The agenda for the Crane & Rigging Conference, to be held July 19-20 in Houston, Texas, includes presentations, panel discussions, and case studies. Sessions are designed to provide additional information relevant to the OSHA Cranes and Derricks rule released in 2010, as well as timeless safety and productivity tips. Be sure to also check out the agenda for the Industrial Crane & Hoist Conference, geared toward users of overhead cranes, at www.reachexpo2011.com.
July 19, 2011
Keynote Address: Walter Brumley, supervisor of cranes, rigging, mechanics and roads, walks and grounds for Shell Oil in Deer Park, Texas, will provide an inspirational message for riggers and crane operators. Brumley began his career as a rigger for Shell and was instrumental in developing a lifting equipment inspection program for the facility. He took over the Crane and Rigging team in 1991 and was named to his current position in 2008. He is also chairman of the Houston Business Roundtable’s Crane and Rigging Committee.
Qualifying and Documenting Riggers and Signalpersons: George “Chip” Pocock, is the safety and risk manager for Buckner Companies, Graham, N.C. He will focus on what it takes for small employers to meet OSHA’s requirements for qualified riggers and signalpersons. The session will help employers implement internal training and testing procedures and documentation processes.
Update on ASME’s New P30 Lift Planning Standard: Mike Parnell, president, Industrial Training International (ITI), Woodland, Wash., will highlight the progress of ASME’s newest committee, which he chairs. This standard addresses all crane types, gantry systems, winching operations, and similar equipment in repetitive, standard, and critical applications. Parnell will provide a behind the scenes look at the development process and the standard’s importance relative to load handling activities.
Assessing Ground Conditions for Crane Placement: Todd Allen, is president of Radarview, a civil/structural and geophysical survey company based in Houston, Texas. This session will discuss methods for examining subsurface ground conditions, especially as it relates to detection of voids, tanks, and utilities. The session will also include a case study review showing how subsurface defects can affect crane operations.
Panel Discussion—Qualifications of the Crane and Rigging Crew: This Q&A style session will provide attendees the opportunity to ask questions regarding the latest standards and regulations pertaining to riggers, signalers, operators, lift directors, site supervisors, and owners. The session is intended to shed light on what the qualifications and responsibilities are of these individuals. Panelists include:
Avoiding Crane/Power Line Contact: This session on electrocution safety will review new rules for working around power lines per the OSHA Cranes & Derricks in Construction regulation, released last year, as well as practical methods for staying safe. William “Hank” Dutton, a senior technical specialist for cranes and rigging for Travelers Insurance, will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about power line safety.
Troubleshooting Wire Rope Problems: Speaker to be announced.
July 20, 2011
Making the Most of Telematics in Managing Your Crane Fleet: Speaker to be announced.
Case Study—Benefits of Remanufacturing Cranes: This session will demonstrate how the service life of a crane can be extended through remanufacturing. Speakers Dave Wood, president, and Jay Shiffler, vice president business development, of WHECO Corp., will address how to determine if a crane is a good candidate for remanufacturing, how to develop a comprehensive scope of work, considerations for adding new engines and other system updates, and other key issues.
Lessons Learned from Sling Failures: Michael Gelskey Sr., president and CEO of Lift It Manufacturing, Los Angeles, Calif., will share information about two fatalities in which synthetic slings failed. He will discuss how the accidents could have been prevented if the users had known the load weight, conducted pre-use inspections, and utilized positive sling-load engagement.
Case Study—Benefits of Modular Lifting: Morris Parrott is the operations manager for Alltec Lifting Systems, Dickinson, Texas, which specializes in below-the-hook rigging and custom rigging solutions. In 2009, the company introduced Modular Lifting Beams, which are designed for offset centers of gravity and to accommodate large modular loads. Parrott will explain what modular lifting is and what’s driving the trend for fitting components together on the ground. He’ll also describe some of the techniques and equipment that can be used to accomplish modular lifting.
Understanding Contractors Equipment Policies: The contractors equipment policy within Inland Marine insurance is a complex part of any contractors risk management program. This policy provides coverage for the potential damage to equipment and buildings or theft of equipment. This session led by Mark Monson, director of loss control specialty for The Hanover Insurance Group, Worcester, Mass., will provide a review of the various types of equipment covered, hazards involved in operations and recommended control techniques and requirements.
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