const_cranes_090310

1. Construction Crane Safety
(new requirements 2010)
September 2, 2010

2. 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/201
0/08/09/2010-17818/cranes-and-derricks-
in-construction#h-15
• OSHA expects the final standard to
prevent 22 fatalities and 175 non-fatal
injuries each year.

3. 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.

4. 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)

5. 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.

6. 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;

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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

10. 10
• OPTION 1:
Accredited testing organization
• OPTION 2:
Employer qualification program
• OPTION 3:
U.S. military
• OPTION 4:
State/local gov’t license
Operator Qualifications and
Certifications - 4 Options

11. 11
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

12. 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

13. 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.

14. 14
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

15. 15
Could you get within 20
feet of power line?
YES NO
Option #1
Deenergize &
Ground
Encroachment
Prevention measures
Option #3
Ask Utility for
Voltage and
Use Table A
(with minimum
clearance distance)
Option #2
20 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

16. 16
Table A – Minimum Clearance Distances
Voltage (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)

17. 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.

18. 18
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

19. Assembly Disassembly
• Employers must use a qualified rigger for
rigging operations during assembly &
disassembly
• Two options:
– Manufacturer procedures or
– Employer procedures (criteria requirements)

20. 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

21. 21
• 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)

22. 22
• 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)

23. 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)

24. 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,

25. 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

26. 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.

27. 27
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

28. 28
Signals (cont’d.)
• Signal person qualifications
3rd party qualified
evaluator
Yes Yes
Employer Qualified
Evaluator
Yes No
Qualified how Documentation Portable

29. 29
• Qualification
Requirements:
– Know & understand signals
– Competent in using signals
– Basic understanding of crane
operation
– Verbal or written test +
practical test
Signals (cont’d.)

30. 30
1926.1412 Inspections
Modified or Repaired/
adjusted
Qualified
Post-assembly Qualified
Shift Competent
Monthly Competent
Annual Qualified
Type of Inspection: Who Inspects:

31. 31
Inspections (cont’d)
• Shift = visual inspection for apparent
deficiencies
• Monthly = documented shift inspection
• Annual = comprehensive, every 12 months

32. 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

33. 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)

34. 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

35. 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)

36. 36
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/

37. 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.