After a crane or lifting incident, identify who controlled the equipment, the lifting operation and access to the site at the relevant time. Ownership, hire, maintenance, operational control and site safety can involve different parties. Compare the contractual responsibilities with the evidence of what each party actually did.
Preserve safety and incident evidence
Keep the incident reference, original photos, witness details and any lawfully obtained records. Request preservation of relevant footage through the appropriate channel. Useful records may include the lifting plan, inspection and maintenance reports, operator records and site barriers. Check the applicable local safety rules, including Abu Dhabi's lifting equipment code of practice and Dubai's construction safety framework when relevant.
Link each loss to the incident
Separate property repair costs, any bodily injury and documented non-material harm. Review the applicable civil law by date and the relevant insurance documents. A technical report can examine the sequence, the equipment and the safety measures. The competent court decides responsibility and compensation on the evidence.
Related reading
Official sources
- Civil Transactions Law, Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2025
- UAE Evidence Law
- Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre codes of practice, including CoP 34.0
- Dubai Administrative Resolution No. 112 of 2026 on construction safety
Legal consultation
Ali Saeed Al Shamsi, Advocate and Legal Consultant. +971 50 346 6632 · Contact via WhatsApp.
