Although overall rates of workplace injuries and fatalities have been declining steadily, the number of workplace deaths during crane-related activity has remained fairly steady. Recent crane failures in New York City have many people — including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration — looking more closely at how well cranes are being maintained and operated.
Twenty-five states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved state plans for crane, derrick and hoist safety and have adopted their own standards and enforcement policies. For the most part, these states have adopted standards that are identical to Federal OSHA, which are detailed in 29 CFR 1910. For crane operators, these regulations dictate safety guidelines, inspection schedules and proper procedures.
OSHA and state expectations can sometimes feel like a hassle, but they are still important. If you ignore the regulations, non-compliance fines are the least of your worries. The outcome of using cranes, derricks and hoists that are not properly serviced and inspected could be loss of the crane, loss of product or, worse, loss of life.
Even if your crane is in good working order, safety precautions should still be on your mind. Inspect the area where the crane will be used to make sure the ground is safe to use heavy equipment. The crane should be on a firm, level surface before you attempt any lift; otherwise, the crane could roll over during operation.
Before you begin a lift, make sure everything is safe:
- Everyone should be wearing a hard hat.
- Only trained and qualified personnel should operate a crane.
- Make sure you have a carbon dioxide, dry chemical or similar fire extinguisher nearby and that it is regularly inspected and certified.
- Inspect the crane, rigging, hoists, slings and any other equipment.
- Know the rated capacities of the crane, slinging and rigging. (Remember that using choker hitches lowers the load capacity).
- Determine the center of gravity for the load and lift from directly above that center.
- Balance the load to keep it from tipping.
- Make sure the hook closes completely.
- Attach a tag line.
- Make sure the lift path is clear. Use a spotter to check blind spots.
- Clear personnel from around the lift.
When everything is ready to go, start the lift:
- Lift the load a short distance and stop to test the brakes, especially as the load nears capacity. Verify that the rigging is properly configured before continuing with the lift.
- Start and stop the lift slowly and watch for obstructions. Haste and overconfidence can quickly lead to disaster.
- Use the proper hand signals to communicate.
- Avoid carrying a load over people.
- Never leave a load unattended.
Safety is the responsibility of everyone on a worksite. Make sure employees, and especially the crane operators themselves, are familiar with safety procedures. Encourage all workers to report any safety issues they might come across. After all, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Don’t rely on government inspectors to tell you when something needs to be repaired or replaced. Remember, they’re there to make sure that you’re already maintaining your equipment and using it properly. Be proactive. Keep your gear in top shape and your workers well trained and you can expect many days of smooth operation with minimal problems.
Originally posted on July 10, 2013 @ 5:33 pm