Washington has adopted new safety rules for tower cranes to help prevent collapses and protect workers and the public, following a deadly accident in Seattle nearly six years ago.
The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) filed the rules this month, requiring prime contractors to follow strict guidelines when operating, assembling, dismantling, or reconfiguring tower cranes on construction sites.
“These massive cranes operate directly above residents, workers, businesses, and busy streets, so the need for increased safety measures is clear,” Craig Blackwood, assistant director for L&I’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health, said.
Seattle crane collapses in 2019
The rules stem from a 2024 law passed by the Legislature after a 2019 crane collapse in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood killed four people and injured several others…