Crane Safety

Only qualified operators will be permitted to operate cranes. Operators are responsible for the exercise of caution necessary for the safe operation of their equipment. Operators shall immediately report unsafe conditions, including defects in the machine, to their supervisor.

Operators shall not permit anyone to ride the hook or load.

When the operator leaves his machine or repairs or being made, it is his/her responsibility to set the brakes, secure the boom, take the machine out of gear and turn off the engine.

When making a lift, the operator will take operational signals only from the man authorized to give them. An emergency stop signal given by anyone, will be acted upon by the operator.

It is the joint responsibility of the operator and the riggers to see that all hitches are secure and that all loose material is removed before the loads are lifted. Material should not be hoisted until it is ready to be used/put into place.

Safety hooks, or properly "moused" hooks, shall be used on all operations where loads are being handled. Suspended loads shall be controlled by tag lines whenever necessary.

Booms shall be equipped with a boom angle indicator and a device designed and constructed to prevent the boom from falling over backward. Boom heads, load blocks and hooks shall be painted with high visibility paint.

Where necessary to increase stability, cranes, except crawler cranes and boom type excavators, shall be equipped with outriggers of a design and strength suitable for the work being performed.

Hooks, wire rope, bearings, gears, friction clutches, chain drives and other parts subject to wear must be inspected at regular intervals and repaired or replaced as required. Records of such inspections and resultant action taken shall be maintained by the contractor.

A thorough annual inspection of the hoisting machinery shall be made by a competent person or by a government or private agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor. A record of these inspections must be maintained in office files.

Crawler, truck and locomotive cranes must be inspected monthly. A certification of performance of these inspections is required.

A designated competent person shall inspect machinery and equipment prior to each use, and during use, to make sure it is in safe operating condition.

Rated load capacities, recommended operating speeds, special hazard warnings, or instructions shall be placed on all equipment so that it is visible to the operator while he/she is at his/her control station. Also, post hand signals for crane and derrick operators at the job site and on the equipment. Signals prescribed by applicable ANSI standards shall be used.

Accessible areas within the swing radius of the rear of the rotating superstructure of the crane, either permanently or temporarily mounted, shall be barricaded to prevent employees from being struck or crushed by the crane.

When loads are being hoisted, avoid walking under the lift or permitting an employee to be exposed to the swing of the lift.

For the protection of other crafts on the project, post signs when overhead work is in progress, "DANGER - MAN WORKING OVERHEAD".

Exhaust pipes shall be insulated or guarded in areas where contact may be made by employees during the performance of normal duties.

Use of cranes to hoist employees should be avoided except in rare cases where aerial lifts, personnel hoist ladders, scaffolds or other means is not feasible or would be more hazardous. When this action becomes necessary, the criteria specified in OSHA 1926.550(g)(2) through (8) shall be strictly followed.

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