Anglo American Publishes Full Findings on Franna Crane Rollover at Grosvenor Mine

30-Second Takeaway

Anglo American has publicly shared the full findings of a serious crane incident that occurred at its Grosvenor Mine in Queensland in December 2024, where a 40-tonne Franna pick-and-carry crane overturned while transporting a 20-tonne crawler crane track. Although no one was injured, the incident narrowly missed a spotter and was found to involve multiple failures in safety protocols. By releasing a detailed animation and lessons learned, the company aims to prevent similar incidents across the mining and lifting industries.

Incident Overview

Bowen Basin, Queensland December 10, 2024.

A serious crane incident occurred at Anglo American’s Grosvenor Mine involving a Franna AT40 pick-and-carry crane supporting the setup of an LR 1280 crawler crane.

The Franna crane overturned while travelling with a 20-tonne crawler crane track, a load it is typically capable of handling at a radius of just over three metres. The incident occurred at approximately 9:30 a.m. and resulted in damage to the crane, though no injuries were reported.

What Happened

During the move, the Franna crane began to turn around the front of the crawler crane. As it did so:

• The suspended load swung significantly outside its safe working radius

• The boom was subjected to substantial side loading

• The crane became unstable and overturned

A spotter / slinger / signaller was positioned nearby and narrowly avoided being struck, managing to run clear of the boom as the crane rolled.

What Is Known

• Crane involved: Franna AT40 pick-and-carry

• Load: 20-tonne crawler crane track

• Supporting crane: LR 1280 crawler crane

• Incident time: Approximately 9:30 a.m., December 10, 2024

• Injuries: None

• Damage: Primarily to the Franna crane itself

Investigation Findings

Anglo American confirmed that its internal investigation identified a “series of critical failures” rather than a single error.

Key findings included:

• Overload indicator (LMI) warnings were overridden

• Risk-assessed lifts were re-classified from critical to routine

• This re-classification occurred despite changes in terrain and risk profile

• Controls and decision-making processes did not reflect the evolving lift conditions

Actions Taken Since the Incident

In response, Anglo American has implemented several corrective measures, including:

• Real-time alerts for overload indicator override events

• Development of a log viewer to support accurate event interpretation and review

• Publication of a detailed animated reconstruction of the incident to support learning and discussion

The company has stated that these steps are intended not only to address internal processes but also to contribute to industry-wide safety awareness.

Industry Learning Through Transparency

Anglo American has chosen to publicly share the incident and its findings to encourage safer practices beyond its own operations.

Shane McDowall, General Manager of Grosvenor Mine, stated:

“This wasn’t just one poor decision but rather a series of critical failures. By showing the chain of decisions that led to the rollover, we’re helping people understand how small shortcuts and missed steps can build into something potentially catastrophic.”

He added:

“We’ve taken a hard look at every contributing factor — not to assign blame, but to ensure we embed the right behaviours, controls and conversations before a lift even begins.”

Why This Incident Was Possible

Pick-and-carry cranes are particularly sensitive to:

• Radius changes while travelling

• Load swing during turns

• Side loading on the boom

• Uneven or changing ground conditions

When warning systems are overridden and lift classifications are downgraded, operators may unknowingly operate outside safe margins especially during dynamic movements rather than static lifts.

Industry Reminder

This incident was preventable, and the absence of injuries was due largely to situational awareness and quick reaction rather than margin.

By openly sharing what went wrong, Anglo American has provided a valuable case study demonstrating how small deviations from procedure can compound into major incidents.

As McDowall noted:

“The most important thing to come out of the mine is the miner.”

Editorial Note

Crane Hub Global reports on crane-related incidents to support industry learning and prevention. This article is based on information released directly by Anglo American and reflects findings available at the time of publication.

How Incidents Like This Can Be Prevented

Maintain Critical Lift Classification

Any lift involving changing terrain, load travel, or proximity to personnel should remain classified as critical, even if similar lifts have been performed previously.

Respect LMI and Warning Systems

Override functions should be treated as last-resort tools, with clear authorization, documentation, and review.

Control Radius During Travel

Pick-and-carry operations must account for radius growth during turns, not just static lift charts.

Spotter Positioning and Escape Planning

Spotters should always have clear escape routes and be positioned outside potential fall and boom sweep zones.

Use of Advanced Operator Aids

Following the incident, Franna AT40 cranes have been equipped with safety radar, dynamically mapping safe working zones in real time based on boom configuration, articulation, and terrain.