Boom Lift Fatality Reported in Harelbeke, Belgium
30-Second Takeaway
A 32-year-old man was killed in Harelbeke, Belgium, after being thrown from a boom lift while working at an industrial construction site. The incident occurred during a lifting operation involving a boom lift working in conjunction with an all-terrain crane. Early information suggests a web sling failure may have caused a sudden load transfer to the platform, but this has not yet been formally confirmed. Labour authorities have launched a full investigation.
Incident Overview
A fatal access-equipment incident occurred yesterday in Harelbeke, near Kortrijk, Belgium.
The victim, aged 32, was working from the platform of a crawler boom lift believed to be a Japanese-built unit from the TVH / Mateco rental fleet when he was thrown from the platform during a lifting operation.
Despite emergency response efforts, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
What Is Known
Location: Harelbeke, near Kortrijk, Belgium
Equipment involved: Crawler boom lift (rented via TVH / Mateco fleet)
Other equipment: All-terrain crane operating nearby
Victim: Male, 32
Employer: Local contractor erecting an industrial building
Outcome: Fatal injuries
At the time of publication, only one photograph of the scene has been received.
Apparent Sequence of Events
Information received so far indicates that:
A web sling holding a load may have failed
The failure may have caused sudden load transfer toward the boom-lift platform
The resulting shock or movement ejected the worker from the platform
While these details are consistent with multiple sources, they have not yet been confirmed beyond reasonable doubt and should not be treated as official findings.
Official Response
The Ghent-region Labour Inspectorate confirmed that it has launched a formal investigation and appointed a technical expert.
In a statement, the inspectorate said:
“The investigation will focus on various legal obligations related to occupational safety and employee well-being.”
The owner of the boom lift was contacted as a courtesy and stated:
“I cannot add anything to this myself, we only know what has appeared in the press.”
Investigation Status
At the time of publication:
A technical investigation is ongoing
Equipment interaction between the crane, load, and MEWP is under review
No official cause has been confirmed
Further details are expected once expert findings are released
Crane Hub Global will update this article as verified information becomes available.
Industry Context
Structural or platform failures on boom lifts are extremely rare. When incidents involving MEWPs do occur, they are often linked to:
External impact forces
Being struck by a dropped or swinging load
Shock loading from adjacent lifting operations
Sudden, unintended load transfer to a work platform can generate forces far beyond what MEWPs are designed to absorb.
Industry Reminder
MEWPs are designed to provide safe access not to absorb impact or load forces. Combining lifting operations with elevated work introduces serious interaction risks if separation is not maintained.
This tragic incident underscores the importance of rigging integrity, operational separation, and conservative work planning.
Editorial Note
Crane Hub Global reports on crane and access-equipment incidents to support industry awareness and prevention. Apparent causes are clearly identified where official findings are pending. This article will be updated as verified information becomes available.
How Incidents Like This Can Be Prevented
Separation of Lifting and Access Operations
MEWPs should not be positioned where load failure or swing could impact the platform.
Sling and Rigging Inspection
Rigging components must be inspected, rated, and matched to load dynamics, including shock-load risk.
No-Load-Over-Platform Rule
Loads should never pass over or near occupied work platforms unless specifically engineered and controlled.
Clear Lift and Access Coordination
Crane and MEWP operations must be fully coordinated, with defined exclusion and interaction zones.
Stop-Work Authority
Any abnormal load movement, rigging concern, or unexpected force should trigger an immediate stop and reassessment.
