OSHA Revisiting Cranes and Derricks

When OSHA released their agenda, issuing a final rule on Cranes and Derricks was listed as one of their top priorities.  Since the proposal was issued in October of 08, this is a good time to revisit the proposal and remind all in the industry of the changes on the horizon.

To be fair, the current standard dates back to the early 70s and there have been numerous advances in technology and industry practices since then.  Designed to take aim at the leading causes of crane and derrick related fatalities and injuries related to equipment malfunctions. Two studies were used to as a basis for aspects of the proposal “Crane-Related Fatalities in the Construction Industry,” by J.E. Beavers, et al, and “Crane-Related Deaths in the U.S. Construction Industry,” by A. Suruda, et al.  According to Suruda, the top 5 causes of fatalities from crane related incidents are electrocution, crane assembly or disassembly, boom buckling or collapse, crane overturn, and rigging failure.

Here are a few of the ways in which the Oct. 08 proposal would combat the major hazards outlined in both the Beavers and Suruda studies.

• Unless ground conditions are firm, drained, and sufficiently graded, equipment would be prohibited from being assembled or used.
• The “controlling entity,” normally either the employer owning the property or primary contractor would be responsible for prepping ground conditions before cranes could be assembled or used.
• Employees would be prohibited from standing under an equipment (crane, boom, etc) while pins are being removed unless employer could demonstrate a restraint that would prohibit equipment from falling on an employee.
• The proposal also covers electrocution hazards, overhead protective covers to be attached to guardrails; care to be taken, and the need for a signal person to relay signals of hazards.

It should be noted that these are just a few of the proposed in changes in the Oct. 08 final register for the cranes and derricks standard.  OSHA will still be taking into consideration the comments from these proposed changes and any new data that may impact the safety and health of workers.  At the time that the proposal was issued, the cost of complying with the changes represented less than 1% of revenues for each of the industries affected.

The agenda released pointed to a final rule date being issued around July of 2010.  If you use cranes and derricks, now is the time to review the Oct. 08 proposed standard and any new industry changes that have occurred since then.  The new standard is coming be ready.

References

Proposed Rule: Cranes and Derricks in Construction; http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=FEDERAL_REGISTER&p_id=21169;

Accessed November 7, 2009.