Tower Crane Safety Reform

Tower Crane Safety Reform
HB 2022 was signed into law on March 28, 2024.
Thank you friends, partners, allies and legislators for supporting common sense crane safety efforts - and a special thanks to crane safety bill champions Sen. Noel Frame and Rep. Julia Reed.
Stay updated on Washington state crane safety rulemaking efforts
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.
Advocating for Crane Safety:
In Memory of Sarah Pantip Wong
Tower Crane Research Center celebrates one-year anniversary with symposium, launches new website
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.
Advocating for Crane Safety:
In Memory of Sarah Pantip Wong
More about Sarah
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.
Legislation Timeline
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 Legislation
Second Substitute House Bill
(2SHB 2022)
Codified under
RCW 49.17.400 through 49.17.440
Proposed Rule Making CR-102
Proposed language
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
Tower Crane Safety Reform in the News
The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries has adopted new permitting requirements for tower cranes, set to go into effect Jan. 1. “Prime contractors will be required to obtain a permit, and follow manufacturers’ instructions, for the operation, assembly, disassembly or
Beginning Jan. 1, prime contractors must obtain a permit from the state Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) prior to performing any work involving the operation, assembly, disassembly or reconfiguration of a tower crane — and L&I will open to those permit applications on Dec. 5.
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
In 2019, Andrea Wang and Henry Wong of South Pasadena were still getting used to the idea of their daughter Sarah going off to college at Seattle Pacific University. At 19, the freshman nursing student was reveling in college adventures: dancing at a campus Pacific Islanders show, exploring Pike
Georgia Tech graduate students are advancing crane safety research with award-winning projects that could prevent catastrophic accidents and save lives. At the 2025 American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) annual conference in Anaheim, California, two graduate students from the George W.
Accidents involving tower cranes on construction sites or mobile cranes in warehouses can be catastrophic. In 2019, a tower crane being dismantled in Seattle collapsed into traffic, killing four people. Among the lives lost was Sarah Pantip Wong, whose family is now working with legislators and
Despite their widespread use, crane operations are poorly regulated, leading to numerous accidents. The Crane Safety Research Center aims to change that.xaDespite their widespread use, crane operations are poorly regulated, leading to numerous accidents. The Crane Safety Research Center aims to
The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), through its Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), is moving forward with new rulemaking procedures to implement and enforce Second Substitute House Bill (2SHB) 2022, passed during the 2024 legislative session.
HB 2022 seeks to enhance safety measures surrounding the operation and assembly of tower cranes at construction sites. The legislation mandates that prime contractors obtain a special permit before engaging in any crane-related activities, including assembly and disassembly. Key requirements of the
But all these changes in law affect someone. And, take a step back, many of these obscure changes will affect thousands, maybe millions of people who will never know it. Maybe you’re a patient of the aforementioned physician assistant, who can now practice more freely. Maybe you’ll never work
The Legislature made changes to laws aimed at increasing worker and public safety around tower cranes. The changes come about five years after a Seattle tower crane collapsed near the busy section of Mercer and Fairview Avenue in South Lake Union. The collapse killed Sarah Pantip Wong, a Seattle
Since winning the seat in the 36th, Reed has accomplished so much for her community. I asked her what one of her proudest achievements was, and she recalled the legislation she passed for crane safety.
In the 2023-24 biennium, for the first time in state history, two women served as labor committee chairs in both houses of the Washington State Legislature: Sen. Karen Keiser (D-Des Moines) in the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee and Rep. Liz Berry (D-Seattle) in the House Labor & Workplace
It remains the deadliest crane disaster in Seattle history, causing a couple to transform their grief into action. This, in a city whose skyline still boasts the largest number of construction cranes in the U.S. Saturday marks five years since a construction crane on Mercer Street fell to earth
In April 2019, 19-year-old Sarah Pantip Wong, a bright first-year student at Seattle Pacific University, lost her life when a tower crane toppled over and collapsed beyond the confines of a construction site, spilling into traffic and crushing the Uber vehicle she was in. Sarah, another passerby,
House Bill 2022 increases crane-related safety training for construction workers, requires road closures to cover areas that could be impacted by a collapsing crane, enables criminal charges to be filed against companies guilty of safety violations, and allows employees to halt work over safety
Five years after a tower crane collapsed in Seattle, killing four people, Washington state legislators are working to pass a law to try to prevent a similar tragedy.
On April 27, 2019, tragedy struck when a tower crane crashed into busy South Lake Union traffic, killing our daughter, Sarah Pantip Wong, and three others. This devastating incident was entirely preventable. Authorities highlighted critical steps that should have been taken to avoid such a
As we continue to build a Washington that works for everyone, we need to ensure that workers and those in the vicinity of job sites are safe. It’s been almost 5 years since a construction crane collapsed and took 4 lives.
The bill, written by the victim's parents, passed the House on Friday and now moves to the Senate – where it’s one step closer to becoming law.
Rep. Reed worked closely with seatmate Sen. Noel Frame, Sarah’s parents Andrea Wang and Henry Wong, the Department of Labor and Industries, labor unions, and other stakeholders, to craft the legislation. The legislation fine tunes the current permitting process, designates safety zones when
In dense urban areas like our district addressing safety concerns around this equipment remains imperative. I want you to know when you’re walking by a construction site that the state has done everything it possibly can to keep you and the workers on that site safe. I’m proud to join my
In response to the tragic incident in Seattle in 2019 when a tower crane fell, killing two Ironworkers and two members of the public, HB 2022/SB 5900 would address safety by establishing permits for tower crane operation including assembly and disassembly, establish a work zone for traffic closures
"We lost a cherished daughter and our son lost his only sibling," said Wong's father, Henry Wong, during a news conference near the site Wednesday morning.
It's been nearly five years since a 300-foot crane collapsed from the top of a then-future Google building in South Lake Union, killing four people, including Seattle Pacific University student Sarah Wong, and injuring more.
For the first time we’re hearing from the parents of Sarah Wong, the woman who was one of four people killed in 2019 after a crane collaped in South Lake Union. On Wednesday morning, Wong’s parents and lawmakers announced a new bill that calls for harsher punishments in tragedies like this.
State Sen. Noel Frame and State Rep. Julia Reed say they plan to pre-file bills in the Senate and House that focus on crane regulations in advance of the 2024 state legislative session, which starts on Jan. 8.
The absence of crane regulations poses risks to residents, workers, passersby and others, state lawmakers said.
About Sarah
Sarah Pantip Wong was a skilled gymnast, versatile soccer player and swimmer. Sarah’s talents extended beyond the realm of sports. Her passion for musical theater led her to grace the stage in various productions, showcasing her diverse interests and talents.
Born in Thailand and raised in South Pasadena, California, Sarah shared her life with her parents, Andrea and Henry, her brother Aaron, and a broad foundation of extended family and friends. Her commitment to making a positive impact on the world was evident in her volunteer work, and she had plans to pursue a career in nursing at Seattle Pacific University. Remembered for her infectious smile and genuine kindness, Sarah lived by the mantra, “leave people better than you found them.”
As we reflect on Sarah’s life and legacy, we advocate passionately for increased crane safety to prevent similar tragedies in the future. We honor Sarah’s memory by raising awareness on the importance protecting the public safety, urging lawmakers to implement common sense safety protocols, and holding accountable those responsible for ensuring the wellbeing of workers and the public.
Together, let us work toward a safer environment, striving to prevent otherwise avoidable incidents like the one that claimed the life of Sarah Pantip Wong and three others. May her story inspire change, reinforce the importance of prioritizing safety in every crane operation and motivate us all to leave our communities better than we found them.
Stay updated on Washington state crane safety rulemaking efforts
Legislation Timeline
Cranes, Rigging and Personnel Lifting proposed rulemaking all begin at 10 AM
May 13 (Spokane)
May 15 (Tukwila)
May 19 (online only)
Tower Crane Permit and Safety Requirements rulemaking stakeholder meetings
March 24 (Tukwila)
April 1 (Spokane)
Jan, 21, 2025
Dept. of Labor & Industries (L&I) begins
rulemaking related to permit requirements for tower cranes
Mar. 28, 2024
Governor Jay Inslee holds a bill-signing ceremony at the State Capitol.
Mar. 7, 2024
Delivered to Gov. Jay Inslee for signature.
Mar. 5, 2024
House concurred
Senate amendments
Feb 23, 2024
Senate unanimously passes HB 2022 with amendments 48 yeas, 0 nays, 1 excused
Feb 15, 2024
Scheduled for executive session in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce.
Feb 13, 2024
First reading, referred to Senate Labor & Commerce.
Feb 9, 2024
House floor vote: passed; yeas, 77; nays, 20; absent, 0; excused, 1. Moved to the Senate for consideration.
Feb 2, 2024
Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations.
Jan 31, 2024
Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations.
Jan 23, 2024
Referred to Appropriations.
Jan 19, 2024
Executive action taken in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards.
Jan 12, 2024
Public hearing in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards.
Dec 22, 2023
Pre-filed for introduction.