on construction sites every year and they are 100 percent preventable. Here are 5 critical steps that will reduce your risk:

A hire firm boss has admitted a mobile crane that leaked oil on the A92 before a fatal car crash was not safe for the road. Lawrence Whyte, 40, of Ellon-based William Whyte Cargo Handlers, initially told the inquiry in Stonehaven Sheriff Court that he believed the crane was roadworthy. But he went on to admit it was not when shown the condition of some of its parts.

A four axle truck crane was turning at an intersection and hit a 71 year old lady, who died later in hospital. Witnesses say that the driver was not speeding or driving recklessly and there is absolutely no suggestion that there was anything wrong with the crane.

The International Sign Association has added a Mobile Crane Operator Safety Certification Training class in Altoona, Pa. ISA also has partnered with The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO), which has agreed to administer tests the day following the completion of training. The tests will be held in the same location as the training. ISA will conduct the Altoona course May 25-28 and one in Pittsburgh April 20-23. Dozens of other courses will take place around the country throughout the year. Visit www.signs.org/cranetraining for the full 2011 crane-training schedule.

A man has died after a crane dropped a concrete panel on him in Kitchener, Ontario, just west of Toronto, Canada yesterday, it was the second incident on the site in two weeks. The man aged 42 suffered severe head injuries when the concrete slab fell as it was being lifted off of a truck by a tower crane. The ministry of labour suggested that poor rigging may have been to blame. The company responsible for the site is Tricar Developments.

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Article from Industrial Lift & Hoist on the topic of Sythetic Sling Care. While this is an effective way of lifting objects, proper care must be taken by the rigger. Educates reader on the difference between cutting and abrasion and the different types of protection for both.

The largest machine on display t bC India is likely to be Liebherr’s 600 tonne capacity LR 1600/2 crawler crane, originally launched at ConExpo 2008. The machine at the show has been bought by Shethia Erectors & Material Handlers Limited, which is one of Liebherr’s largest customers, operating a fleet of350-, 400- and 600- tonne crawlers and all-terrain cranes up to 400 tonnes.

This story is about looking at your crane daily. Just because a building is built up around you, doesn’t mean that things can’t go wrong with the crane below. Don’t be lazy, look at the whole thing. A Liebherr 420 in Hawaii, just a few years ago, had an entire pin set (pin and sleeve) back out of it’s hole at the base of the crane.

A judge has upheld manslaughter charges against a construction crane owner and a mechanic after a rig collapsed in New York City and killed two workers in May 2008, according to WSJ.com and the Associated Press.