New bulletin reinforces safe work practices for top climbing a tower crane
Top climbing, a common way of assembling and dismantling a tower crane, is hazardous work that must only be performed by qualified workers. Our new bulletin explains how top climbing works, outlines the hazards for this activity, and discusses safe work practices to reduce the risks.
The importance of tower crane safety was brought to the forefront in July 2021 when a tower crane collapsed while being dismantled at a construction site in Kelowna. As a result, five people were killed, including four workers and a person unrelated to the construction site. Another worker was injured.
Top climbing a tower crane: Ensuring safe assembly and dismantling notes that failure to follow the manufacturer's instructions may result in a structural failure that puts lives and property at risk. It provides an overview of top climbing, discusses the hazards, employer responsibilities, safe work practices, and legal and regulatory requirements.
For more information and resources, visit Tower cranes.