Crane safety programs 

Purpose:

Boom trucks, mobile hydraulic cranes, and rough terrain cranes are used at Gatwood Crane Service, Inc. for lifting and moving materials. Gatwood’s policy is to maintain a safe work environment for its employees; therefore, it cannot be overemphasized that only qualified and licensed operators shall operate these devices. The safety rules and guidelines in this program apply to all operations at and for Gatwood that involve the operation of cranes, and to all employees who operate these cranes.

Responsibilities:

Supervisors are responsible for:

• Ensuring that employees under their supervision have received the required training from Local 150, and are licensed to operate the; types of cranes assigned for their use.
• Providing training, if necessary, on new cranes, or cranes which may have different features from those to which a specific operator is normally assigned. A qualified, designated operator who is licensed to operate these cranes, and is a full time Gatwood employee or Local 150 trainer must conduct this training.
• Evaluating crane operators on their use and operation of their assigned cranes
• Ensuring that cranes are inspected daily by the operators using their OSHA checklists.

Crane Operators are responsible for:

• Operating cranes safely
• Conducting functional tests prior to using equipment
• Selecting and using rigging appropriately
• Having a valid operator’s license on their person while operating cranes.
• Participating in the medical certification program, Union Advanced Operator’s Classes and other training programs, as required.
• Mechanics are responsible for:
• Performing regularly scheduled maintenance and inspection of all Gatwood cranes
• Maintaining written records of all Gatwood cranes
• Scheduling regular annual crane inspections with an independent inspector, and performing any repairs necessary to insure certification of each Gatwood crane
• Maintaining all manuals for cranes in a central location for reference

Safe Operating Requirements

All operators who use any Gatwood crane shall have a valid CDL and medical report, have completed the four year Local 150 apprenticeship program and hold an local 150 Union card indicating the types of cranes the operator is qualified to operate.

Crane Safety Design Requirements

The design of all commercial cranes shall comply with the requirements of ASME/ANSI B30.5 standards and Crane Manufacturer’s Association of America standards (CMAA-70) and CMAA-74).

General Safety Rules

• Operators shall comply with the following rules while operating the cranes.
• Do not engage in any practice that will divert your attention while operating the crane
• Respond to signals only from the person who is directing the lift, or any appointed signal person. Obey a stop sign at all times, no matter who gives it.
• Do not move a load over people. People shall not be placed in jeopardy by being under a suspended load. Also, do not work under a suspended load unless blocks, jacks or a solid footing that will safely support the entire weight supports the load.
• Avoid side pulls. These can cause the hoist rope to slip out of the drum groove, damaging the rope or destabilizing the crane.
• To prevent sudden shock loading, avoid sudden stops or starts. Shock loading can occur when a suspended load is accelerated of decelerated, and can overload the crane of hoist. When completing an upward or downward motion, ease the load slowly to a stop.