With the current shortage of skilled labor, finding experienced, trained, and reliable personnel can be a challenge. What are the essential skill sets a company should be looking for when hiring Lift Directors? Responsible for hiring all Lift Directors for Becht Engineering throughout the world, Mr. Collins walks you through requirements outlined by OSHA and ASME as well as best practices for safe lifting operations. Learn what key resume attributes help a good lift director stand out and how to leverage your offer so they won’t walk away. Speaker: Joseph Collins, Heavy Lift Manager, Becht Engineering Co., Inc.

2. Regional News Release U.S. Department of Labor January 3, 2013
US Labor Department's OSHA cites two Wisconsin companies following worker's death on US Route 41 bridge construction site near Oshkosh.
The July 5 incident occurred when a crane collapsed at a bridge construction site on U.S. Route 41. A truck driver died when he was struck by the boom of a crane that overturned while bridge girders were being erected with a multiple crane lift.
The willful violation is for failing to comply with crane operator standards by designating a lift director and conducting multiple crane- lift planning meetings.

3. Regional News Release U.S. Department of Labor January 3, 2013
A willful violation is one committed with intentional knowledge or voluntary disregard for the law's requirements, or with plain indifference to worker safety and health.
Proposed penalties for “XYZ” Construction total $105,000, and total $13,220 for “ABC” Construction. Both companies have 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
OSHA has placed “XYZ” Construction in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which focuses on recalcitrant employers who endanger workers by committing willful, repeat or failure-to-abate violations. Under the program, OSHA may inspect any of the employer's facilities or job sites.

4. Rule
•1926.1432(b)(1)
The multiple-crane/derrick lift must be directed by a person who meets the criteria for both a competent person and a qualified person, or by a competent person who is assisted by one or more qualified persons (lift director)
•1926.1432(b)(2)
The lift director must review the plan in a meeting with all workers who will be involved with the operation

5. Definition
Competent Person
means one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them
Webster's definition of Competent:
Having adequate ability or qualities; legally qualified

6. Definition
Qualified Person
means a person who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or who by extensive knowledge, training and experience, successfully demonstrated the ability to solve/resolve problems relating to the subject matter, the work, or the project
Webster's definition of Qualified:
having the necessary skill, experience, or knowledge to do a particular job or activity

7. B30.5
B30.5-3.1.3 says:
“All responsibilities listed below
shall
be assigned in the work site organization”
Shall: term used to indicate that a rule is mandatory and must be followed

8. B30.5-3.1.3 (continued)
A single individual may perform one or more of these roles:
(a)Crane Owner
(b) Crane User
(c) Site Supervisor
(d) Lift Director
(e) Crane Operator

9. Lift Director Responsibilities
ASME B30.5-3.1.3.2.2
•Be present at the site during lifting operations
•Stop crane operations if alerted to an unsafe condition
•Ensuring the lift area is prepared before lifting
•Assure population control is in place before lifting
•Assure everyone knows what they should do and how to do it
•Addressing safety concerns of the operator or crew before continuing with the lift
•Appointing the signal persons and ensuring they are qualified

10. Lift Director Responsibilities (Continued)
ASME B30.5-3.1.3.2.2
•Ensuring precautions are implemented for special lifts
–Multiple Crane Lifts ------ OSHA Rule
–Lifting Personnel --- Ensuring B30.23 requirements are met
–Pick and Carry
–Mobile Cranes on Barges
•Ensuring the operator has correct weights, travel path, pick and set locations
•Obtaining verification from the operator the load does not exceed capacity
•Ensuring rigging personnel are qualified
•Ensuring the load is properly rigged and balanced

11. Lift Director Responsibilities (Continued)
ASME P30.1
•Lift Director Definition; The person designated to direct the load handling activity
•Personnel Roles and Responsibilities; The Lift Director is responsible for verifying the category of the load handling activity, reviewing and implementation the lift plan

12. Lift Director Responsibilities (Continued)
ASME P30.1
•The Lift Director Should:
–Hold pre-lift meetings
•Assure the meeting attendees understand the plan and what each person is supposed to do
•Decide the frequency of pre-lift meetings for repetitive lifts.
–Confirm all set up preparations are according to the lift plans
–Ensure load handling activity complies with the plan
–Conduct a post-lift review
Should: term used to indicate that a rule is a recommendation, the advisability of which depends on the facts of each situation

13. Where do we find them?
Who is this person?
13
Company Confidential

14. Who Is This Person?
Previous to the inclusion of the Lift Director requirement in the standards, they often were considered as “lead man” for the crew and were not compensated for assuming these responsibilities
Furthermore, they often assumed the responsibility but not given the authority to take corrective actions
Lift Directors are nothing new.
They have been with us all along, assuming all the responsibilities we have just discussed

15. Who Is This Person?
One that is not afraid to make informed decisions and stand behind them
A person that others will trust and follow
First of all, this person will be a
“natural leader”

16. Who Is This Person?
Second, this person must have the
“necessary experience based on work history”
to effectively perform all the task and to live up to
the many responsibilities

17. Who Is This Person?
Reputations, good and bad, are built over time and follow individuals
The crane and rigging industry is a small group in this country Good and Bad actors are easily identified
Check references and call previous employers
This person must be
“reliable and dependable”

18. Lift Director Profile
“Gray Hair” Effect - Made the client comfortable with a lot of experience
Iron Worker Craft (not the crane operator) - But was educated with the crane's operation
Being the Iron Worker - had much more understanding of “How to Handle the Load from the Hook End”
Absolute respect from the "Crew" at all times
Very adaptable to unplanned issues that may occur - No “Knee-Jerk” Decisions

19. Varying Degrees of Experience
The Lift Director may be overseeing:
Super heavy complicated lifts -- Or
Simple one or two crane lifts with smaller cranes, working at a low percentage of chart -- Or
Somewhere in between
You may have a very busy site with multiple lift directors working within the limits of their individual experience levels

20. Where do we find them?
Many construction craftspeople move from job to job. Place ads with the local media in areas where large projects are winding down
Use social media – A valuable resource for matching up qualified craftspeople with employers needs
Look first within your own organization. You may be surprised to find some treasures right under your nose!

21. Should the Lift Director Be Certified?
Train and Certify whenever and wherever possible!
A recent internet search turned up several reputable companies providing Lift Director Training
That search also turned up several other reputable companies the are in development of training and certification programs

22. The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators offers Certification for Lift Directors
The NCCCO Lift Director Core Exam includes 6 Domains:
•Domain 1: Site
•Domain 2: Roles, Responsibilities, and Qualifications
•Domain 3: Lifting Operations
•Domain 4: Lift Plans
•Domain 5: Rigging
•Domain 6: Signals

23. The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators offers certification for Lift Directors
The Lift Director Specialty Exams include:
•Mobile Crane
•Tower Crane
The content domains in the outline for the Specialty Exams represent the knowledge areas that are generally relevant to load chart usage or lift planning

24. Compensation
The Lift Director accepts a considerable amount of responsibility. In most cases, even more than the site supervisor and or crane operator
Effectively, they could land in a court of law or have criminal charges brought against them in the event of a serious accident
Lift Directors should be compensated by a higher pay rate than the rest of the crew members but less than the supervisor

25. Provide The Lift Director With The Proper Tools
There is a multitude of requirements for the Lift Director to remember. Being an expert in your field does not mean you possess a photographic memory
Develop comprehensive check list for the Lift Director
Check Lists Work!!!

26. Provide The Lift Director With The Proper Tools
Provide the Lift Director with the proper tools such as:
•Comprehensive/standardized lift plan forms
•Ensuring the lift team recognizes the Lift Directors authority
•Support them by making needed resources readily available
–Such as, Engineering assistance, Federal and Local Standards, Client Policies, etc.