Surrey, United Kingdom

January 2015 Surrey, United Kingdom

Project Crane The Outcome Key Learning

Mobile crane in transit

Two-axle Demag All-Terrain Crane • Three damaged cars, no injuries. • An audible and visual alarm should be installed to alert the driver if the outrigger is not fully secure. • Checking the outrigger pin is correctly engaged should form part of any pre-departure inspection procedure. • Proper maintenance should be undertaken on hydraulic and electrical systems, including the outriggers. cabin and therefore continued driving, the public in the immediate area.

In January 2015, the outrigger beam on a city type all-terrain crane severely damaged three cars when it extended while travelling to a job in Surrey, United Kingdom.

The two axle Demag crane was driving along a residential street when the beam extended damaging three cars but fortunately causing no injuries.

A statement from Surrey Police stated that The cause is likely to be related to some

the crane experienced “a hydraulics failure, causing the support leg to be extended outwards.”

Modern cranes with outriggers have safety features that prevent the outriggers from deploying while in transit, however, the fault and the outrigger deployed itself, bypassing its safety features and opening while travelling. The crane driver could not see the deployed outrigger from the subsequently striking several cars parked on the side of the street. Fortunately, the incident occurred very early in the morning, and therefore, there were no members of

Incidents involving extended outrigger beams during travel - while not impossible, are relatively rare with all-terrain cranes. crane experienced a possible hydraulic

form of contamination in the hydraulic system or an electrical fault.

Modern cranes with outriggers have safety features that prevent the outriggers from deploying while in transit, however the crane experienced a possible hydraulic fault and the outrigger deployed itself.

Key learnings from this incident

Even though these incidents are rare with all-terrain cranes, a secondary safety measure or alert should be in place to make the driver aware if the outrigger is not secure. Regardless of what electric outrigger extender system is in place, a safety pin should also be fitted and engaged before departure, or an alarm installed to alert the driver if the outrigger is not entirely secure. Most modern cranes are equipped with an alarm system, and older cranes can be retrofitted with a similar system. Checking that the pin is correctly engaged in the outrigger should form part of any pre-departure inspection procedure.

Regular checks of a crane’s hydraulics and electrical systems should include specific checks of the outrigger system to ensure it’s in good working condition.

If an incident does occur due to a faulty outrigger, the crane owner should refer the incident to the manufacturer so they can be aware of the potential of this incident occurring again and make safety updates where required.