A regular visitor was caught up in a loader crane overturn in Luxembourg last week.
The crane, a Fassi F820, was lifting building materials into the garden of a house on Klatzevee, just below Clervaux castle, when the front load side outrigger/stabiliser gave way.
The jacks were set up on the pavement/sidewalk with the front one next to a lamppost. It was also short-rigged, and there were no signs of any outrigger mats actually in use.
Thankfully, no one was injured in the incident, which did not even make the local news as far as we can tell, but there seems to have been some sort of oil spill which runs from the failed outrigger, suggesting that this is related to the cause of the incident?
Setting up on the pedestrian walkway is always fraught with risk, especially right next to a lamp post, which is likely to have a culvert below. Although, given the oil trail, this might be something else.
P.s. – A local has told us that a similar incident occurred towards the end of May with a Hiab, lifting panels into the back yard of a kindergarten in another part of town.
Many Vertikal readers will know that I have undertaken 19yrs of Research into 1902 Crane and Lifting Incidents Worldwide. This then is my Significant Findings report for the first six months January to June 2026.……...
1. New year 2026 did not start well with 8 x Crane and Lifting Incidents worldwide.
All of which has killed 37 souls in the first 26 days of January 2026.
2. YTD total of 59 x Incidents in 6 months causing 75 x Fatalities worldwide in 2026.
3. The Worst Month with 15 x Incidents causing 16 x Fatalities was April 2026.
.
Summary…..
4. A One-Off Incident is only a one-off until the next time.
For Example:- Truck Mounted Loader Cranes operated on a combination of Shortrigged Outriggers, No Mats and a Heavy Load on Long Boom Extended off to the side, where Gravity takes over, is a recipe for an unwanted rollover.
All of which has led to 258 Loader Crane Incidents in the past 19yrs.
5. Over-Reliance on the Wearing of PPE found at the foot of the HSE Hierarchy of Controls is now widespread. Whereas the most cost-effective option is always to apply HSE Control Measures:- 'Eliminate, Reduce, Isolate and Control' all Hazards (ERIC) Down to as Low as ‘Reasonably Practicable’ which known as ALARP.
6. Not enough Emphasis on Training in ‘Safe Systems of Work’, the Common Law obligation in the UK. All of which is a Strategic approach to Managing Safety based on HSG-65, so that if something goes wrong, no-one gets Killed.
Why have I undertaken this 19yrs of Research….
Because Worker Safety is important, Very Important and much too important to leave it to chance.
Yours Sincerely,
Mike J. Ponsonby
Safety Trainer 1997 to 2026.
PS. Safety is best when it is Embraced, rather than Enforced.
o
Good Morning Friends,
Many Vertikal readers will know that I have undertaken 19yrs of Research into 1902 Crane and Lifting Incidents Worldwide. This then is my Significant Findings report for the first six months January to June 2026.……...
1. New year 2026 did not start well with 8 x Crane and Lifting Incidents worldwide.
All of which has killed 37 souls in the first 26 days of January 2026.
2. YTD total of 59 x Incidents in 6 months causing 75 x Fatalities worldwide in 2026.
3. The Worst Month with 15 x Incidents causing 16 x Fatalities was April 2026.
.
Summary…..
4. A One-Off Incident is only a one-off until the next time.
For Example:- Truck Mounted Loader Cranes operated on a combination of Shortrigged Outriggers, No Mats and a Heavy Load on Long Boom Extended off to the side, where Gravity takes over, is a recipe for an unwanted rollover.
All of which has led to 258 Loader Crane Incidents in the past 19yrs.
5. Over-Reliance on the Wearing of PPE found at the foot of the HSE Hierarchy of Controls is now widespread. Whereas the most cost-effective option is always to apply HSE Control Measures:- 'Eliminate, Reduce, Isolate and Control' all Hazards (ERIC) Down to as Low as ‘Reasonably Practicable’ which known as ALARP.
6. Not enough Emphasis on Training in ‘Safe Systems of Work’, the Common Law obligation in the UK. All of which is a Strategic approach to Managing Safety based on HSG-65, so that if something goes wrong, no-one gets Killed.
Why have I undertaken this 19yrs of Research….
Because Worker Safety is important, Very Important and much too important to leave it to chance.
Yours Sincerely,
Mike J. Ponsonby
Safety Trainer 1997 to 2026.
PS. Safety is best when it is Embraced, rather than Enforced.