New OSHA Guidance – Roadmap to Complying with its Cranes and Derricks in Construction Standard

NEW OSHA GUIDANCE – ROADMAP TO COMPLYING WITH ITS CRANES AND DERRICKS IN CONSTRUCTION STANDARD

10/30/2014

Although OSHA implemented its Cranes and Derricks in Construction Standard (29 C.F.R. 1926 Subpart CC) back in 2010, it just now released its directive for how OSHA inspectors should enforce that rule. Multiple layers of legal review and approval, as well as revisions and challenges to the standard, contributed to the delay.

Released on October 23, 2014, this directive includes an abbreviated inspection checklist and inspection guidance for OSHA inspectors to follow, as well as recommended citation policies for complex requirements.

Reviewing the procedures OSHA expects its inspectors to follow can be helpful to assist contractors and operators in ensuring they are compliant with the new standard, and avoid a citation if an inspection is conducted. The abbreviated check list, found at section VIII.B of the directive, provides a road map for what inspectors will be looking at during a site visit. Contractors should read through this list and make sure all persons who work with cranes on site comply.

The directive also includes inspection guidance and citation policies, which identifies who should be interviewed at a site and what types of documents should be turned over during the inspection. It is important to note that the inspectors may likely be interviewing the following persons based on this directive: (1) controlling employer; (2) employer of the operator and lift crew; (3) operator; (4) equipment inspector; (5) maintenance personnel; (6) lift and A/D directors; (7) crew members; (8) riggers and (9) signal persons. Given this broad spectrum of persons who may be interviewed, in particular the non-managerial personnel, it is important to ensure proper training and crane safety compliance prior to an inspection, and certainly in the event of an accident.

The directive applies to the Federal OSHA plan only, however, State Plan States must implement enforcement policies and procedures for their Cranes and Derricks standards which are at least as effective as those in the directive. If your projects are located in jurisdictions which operate their own State OSHA plans, please check your State plan’s website, or the Federal OSHA webpage to determine if there are additional requirements beyond those included in the new directive. At a minimum, however, all construction projects will be governed by the guidelines set forth in this directive. A state plan may increase the requirements, but may not require less than what is set forth here.

Loss Lessons involving Cranes

In the last few months we have encountered claims involving tipping and damaging buildings. Cranes are the most useful equipment at construction sites. However, if misused they can cause some serious harm. Both crane accidents we investigated were the result of inadequate planning, which led to instability and overturning of the crane.

The first claim involved a 12-ton crane attempting to lift a 20-foot steel beam weighting approximately 500 pounds. The carne was stationed near the base of a new building and, despite being available, neither wood pads for the outriggers nor counter weights were utilized. During the lift, the right front outrigger sunk into the ground approximately six to eight inches causing the crane to tip onto the building damaging a steel roof beam, masonry, metal framing, concrete fascia, and the crane itself. The crane company had to employ two additional cranes to re-erect the tipped crane. Some minor worker injuries were also caused by the tipping of the crane.

The second claim involved a 40-ton crane that was lifting three bundles of roof “I-Joists” weighing approximately 2,080 pounds. One of the front outriggers collapsed causing the crane to tilt resulting in damage to a masonry wall, the parapet of adjoining masonry walls, metal support beams and scaffolding. When the boom crashed onto the wall, the joists fell onto the floor inside the building, damaging 30 of these joists. In addition, the hook of the crane struck the floor and caused damage to the concrete floor. Finally, hydraulic fluid leaked from the crane, which required cleanup and soil remediation.

Both of these accidents could have been avoided by simple pre-planning. In the first case, the operator and site supervisor should have identified that the crane should not have been situated near the base of a new building, because this area is the softest, even when properly compacted. Additionally, the wooden pads need to be utilized at all times regardless of how many lifts will be conducted. The wooden pads or cribbing are necessary to distribute the weight of the crane and its load.

Pre-planning should also include the verification that the crane being used is free of hazards and defects. This is not only common sense but is also a federal requirement. The rule 29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart CC requires that the employer shall designate a competent person who shall inspect all machinery and equipment prior to each use, and during use, to make sure it is in safe operating condition. Any deficiencies shall be repaired, or defective parts replaced, before continued use.

It is necessary to abide by the OSHA Subpart CC, – Cranes and Dericks in Construction. Additionally, all manufacturer’s specifications and limitations need to be followed. Accidents can be avoided by careful job planning. The person in charge must have a clear understanding of the work to be performed and consider all potential dangers at the job site.

Driving truck with raised boom results in overturn

November 5, 2014

A man trimming trees for a utility company in Maynardville, Tennessee overturned the utility truck/platform he was using yesterday, after he decided to drive it with the boom raised.

The raised boom became caught up in the overhead wires, which was enough to pull the machine over. He was slightly hurt, but thankfully there was no one in the platform. It begs the question, why was he moving the lift while elevated?

The man, who works for ABC Professional Tree Services, was carrying out contract work for the Knoxville Utilities Board trimming trees back from around power lines. Power was apparently cut to a number of homes in the area – we assume that the power lines had been deactivated.

The overturned utility truck

Houston, Texas

A five axle 170 ton All Terrain crane overturned on Friday in west Houston, Texas dropping its boom into the back end of a car dealership yard.

The crane, a Grove GMK5225 operated by Circle 8 Crane Services of Houston, was working or setting up at a tower block construction site in Kirkwood when it went over. No counterweights appear to have been fitted and the outriggers on the side of the fall were either retracted or they have punched through into the ground. The outriggers to the rear are fully extended – the boom appears to have been fully extended at the time.

Thankfully no one was hurt and the even the operator walked away totally unharmed. Property damage – the crane excluded – was also light.

Photo from the scene indicates an outrigger issue

Another failed ground incident

November 8, 2014

A 3.5 tonne truck mounted lift overturned in Hengelo, Netherlands yesterday after one of its outrigger jacks broke through the bricks on the sidewalk/pavement.

The machine's outrigger punched through the paved surface

The 20 metre articulated unit was being used by a window washing company and from what we can see no mats had been used under the jack pads. The lift came to rest against the building and thankfully no one was injured. The damage was also relatively light.

It does not look like any mats were used

The boom came to rest against the side of the building

The ground in the Netherlands is generally almost pure sand with the majority of block paved paths having no hard core to speak off. It is negligent to contemplate forgoing the use of mats! Absolutely shocking.

Crane Flips on Highway, San Clemente, California

An All Terrain crane with trailing boom flipped over while travelling on Interstate 5 in San Clemente, California – between Los Angeles and San Diego – on Thursday. Thankfully no one was hurt in the incident.

The four axle Liebherr crane with three axle boom trailer, owned by one of the state’s oldest crane rental companies Bob Hill, swerved into the concrete centre divider several times as the operator tried to keep control of it. Finally it flipped onto its side.

An aerial view of the incident

This is not the first time that an All Terrain with trailing boom has flipped or caused havoc on Southern California’s highways. A number of crane operators consider trailing booms – which are dictated by road formulas – are considerably more dangerous than higher axle loads of a longer chassis. At least this time round there are no injuries.

The unit has a three axle boom trailer

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