Developing Nations Struggle To Keep Crane Workers Safe
Crane accidents occur almost everyday all over the world. But accidents in developing nations can be particularly tragic. On Oct. 10, a tower crane working at a six-story residential building in Zibo, China, collapsed onto a kindergarten, killing five children and injuring five. Just four days later, in Shanghai, a tower crane collapsed inside a powerplant, killing two operators.
In an attempt to expose workers to higher levels of training, a company in China is organizing a trade mission to send 500 operators to the U.S. to learn new skills. “This is our first time to organize such training,” says Xu Hao, spokesman for Shenzhouyilong Trade Co. Ltd. The goal of the trip is to help the country’s crane workers see how construction works in the U.S. and understand “advanced Western training ideas,” Xu says.