Training your employees to properly operate overhead cranes has multiple benefits. In addition to reducing risk, it increases productivity and helps your company comply with industry standards.
ASME B30.2 sets out specific guidelines for training hoist and crane operators. Section 2-3.3.3 explains that training must be specific to the equipment, task, or application at hand. Contact Certified Safety Experts now!
Whether your job involves operating an overhead crane or rigging and moving materials, your work environment should be safe. There are many different hazards that can cause an accident involving a crane. These hazards include mechanical problems, visual impairment, not securing the load properly, untrained operators, or even poor planning. A combination of these factors can lead to severe injuries and even death. However, many of these accidents can be prevented with proper training.
The ASME B30.2 standard clearly states that crane operators must receive training before they can operate a crane. It also explains that the training must be specific to the equipment and application in question. Additionally, the crane operator must be able to demonstrate his or her understanding of the equipment and application during an evaluation.
In addition to requiring crane training, ASME B30.2 requires frequent inspections. These inspections must include daily and monthly inspections. During these inspections, the crane must be tested for structural integrity, and a record of the test must be kept. Additionally, if there are any modifications made to the crane, the modified components must be inspected and approved by an engineer or the equipment manufacturer. These inspections are not only required for cranes, but for rigging and hoists as well.
A significant number of crane accidents are caused by contact with electrical power lines. This type of accident often occurs because the crane is in close proximity to the power line, or it is swinging the load near the wire rope. Contact with high-voltage power lines can result in serious injury or death. In addition to requiring proper operator training, this type of accident can be prevented by maintaining a safe distance from the power lines.
Another common cause of crane accidents is overloading. Overloading is usually caused by a human error, and it can be avoided with the proper training and load measurement systems. A proper training program should cover all aspects of crane safety, including load capacities and how to read a crane’s capacity chart. Finally, the training must teach an operator how to communicate with other workers on site. This is done through verbal and visual signals. It is also a good idea to use radios, horns, and other forms of communication to make sure everyone knows what they should be doing at all times.
Qualification Requirements
As with any job, being a crane operator requires certain physical capabilities. Because crane operation is a physical job that involves standing for long periods of time and using your arms and legs to operate machinery, it is imperative that you are physically capable of handling the demands of the job. This includes passing a medical exam with a doctor’s certificate that shows you fit the Department of Transportation’s standards for this type of work.
In addition to meeting these physical requirements, you must pass both a written and practical examination. These exams are designed to verify that you have the ability to safely operate cranes and hoists. There are numerous agencies and accredited testing organizations that offer these exams. NCCCO, the most respected accredited test organization, offers both written and practical exams for crane operators and riggers.
Once you pass the written and practical examinations, you must complete a training program that is specific to the type of equipment that you will be operating. The equipment training must be provided by a qualified trainer and must include the following elements.
The training should teach you how to inspect and maintain the crane before and after use. This includes checking the safety latch, control pendant and walkways. It should also include the correct method for spooling wire rope, as well as how to check that all load hooks are closed and the load size is within the crane’s capacity.
Another important element of crane training is proper signaling procedures. The trainer must make sure that the trainee understands how to use hand signals and how to open the magnet switch on a load when requested. It is also important to know how to properly use the controls of the crane and to understand the dangers of touching a live power line.
In addition to the required training, an employer must provide a person with direct supervision at all times when an operator-in-training operates equipment covered by this standard. The supervisor must be in the immediate area of the equipment and within visual sighting distance. The supervisor must also have no other duties other than supervising the operations of the crane by the operator-in-training and be able to communicate with that individual.
Certification Requirements
Crane safety is a top priority for any company in the construction industry. Keeping your crane equipment in good working order, using best practices for inspection and maintenance, and training your employees properly are all essential steps in making sure the people who operate your cranes stay safe at work. These practices will also help keep your bottom line out of the red and into the black.
A recent study by OSHA analyzed over 250 crane accidents and found that the average economic loss per incident was more than two million dollars. In many cases, these losses could have been avoided if proper training had been in place. This is why the OSHA standards and other industry regulations require certain types of training for cranes and hoists.
While these industry standards are created to provide rules for employers to follow, the real reason behind these requirements is to make your workplace safer for you and your workers. Multiple studies have proven that better trained and more qualified crane operators can reduce both the number of injuries and the amount of financial costs associated with these incidents.
As part of the ASME B30.2 standard, there is a section that discusses the responsibilities of management or owners of a crane installation when it comes to authorizing their employee(s) to use that specific piece of equipment. This section also offers a list of qualifications for an operator to have that includes a written and practical operation examination, and training.
The written examination for an OSHA certified crane operator is comprised of a series of questions regarding the inspection, operation and maintenance of that type of crane. It has a 60-minute time limit. The practical exam is more hands-on and involves lifting a test load, moving it through an obstacle course, and then stopping the crane. The final exam is a comprehensive review of all aspects of the crane including its limitations, hazards and characteristics.
If you are in the market to find out more about the different types of overhead cranes, including how they are inspected and maintained, we recommend checking out a program from NCCCO, an accredited crane operator, rigger, signalperson certification organization. Their courses will teach you everything you need to know about safely operating a variety of cranes, how to recognize and prevent common crane and hoist errors, and the importance of proper training and qualification.
Certification Process
Overhead cranes can be very useful for construction sites, but they present certain risks. Those risks can be reduced by following proper procedures and training. An inexperienced or improperly trained crane operator can be a liability to the company, themselves, and those around them. It’s not only an accident waiting to happen, but it can cost the company time and money as well.
A 10-year OSHA study showed that 270 crane accidents resulted in injuries and fatalities, and cost the companies involved an average of two million dollars per incident. This includes damage to materials and the loss of productivity from not being able to work as expected due to equipment failure. Fortunately, 70% of these incidents could have been prevented with proper training.
The requirements for crane operators are outlined in the ASME B30.2 safety standard. This standard is a broad one that covers many different aspects of the industry. However, in the case of cranes, it defines that management, or the owner of the equipment, is responsible for ensuring that their employees receive appropriate training and certification. It also states that the employer must evaluate each employee’s ability to operate a particular type of equipment.
This evaluation can take the form of written documentation. It can include an overview of the types of equipment to be operated and a list of any operational aids or safety systems. This can be supplemented with additional documents such as the operator’s training and experience. The ASME B30.2 also includes specific language indicating that the evaluations must be conducted by a qualified person.
In the case of cranes, a qualified person is defined as someone who has passed an accredited crane operator testing examination and who has been approved for that type of equipment. The accreditation process must meet nationally recognized criteria for written testing materials, practical examinations, test administration, grading, facilities/equipment and personnel.
While the ASME B30.2 provides a clear definition of the qualifications required to be a crane operator, it does not create any sort of mandate that an employer must train all employees who will use a piece of equipment in this way. The final decision lies with the management of each company, and they can decide what additional training or qualifications are required to ensure that their employees can operate a piece of equipment safely.