Construction Crane Safety(new requirements 2010)

September 2, 2010

Why?

• Crane accidents killed an average of 78 people per year between 2003 and 2005

• The new standard is located at http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2010/08/09/2010-17818/cranes-and-derricks-in-construction#h-15

• OSHA expects the final standard to prevent 22 fatalities and 175 non-fatal injuries each year.

When?

• Intention to develop the rule in July 2002. • Used negotiated rulemaking committee

consisting both industry and labor.• The committee completed its work in 2004. • Released – July 28, 2010• Published – August 9, 2010• Effective – November 8, 2010• Phased in over four years – August 9, 2014

– Certification of operators phased in over four years. No grandfathering of those past certification.

Key Hazards

• Four main causes of worker death and injury:

• Electrocution,

• Crushed by parts of the equipment,

• Struck-by the equipment/load, and

• Falls. (See Subpart M 1926.500-503)

Largest Impact

• Mandatory crane operator certification - qualification

• 200,000 construction crane operators in the industry

• OSHA allowing four years to meet the certification requirement.

• It will take time for certifying organizations to gain enough capacity to cover so many operators.

Other Significant Requirements

• Use of synthetic slings in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions during assembly/disassembly work;

• Assessment of ground conditions;

• Procedures for working in the vicinity of power lines.

• Pre-erection inspection of tower crane parts;

OSHA – State - Local

• Employers must comply with local and state operator licensing requirements which meet the minimum criteria specified in § 1926.1427.

• Some state had existing Crane standards that exceeded the old standard. In state plan states, please see the rules for that state.

Who Pays?

• Employers must pay for certification or qualification of their currently uncertified or unqualified operators. 1926.1427 (a)(4)

• Reasonable that employees, who have already been sufficiently trained in crane operation and may have many years' experience, certainly need no more than a short preparation to successfully pass the crane operator certification tests. – FR Preamble

Crane or Not Crane?

• Functional description– Can hoist, – Lower and – Horizontally move a

suspended load

• Forklifts configured to hoist and lower (by means of a winch OR hook) and horizontally move a suspended load are covered

• Backhoes are excluded even if used like a crane….1926.1400 (c)(2)

Forklift with attached boom. 1926.1400 (c)(8)

See 1926.1441 if using equipment with a rated hoisting/lifting capacity of 2,000 pounds or less

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• OPTION 1OPTION 1: Accredited testing organization• OPTION 2OPTION 2:

Employer qualification program• OPTION 3OPTION 3:

U.S. military• OPTION 4OPTION 4:

State/local gov’t license

Operator Qualifications and Certifications - 4 Options

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Operator Qualifications and Certifications (cont’d)

Accredited testing organization

YES * 5 years

Employer Qualification Program

NO 5 years

US Military license NO * Set by issuing entity

State/local license NO *

Valid only in entity’s

jurisdiction

Set by issuing entity, not > 5

years

Portable Valid

Written Certification Tests

• Administered in any language understood by the operator candidate.

• Test must cover:– Controls/performance characteristics– Calculate capacity (w/ or w/out calculator)– Preventing power line contact– Ground support– Read and locate info in operating manual– Appendix Q subjects

Practical Examination

• Must be well designed and sufficiently comprehensive

• Must have the demonstrated the skills and knowledge needed to operate the equipment safely.

• An operator's ability to handle unusual worksite conditions, such as adverse weather or working on crowded jobsites, are hazards that are not commonly part of this exam.

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1926.1408 Power Lines

• Step 1: Identify Work Zone– Work Zone = Marking

boundaries OR– 360 degrees around

crane up to maximum working radius

– Make the power line hazard assessment

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Could you get within 20 feet of power line?

YES NO

Option #1 Deenergize & Ground

Encroachment Prevention measures

Option #3Ask Utility for Voltage and Use Table A (with minimum

clearance distance)

Option #220 foot clearance

No further action

• Planning meeting• If tag lines used Non-conductive• Elevated warning lines, barricade or line of signs

•PLUS (Choose one):

• Proximity alarm, spotter, warning device, range limiter, or insulating link

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Table A – Minimum Clearance DistancesVoltage (nominal, kV, alternating current)

Minimum clearance distance (feet)

up to 50 10

over 50 to 200 15

over 200 to 350 20

over 350 to 500 25

over 500 to 750 35

over 750 to 1000 45

over 1000 (as established by the power line owner/operator or registered professional engineer who is a qualified person with respect to electrical power transmission and

distribution)

Intentionally Working Closer Than Table A Zone 1910.1410

• Paragraph (b) requires the employer to consult with the utility owner/operator before deciding that it infeasible to deenergize and ground the lines or relocate them.

• Employer can establish this distance by either having the utility owner/operator determine the minimum clearance distance that must be maintained or by having a registered professional engineer who is a qualified person with respect to electrical transmission and distribution determine the minimum clearance distance that must be maintained.

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Must show:• Staying outside zone is infeasible• Infeasible to deenergize and ground

Intentionally Working Closer Than Table A Zone

All of the following are required:

1. PL owner – sets minimum approach distance

2. Planning meeting – procedures

3. Dedicated spotter

4. Elevated warning line or barricade

5. Insulating link/device

6. Non-conductive rigging

7. Range limiter (if equipped)

8. Non-conductive tag line (if used)

9. Barricades - 10 feet from equipment

10. Limit access to essential employees

11. Ground crane

12. Deactivate automatic re-energizer

1926.1410

Assembly Disassembly

• Employers must use a qualified rigger for rigging operations during assembly & disassembly

• Two options:– Manufacturer procedures or – Employer procedures (criteria requirements)

Assembly/Disassembly Supervisor

• Must understand procedures

• Review procedures (unless they’ve used them before)

• Check that crew members understand their tasks, hazards

• Follow manufacturer’s prohibitions

• When using outriggers - fully extended or deployed per the load chart

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• A/D supervisor addresses 12 key hazards, including:– Adequate site and ground conditions – Sufficient blocking for load and stability– Suitable boom and jib pick points– Identify center of gravity– Stability for pin removal– Consider wind speed and weather

Assembly/Disassembly (cont’d)

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• The suitability of blocking material

• Verification of the loads for assist cranes

• Snagging of cables or components

• Struck by counter weights

• Boom hoist brake failure

• Loss of backwards stability

Assembly/Disassembly (cont’d)

Qualified Rigger

• 1926.1404 (r)

• Meets the criteria for a qualified person

• Possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or extensive (rigging) knowledge, training and experience

• Successfully demonstrated the ability to solve/resolve problems (relating to rigging)

Tower Cranes

• Employers must perform a pre-erection inspection of tower cranes.

• Extensive requirements under 1926.1435 and other sections.

• Beyond scope of this presentation

• Numerous accidents such as  Seattle in 85, San Francisco in 89, Manhattan in 08, Hong Kong in 08, New York in 06,

Ground Conditions

• 1926.1402 (b) • Ground conditions must be firm, drained,

and graded • Use supporting materials, • Use equipment manufacturer's

specifications for adequate support • Use equipment manufacturer's

specifications for degree of level of the equipment

Controlling Entity

• 1926.1402 (c)(3)• Must ensure that ground preparations are safe• Must inform the user of the equipment and the

operator of the location of known hazards beneath the equipment set-up area (such as voids, tanks, utilities)

• If there is no controlling entity then the employer that has authority at the site to make or arrange for ground preparations must do so.

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Signals

• Signal person – when required:

– Point of operation not in full view of operator

– View of direction of travel is obstructed

– Site specific safety concerns

– 1926.1428 Signal person qualifications

• Signal Types:– Hand, voice, audible

or “new”– Only time an operator

can use a cell phone is while lifting as part of a planned procedure

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Signals (cont’d.)

• Signal person qualifications

3rd party qualified evaluator

Yes Yes

Employer Qualified Evaluator

Yes No

Qualified how Documentation Portable

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• Qualification Requirements:

– Know & understand signals– Competent in using signals– Basic understanding of crane

operation– Verbal or written test +

practical test

Signals (cont’d.)

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1926.1412 Inspections

Modified or Repaired/ adjusted

Qualified

Post-assembly Qualified

Shift Competent

Monthly Competent

Annual Qualified

Type of Inspection: Who Inspects:

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Inspections (cont’d)

• Shift = visual inspection for apparent deficiencies

• Monthly = documented shift inspection

• Annual = comprehensive, every 12 months

Each Shift Inspection

• 1926.1412 (d)• Apparent deficiencies • Control and Drive

mechanisms• Hydraulics• Hooks• Wire Rope• Electrical• Ground Conditions

• Levelness of the crane

• Operator view• All Safety Devices• Operational Aids are

working

Operators

• 1926.1417 has many requirements. Some highlights are:• Must not engage in any activity that diverts his/her

attention while operating the equipment, • No cell phones (other than when used for signal

communications) • Must not leave the controls while the load is suspended, 

(four exceptions)• Must verify that the load is within the rated capacity of

the equipment (2 methods)• Must obey a stop (or emergency stop) signal,

irrespective of who gives it. • Told of any employee entering the crane work area

1926.1424(a)(3)

Employer Training

• 1926.1430 Employee Training Issues

• Powerline safety• Signal persons• Operators• Competent Person• Qualified Persons• Crush Pinch point

hazards• Tagout for repair

• Must confirm that the employee understands the information provided in the training

• Provide the training at no cost to the employee

 Work Area Control

• 1926.1424

• Train each employee assigned to work on or near the equipment

• Erect and maintain control lines, warning lines, railings or similar barriers to mark the boundaries of the hazard area (1 Exception)

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Resources• Cranes and Derricks in Construction Final Rule

– http://www.osha.gov/cranes-derricks/index.html

• Associated Training Service Network– http://www.operator-school.com/

• National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators

– http://www.nccco.org/

• National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools

– http://www.heavy-equipment-school.com/

• North American Crane Bureau Group

– http://www.cranesafe.com/history.htm

• California Crane School

– http://www.californiacraneschool.com/

Further• This ppt was prepared by John Newquist as a preliminary aid for the new

standard. Please check the OSHA website for Crane Outreach Material that will be developed in the coming months.

• This is not an official OSHA publication. Those will be on the OSHA.gov website.

• Newquist.john@dol.gov is my email if you see any errors• 312-353-5977• Brian Sturtecky is our Region V Certified Crane Inspector and has provided

key assistance on this standard. He can be reached at 312-353-2220. • Several slides were obtained from the OSHA Training Institute from their

Webinar August 30, 2010. • Every aspect from inspecting, repairing, operating, rigging and signaling

these cranes require extensive training. Please take classes with hands on training if you are expected to perform any of these activities.

• I want to thank Brian, Lisa, Tom, Bill, Cathy for all their assistance in answering questions and providing issues that are coming from the public.