Bans that limit the age of cranes used for construction can have the effect of restricting the importation of worn-out machines but do little to prevent actual crane accidents on the jobsite, according to a forensic engineering firm that studied the issue at the request of a U.S. trade group.
In a 19-page report titled “Tower Crane Lift Expectancy: An Examination of Recent Trends To Establish Age Limits,” Sugar Land, Texas-based Haag Engineering Co.’s crane group concludes that global crane-age bans started out as anti-dumping restrictions disguised as safety laws. They “originated in the Asian Pacific where there had been no prior restrictions on used cranes brought in from various countries,” says the firm in its report.