NCCCO Foundation Launches Online Crane Safety Control Tool
- Meagan Wood
- Feb 24, 2025
- 3 min read
30 Second Takeaway
The NCCCO Foundation, in partnership with the National Safety Council (NSC), has launched a free online crane safety tool designed to help companies improve jobsite safety when using cranes and load handling equipment. The tool applies the Hierarchy of Controls framework to address common hazards linked to serious incidents and fatalities.
Managing Risk in Crane Operations
Despite ongoing improvements in equipment and training, crane-related incidents remain a significant risk on construction and industrial sites. Factors such as fatigue, falls from height, overhead power line contact and equipment overturning continue to contribute to serious injuries and fatalities.
Improving safety outcomes increasingly depends on proactive hazard identification and the effective application of control measures that go beyond basic compliance.
Online Tool Built Around the Hierarchy of Controls
The new online tool provides users with a structured list of control measures designed to mitigate common crane and load handling hazards.
Controls are categorised using the Hierarchy of Controls, a widely recognised safety management model that prioritises risk reduction strategies in the following order:
Elimination
Substitution
Engineering controls
Administrative controls
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
This approach allows companies and individuals to select the most effective and appropriate controls for their specific jobsite conditions, rather than relying solely on PPE or procedural measures.
Addressing Common Crane Safety Hazards
The tool focuses on hazards most frequently associated with serious crane incidents, including:
Operator fatigue
Falls from height
Overhead power line contact
Crane and equipment overturning
By selecting a specific hazard, users are presented with tailored control options aligned with the hierarchy framework.
Supporting Practical Safety Improvements
T.J. Cantwell, Executive Director of the NCCCO Foundation, highlighted the tool’s practical value for the industry:
“The NCCCO Foundation is excited to provide this new tool to the crane industry along with our friends at the National Safety Council. Companies and individuals can select from a variety of common safety hazards to produce control options that help mitigate or eliminate them on the job site."
The tool is designed to support both safety planning and ongoing risk assessment across a wide range of crane operations.
Online Seminar to Demonstrate the Tool
To support adoption, the NCCCO Foundation will host an online seminar on March 4, demonstrating how the tool works and discussing how companies can implement different control measures to prevent common safety hazards on site.
About the NCCCO Foundation
The NCCCO Foundation is a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving safety in the crane, lifting and load handling industries through research, education and workforce development initiatives.
Visit website: https://www.ncccofoundation.org
About the National Safety Council
The National Safety Council (NSC) is a US-based non-profit organisation focused on eliminating preventable injuries and deaths at work, on the road and in homes and communities.
Visit website: https://www.nsc.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new NCCCO crane safety tool?
It is a free online resource that helps users identify and apply safety controls for common crane and load handling hazards.
Which hazards does the tool address?
Key hazards include fatigue, falls from height, overhead power line contact and equipment overturning.
What is the Hierarchy of Controls?
It is a safety framework that ranks risk control methods from elimination through to PPE, prioritising the most effective solutions.
Who can use the tool?
The tool is available to companies and individuals involved in crane and load handling operations.
Is training available on how to use it?
Yes. The NCCCO Foundation will host an online seminar on March 4 to demonstrate the tool and discuss implementation.
