In the last post, I discussed some of the changes imposed by the new OSHA Construction Crane Standards. Operator Certification was the focus there, but there are new requirements for other employees, too.
Effective immediately with the new standards (as in, it’s already happened,) is a new requirement for signal persons. The rule now requires signalers for affected crane operations to be qualified for that operation. Signal person qualification must be documented either on paper or electronically, and be available on the jobsite. The documentation must specify the type of signaling for which the employee is qualified. (i.e. hand signals, radio signals, smoke signals, etc.)
To be considered “qualified” under the new standards, the employee must understand the types of signals in use on the jobsite, demonstrate competency in using those signals, understand the operation of the particular cranes in use, and understand the requirements of the OSHA Standard relevant to signal person qualification. Additionally, the signal person must pass both a written and a practical exam dealing with the subject. This training can be performed by a qualified third-party evaluator, or by a company’s in-house qualified evaluator. There is no accreditation required for the evaluator, they just need to be able to demonstrate that they are capable of assessing whether or not a signal person is qualified in accordance with the standard.
A signal person is required on any jobsite where the point of operation is not completely visible to the crane operator, or if the operators view is obstructed in the direction the equipment is traveling. A signal person is also required if the operator or the person handling the load deems one necessary due to site-specific safety concerns.
Riggers also need to be qualified under the new standard, but the requirements for documentation are a little less strenuous. A qualified rigger is defined as a "qualified person" who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or who by extensive knowledge, training, and experience, has successfully demonstrated the ability to solve/resolve problems relating to rigging.
A qualified rigger is required whenever assembly or disassembly of the crane is being performed. A qualified rigger is also needed whenever employees are engaged in hooking/unhooking the load, guiding the load, or otherwise manipulating loads, and are within the fall zone of the material.
In the next post, we’ll examine some additional requirements for crane operations, especially operations near power lines. In the mean time, if you have specific questions, consult OSHA directly, or contact a private safety consultant to address your specific needs.
Jason
Monday, November 29, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Deconstructing Construction Crane Standards, Pt. 1
Well, it’s November 08, 2010, and if you are covered under OSHA’s 1926 standards for Construction, and you operate just about any sort of crane, then your world has probably changed a little. After almost forty years, the Overhead Crane standards have been dramatically revised, with major changes in the training requirements for both operators and for ground personnel. Those changes went into effect this morning. We’ll explore these changes over the course of the next couple of updates.
First off, who is affected by these changes? Well, the easy part is, if you fall under OSHA’s 1910, General Industry standards, you can relax; this isn’t aimed at you. Only Construction is involved with this round of changes. The standard defines a crane for the purposes of this section as "power-operated equipment that, when used in construction, can hoist, lower and horizontally move a suspended load" [1926.1400]. That’s pretty broad, so these changes are obviously meant to have pretty sweeping impact. Some, but not all, equipment included are mobile cranes, tower cranes, crawler cranes, boom trucks, knuckleboom cranes, and cranes on barges. Also included are service trucks with a lifting device, pile drivers, and multipurpose equipment that is outfitted to hoist and lower, and horizontally move a suspended load.
Now, before everyone gets too upset, there are some exclusions. First off, there is a general exclusion for equipment with a manufacturer’s rated lifting capacity of less than 2000 pounds. Also, several types of equipment are mostly excluded; excavators, backhoes (even when used to lift suspended loads), concrete pumps, aerial lifts, tow trucks, digger derricks, gantry systems, and forklifts among them. Be sure and check 29 CFR 1926.1400(c) for detailed information on the exclusions.
Probably the biggest change involved in the new revision is the requirement for training of personnel involved in crane operations. Today, we will look at the most prominent: the operator. Beginning today, all operators of affected equipment must be certified to operate the specific equipment under their control. However, there is a four-year grace period to have the training completed, giving a real deadline of November 10, 2014. There are a few ways to comply with this standard. The first is to send operators to a nationally-accredited training program that includes practical and written tests specific to the equipment type and rating for their certification. This option may be the easiest to implement, if not necessarily the least expensive. A quick internet search for ‘crane certification’ should pull up several options, just make sure they are nationally accredited to insure compliance with the standard.
Another option is an audited employer training program. The employer may hire an independent auditor (certified by an accredited crane operator testing organization) to oversee training programs developed by the company. This option results in a certification that is not portable, so employees certified under this rule may only operate equipment while employed by that company. This option requires the employer to take an active role in training, and may be a good option if company resources permit.
There are also options to be certified by a government entity, or by the US military. In any case, certifications are valid for a maximum of five years.
We’re over 500 words into this, and we have barely scratched the surface. In the next installment, we will look at the changes that affect signalers and riggers. In the mean time, if you need additional assistance, the crane standard can be found in 29 CFR 1926.1400, and an independent safety consultant can be contacted to help determine what particular exposures your company has, and what approach would be most effective in ensuring your compliance.
-Jason
First off, who is affected by these changes? Well, the easy part is, if you fall under OSHA’s 1910, General Industry standards, you can relax; this isn’t aimed at you. Only Construction is involved with this round of changes. The standard defines a crane for the purposes of this section as "power-operated equipment that, when used in construction, can hoist, lower and horizontally move a suspended load" [1926.1400]. That’s pretty broad, so these changes are obviously meant to have pretty sweeping impact. Some, but not all, equipment included are mobile cranes, tower cranes, crawler cranes, boom trucks, knuckleboom cranes, and cranes on barges. Also included are service trucks with a lifting device, pile drivers, and multipurpose equipment that is outfitted to hoist and lower, and horizontally move a suspended load.
Now, before everyone gets too upset, there are some exclusions. First off, there is a general exclusion for equipment with a manufacturer’s rated lifting capacity of less than 2000 pounds. Also, several types of equipment are mostly excluded; excavators, backhoes (even when used to lift suspended loads), concrete pumps, aerial lifts, tow trucks, digger derricks, gantry systems, and forklifts among them. Be sure and check 29 CFR 1926.1400(c) for detailed information on the exclusions.
Probably the biggest change involved in the new revision is the requirement for training of personnel involved in crane operations. Today, we will look at the most prominent: the operator. Beginning today, all operators of affected equipment must be certified to operate the specific equipment under their control. However, there is a four-year grace period to have the training completed, giving a real deadline of November 10, 2014. There are a few ways to comply with this standard. The first is to send operators to a nationally-accredited training program that includes practical and written tests specific to the equipment type and rating for their certification. This option may be the easiest to implement, if not necessarily the least expensive. A quick internet search for ‘crane certification’ should pull up several options, just make sure they are nationally accredited to insure compliance with the standard.
Another option is an audited employer training program. The employer may hire an independent auditor (certified by an accredited crane operator testing organization) to oversee training programs developed by the company. This option results in a certification that is not portable, so employees certified under this rule may only operate equipment while employed by that company. This option requires the employer to take an active role in training, and may be a good option if company resources permit.
There are also options to be certified by a government entity, or by the US military. In any case, certifications are valid for a maximum of five years.
We’re over 500 words into this, and we have barely scratched the surface. In the next installment, we will look at the changes that affect signalers and riggers. In the mean time, if you need additional assistance, the crane standard can be found in 29 CFR 1926.1400, and an independent safety consultant can be contacted to help determine what particular exposures your company has, and what approach would be most effective in ensuring your compliance.
-Jason
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