Tower cranes’ operational and safety issues in Construction 4.0Obradović, Dino (Avtor) Držečnik, Mateja (Avtor) Galić, Mario (Avtor) Klanšek, Uroš (Avtor) tower cranesConstruction 4.0hazardsconstruction site layoutcybersecurityTower cranes are dominant and representative construction machinery to the extent that they are considered one of the main symbols of the construction industry. While essential for executing complex demanding load transport tasks efficiently, they also pose significant safety risks on construction sites. This paper presents a comprehensive review of tower crane accidents reported between 2014 and 2024, analyzing post-accident reports to identify common failure types, causes, and prevention measures. By understanding these incidents, the paper aims to enhance safety protocols and promote more secure and efficient tower crane utilization globally. Namely, one of the main factors in ensuring the safe functioning of cranes lies in the systematic management of their inspection and maintenance processes. Such structured inspections are also essential for identifying even the most minor imperfections in the components of the load-bearing structure and its mechanisms. Furthermore, this paper explores the integration of Construction 4.0 (Con4.0) technologies into tower crane operations. While Con4.0 introduces advancements that streamline construction processes, such as automation and digitization, it also enforces new challenges. Cybersecurity issues emerge as a prominent concern, deepening existing stability, overload, and human error issues associated with tower crane operations. The results of this study show that tower cranes are still vulnerable to all characteristic pre-Con4.0 issues and that they are deepened and supplemented by the cyber-security issues brought by the automation and digitization drivers of the Con4.0.International Project Management Association, IPMA Publications, and Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zagreb, Croatia20262026-05-07 07:47:15Znanstveno delo97997UDK: 69:004.738.5OceCobissID: 277216771COBISS_ID: 277227267DOI: 10.56889/yzaw9133sl