Crane Safety Guidelines Needed

In March 2008 a construction crane collapsed into a neighborhood bar and nearby apartments in New York City, killing seven people. In Bellevue, Wash., in June 2006, a large crane fell into an apartment building killing a young man who had just moved there to take a job at Microsoft. He reportedly was watching television when the crane crashed into his living room.

It’s unknown whether the young man was watching a news report on one of the many such crane accidents that have dominated the headlines in recent years. But the increase in crane accidents resulting in growing numbers of injuries and fatalities has governmental and safety professionals concerned and many are pushing for clearer and tougher guidelines for the operation of cranes.

Most crane operators, construction companies and subcontractors take their work very seriously and operate safely. Most employ occupational safety, health and environmental professionals aware of what is needed to safely operate the many types of cranes and in many of the different environments they are used. They make sure workers are trained and prepared. Still, the list of crane accidents continues to grow each year.

B-30 Guidelines

Many members of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) suggest crane companies follow the B-30 American Society of Mechanical Engineers safety standards for the construction, installation, operation, inspection and maintenance of jacks, cranes, monorails, derricks, hoists, hooks, slings, cableways and specification standards for hoists, as well as some of the ANSI A10 construction standards to increase safety. (More information may be found online at www.asse.org.)

One one big problem with crane operation is that not all states require licensing. Crane operators currently are licensed in California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Washington and West Virginia. Cities licensing crane operators include Chicago, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York City, Omaha and Washington, D.C.

Many states consider crane operations a federal matter overseen by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Yet, the OSHA crane operation standards, implemented in 1971, are broad in scope. In 2004 the Cranes and Derricks Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee approved modified standards, but the older standards have remained in place.

OSHA’s New Rule

On Sept. 18, 2008, OSHA announced a proposed rule for cranes and derricks in construction to be published in the Federal Register (www.osha.gov/doc/proposedrule/Cranes_Derricks_Proposed_Rule.html). OSHA officials say “this draft rule will both protect construction employees and help prevent crane accidents by updating existing protections and requiring crane operators to be trained in the use of construction cranes.”

The cranes and derricks proposed rule would apply to the estimated 96,000 construction cranes in the United States, including 2,000 tower cranes. It would establish four options for qualification or certification of crane operators: (1) certification through an accredited third-party testing organization; (2) qualification through an audited employer testing program; (3) qualification issued by the U.S. military; and (4) qualification by a state or local licensing authority.

The draft federal rules require crane operators to pass written and practical tests in all 50 states and also require the operators to undergo more training. A final approval process will likely take more than a year.

The ASSE is requesting help to get the word out about the existing B-30 standards and certification processes through OSHA so we can enhance safety now while the year-long process for updating the federal standards goes on.

Topics USA New York Workers' Compensation Construction