Tower Crane Safety
for our Communities
Peppered throughout Washington state’s vibrant and densely populated communities, tower cranes stand tall as symbols of progress, growth and development. These massive structures – as tall as 256 feet – play a pivotal role in shaping the state’s city skylines. But with their presence comes a responsibility to ensure the safety of residents, visitors, commuters, workers and businesses.
BECAUSE OF THE PASSAGE OF HB 2022, WASHINGTON STATE NOW HAS SPECIFIC GUIDELINES ADDRESSING THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC IN THE VICINITY OF TOWER CRANES.
As these towering structures operate directly above residents, workers, businesses and packed urban streets, the need for clear and comprehensive safety measures continues to be increasingly apparent.
Without dedicated public safety regulations, the potential risks to the community remain largely unaddressed. Tower cranes operate at significant heights, often adjacent to busy streets, residences and workplaces. In the absence of proper guidelines, the safety of our communities is at stake.
On April 27, 2019, tragedy struck the South Lake Union neighborhood when a tower crane being disassembled on Mercer Street near Fairview Avenue experienced a catastrophic collapse claiming the lives of four individuals. Among the victims was Seattle Pacific University freshman Sarah Pantip Wong, a bright student with an even brighter future ahead. Sarah was not just a statistic; she was a vibrant, loving and accomplished individual whose life was cut short far too soon.
This devastating incident, which resulted in the loss of two workers and two motorists, serves as stark reminder of the critical importance of crane safety. This didn’t have to happen. This should have been avoided with common sense safety protocols that ensure the wellbeing of both workers and the public.
HB 2022 and SB 5900 aim to prevent such tragic incidents from happening again. Progress should not come at the expense of safety. We hope enacting legislation that ensures the community’s safety during a tower crane’s assembly, disassembly, and reconfigurations will make it so no one endures the profound pain and sadness of losing a loved one to a senseless and otherwise avoidable incident.
Taking Action
We believe it’s time to take proactive steps to safeguard the wellbeing of commuters, residents, visitors and businesses in our cities. By enacting specific laws and guidelines for tower crane operations during assembly, disassembly, and reconfiguration, we can create a safer environment for everyone who shares these spaces while allowing Washington’s cities to thrive and grow.
Read the signed LegislationLegislation Timeline
Join Us
We invite you to join us as our efforts turn to supporting the enactment of these critical measures. By coming together as a community, we can ensure that progress and development facilitated by tower cranes do not compromise the safety of those who call our cities home, workplace and recreational space.
Thank Your Representative