In the August issue of its quarterly newsletter, The Indicator, Crane Institute of America, Sanford, Fla., has packaged information on the new OSHA Cranes & Derricks regulation. Cranes Institute offers a link to an OSHA Fact Sheet on the regulation as well as a list of some of the most critical aspects of the regulation of interest to crane owners and operators.
Major points of the new crane regulation include:
1. New OSHA crane regulation goes into effect November 8, 2010.
2. Crane operators will need to be certified on cranes over 1 ton capacity.
3. Calculators are allowed to be used when taking written examinations.
4. Employers must provide operator certification/ qualification at no cost to the employee.
5. Riggers and signalpersons must meet qualification requirements.
6. Spotters are required to watch separation between powerlines and equipment.
7. Crane operators must be given the authority to stop operations when lifts could be unsafe.
8. Multi-crane lifts must be planned by a qualified engineer.
9. Inspections are required each shift and monthly and annually with documentation.
10. A crane must be shut down if it has a defective safety device.
11. The controlling entity is responsible for ensuring that necessary ground preparations are provided for the crane.
12. Forklifts when configured like a crane come under this regulation.
Lift & Access is part of the Catalyst Communications Network publication family.
