Question 7 of 7: Accident Case Analysis — Crane/Hoist Casting Drop

Question 7: Accident Case Analysis — Crane/Hoist Casting Drop (20 marks: 6/8/6)

Question text not reproduced: the examination questions are © Engineers and Geoscientists BC. Open the official past paper (linked at the top of this page) to read the question, then follow the worked solution below.

(i) Causes of the Accident

• Immediate cause — the hoist eyebolt (lifting) assembly failed, releasing the casting; the falling load snapped the cables, which struck the worker's head.
• Root/contributing causes: overloaded/defective/wrongly rated or improperly installed eyebolt/rigging; inadequate pre-use inspection of lifting gear; improper rigging; the worker positioned within reach of the load/cables (line of fire); inadequate training. Head protection working as intended is the positive factor that prevented a fatality.

(ii) Corrective Actions

• Rated, certified lifting gear with adequate safety factor; replace defective components; consider anti-drop/secondary retention.
• Inspection program — pre-use and scheduled certification of cranes/cables/eyebolts/hooks; remove damaged gear; keep records.
• Safe rigging — verify load weight and gear rating; proper attachment; never exceed capacity.
• Keep clear of suspended loads (exclusion zone, tag lines); training for operators/riggers; continue mandatory head protection.

(iii) Follow-Up

• Investigate and document the failure (examine the failed eyebolt/cables; root-cause analysis); report as legally required.
• Implement corrective actions; update lifting/rigging procedures and inspection schedule; retrain; audit compliance.
• Inspect all similar cranes/hoists for the same defect; monitor for recurrence; support the injured worker; share lessons learned.