OSHA Finally to Issue
Crane Standard Update
Crane Standard Update
According to the article below by Market Watch, finally, OSHA has "Announced" that they are "going" to issue new Crane Standards. Now that they have "Announced" the changes, it will take a little less than two years to become effective!
The announcement heavily emphasizes that all Crane Operators will be formally tested by an authorized company. The primary thing that I see that is missing is that it DOES NOT address any required training for Riggers and Supervisors of lifting operations. The Operators are limited as to what they can do from the Operator's Cab. The riggers are the ones who do all the attachment that go on the hooks. The Supervisors are the ones who, ultimately are the ones that oversee the whole operation and safe lifting of the load. ALL THREE GROUPS SHOULD BE TRAINED AND BE ABLE TO READ THE CRANE'S LOAD CHART AND SHOULD KNOW THE WEIGHT OF THE LOAD.
The announcement heavily emphasizes that all Crane Operators will be formally tested by an authorized company. The primary thing that I see that is missing is that it DOES NOT address any required training for Riggers and Supervisors of lifting operations. The Operators are limited as to what they can do from the Operator's Cab. The riggers are the ones who do all the attachment that go on the hooks. The Supervisors are the ones who, ultimately are the ones that oversee the whole operation and safe lifting of the load. ALL THREE GROUPS SHOULD BE TRAINED AND BE ABLE TO READ THE CRANE'S LOAD CHART AND SHOULD KNOW THE WEIGHT OF THE LOAD.
OSHA to issue proposed cranes and derricks construction standard
WASHINGTON, Sept 18, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today announced that a proposed rule for cranes and derricks in construction will be published shortly in the Federal Register.
A current copy of the proposed standard is available on OSHA's Web site at http://www.osha.gov/doc/proposedrule/Cranes_Derricks_Proposed_Rule.html for the public to review. The public comment period on the proposed rule will only begin after the proposal has been formally published in the Federal Register.
"The cranes and derricks proposed rule comprehensively addresses the hazards associated with the use of cranes and derricks in construction, including tower cranes," said Edwin G. Foulke Jr., assistant secretary of labor for OSHA. "This draft rule will both protect construction employees and help prevent crane accidents by updating existing protections and requiring crane operators to be trained in the use of construction cranes."
The cranes and derricks proposed rule would apply to the estimated 96,000 construction cranes in the U.S., including 2,000 tower cranes. The proposed standard addresses key safety issues associated with cranes, including ground conditions, the assembly and disassembly of cranes, the operation of cranes near power lines, the certification and training of crane operators, the use of safety devices and signals, and inspections of cranes. It significantly updates existing tower crane requirements and more comprehensively addresses tower crane safety, with respect both to erecting and dismantling, and to crane operations.
The proposed standard would establish four options for the qualification or certification of crane operators: (1) certification through an accredited third-party testing organization, (2) qualification through an audited employer testing program, (3) qualification issued by the U.S. military and (4) qualification by a state or local licensing authority.
This proposed rule was developed through negotiated rulemaking by the Cranes and Derricks Advisory Committee (C-DAC). The federal Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health subsequently recommended that OSHA use that document for developing its proposed rule. Since then and as required by law, OSHA has conducted a regulatory flexibility analysis, small business review and paperwork burden analysis of the proposed rule. In addition, OSHA was required to write a preamble to the regulatory proposal that explains in detail the purpose and application of the proposed standard. That preamble is almost 1,000 pages. The members of C-DAC were sent an advance copy for review as part of their role in the negotiated rulemaking.
OSHA has improved workplace safety and health over the past 37 years. This success is reflected in the latest data showing the lowest national fatality and injury and illness incidence rate that the Bureau of Labor Statistics has ever recorded.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to promote the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.
SOURCE U.S. Department of Labor
2 comments:
Staffing crane operators requires attention to detail, work ethic, training, and pre work history. Construction Staffing companies specialize in Crane Operator Staffing for the commercial and industrial construction industry and recently for solar power industries.
Sadly, lots of lives have been lost in crane accidents lately. Certifications are becoming more stringent and rightly so, the focus on training is essential to the safety of the job and the life of the crane operator.
Crane Operator Staffing is a service of Grus Construction Personnel. Grus employees NCCER and NCCCO certified crane operators with proven work history and a clean work ethic.
The equipment in most of these accidents is the cause of the loss of life. Contractors must take necessary measure to inspect heavy equipment in much the same way as a pilot does a walk around of his aircraft before flight. A checklist should be used and standards for the inspection need to be developed. A walk around should be done before the day begins and before the equipment is stopped and started for any duration of time; lunch, pee break, all START and STOP actions should demand a walk around.
Crane Operator Staffing can be accomplished safely by following the exacting standards of OSHA, NCCCO, and other like minded peoples, groups, and organization.
http://www.gruspersonnel.com
Yes i agree with you that contractors must take necessary precautions while working with heavy equipments and crane is an important equipment in construction site as well as they should get proper supervision on the safety services.
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