Bituminous Insurance Companies

OSHA's New Crane Standard

Release Date: August 4, 2010

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a new standard that addresses the use of cranes and derricks in construction. The final rule will be published in the Federal Register August 9, 2010 and will become effective 90 days later (Nov 8^th).

In 1998, OSHA's expert Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH) established a workgroup to develop recommended changes to the current standard for cranes and derricks. In December 1999, ACCSH recommended that the agency use negotiated rulemaking to develop the rule. The Cranes and Derricks Negotiated Rulemaking Committee (C-DAC) was convened in July 2003 and reached consensus on its draft document in July 2004. In 2006, ACCSH recommended that OSHA use the C-DAC consensus document as a basis for OSHA's proposed rule, which was published in 2008. Public hearings were held in March 2009, and the public comment period on those proceedings closed in June 2009.

Research for the creation of this new standard found that there were four main causes of worker death and injury associated with cranes and derricks on construction work sites:

• Electrocution
• Crushed by parts of the equipment
• Struck-by the equipment/load
• Falls

This new standard addresses the above plus additional key hazards related to cranes and derricks on construction worksites. The new standard has taken a long time to create, replaces a decade’s old standard, and contains the following significant requirements:

• A pre-erection inspection of tower crane parts;
• Use of synthetic slings in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions during assembly/disassembly work;
• Assessment of ground conditions;
• Assessment of ground conditions;
• Procedures for working in the vicinity of power lines.

The rule can be found at the Federal Register or at www.osha.gov.

COPYRIGHT ©2010, ISO Services Properties, Inc.

The information contained in this publication was obtained from sources believed to be reliable. ISO Services Properties, Inc., its companies and employees make no guarantee of results and assume no liability in connection with either the information herein contained or the safety suggestions herein made. Moreover, it cannot be assumed that every acceptable safety procedure is contained herein or that abnormal or unusual circumstances may not warrant or require further or additional procedure.