Joint Work Session: Crane Safety
House Commerce & Labor Committee
Senate Commerce, Research & Development Committee January 16, 2007
Stephen M. Cant, CIH Assistant Director Division of Occupational Safety & Health Department of Labor & Industries (360) 902-9166 cant235@Lni.wa.gov
DOSH Mission
Making Washington workplaces safer by preventing injuries, illnesses and deaths through education, consultation and enforcement.
Vision
Washington has the safest workplaces in the nation.
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Typical Tower Crane
Department Responsibilities: Federal
• Maintain statute, regulations, program, and policies as-effective-as Federal OSHA • Certify maritime cranes • Maritime Crane Board (by rule) to approve and accredit crane certification inspectors • Third party crane inspection reports submitted to DOSH • Operating certificates issued to maritime crane owner/user
Department Responsibilities: State
• No specific statutory requirements for cranes under WISHA – Chapter 49.17 RCW • Current construction crane rules were adopted in 1973 identical to Federal OSHA • Rules have been updated once to reflect 1989 National concensus standard • Updates to existing rules are being prepared
Current WISHA Tower Crane Rules
• Must be erected, maintained and used according to the manufacturer’s specifications. • All modifications must be approved by the manufacturer and engineered by a Professional Engineer (PE) • PE must certify foundation and underlying soil adequately support the crane.
Current Rules: continued
• New crane foundations must be load tested to 110% of capacity. • Must be inspected and maintained according to manufacturer’s recommendations; more frequently if reason to suspect a defect or weakening of the supporting structure. • Operators must be trained and experienced. New operators must be under the direct supervision of an experienced operator. • Much more detail is found in Part L, Chapter 29624 WAC.
Crane Owner/Contractor Responsibilities
• • • • Ensure operator is trained and experienced Maintain cranes to manufacturer’s specifications Ensure frequent and periodic crane inspections Frequent is visual and occurs daily to monthly including: all controls daily; safety devices; air & hydraulics systems for leaks daily; hooks & ropes; and electrical apparatus • Periodic is a physical inspection including: crane structure for cracks, deformation, corrosion, loose bolts, working parts, brakes, clutch systems, load and boom angle indicators, travel, steering and all frequent inspection items • Tower crane bases and modifications must be engineered to meet manufacturer’s specifications using professional engineer
Issues related to crane type/size
• Operator issues – there are many types and configurations of cranes; all are not the same. • Crane training certification typically specifies crane size (e.g. 14-ton) and assumes operator can operate all cranes of same size.
Crane type/size issues continued
• Crane issues – great number of different types and sizes of cranes and purpose for which they are used • Training certification should consider the need for a crane size cutoff and also which types of cranes should be included, e.g. tower, mobile, pedestal, or portal cranes • Availability of qualified inspectors/ability to hire staff
Wheel-Mounted Crane
Commercial Truck Mounted Crane
Crawler Cranes
Luffing Tower Crane
Hammerhead Tower Crane
Luffing Pedestal Crane
Fall 2006 Tower Crane Incidents
• 210-foot tower crane collapse; one fatality • 330-foot tower crane with serious weld cracks; employer properly identified problem and dismantled crane with no injuries. • All potential causes of collapse still on table; no decision made • Two other tower cranes found with minor issues - fixed (considered normal)
Status of Crane Accident Investigations
• On-site investigations completed • Supoenas issued for engineering design records and other data • Hired Professional Engineer expert in catastrophic failure analysis • Expect expert report in next 4-6 weeks on collapsed crane • Anticipate closing inspection on cracked-weld crane in near future • No evidence of operator failure or deficiency
Crane Accident History
• • • • No previous tower crane collapse in WA Mobile and other cranes have tipped over Some incidents tied to operator error Some problems tied to failure of employer to perform appropriate safety checks or stay within load limits or faulty equipment • Historical data being retrieved for review; not completed
Legislative History
• Department request legislation in 1995 calling for crane operator licensing; did not pass • Other past efforts have been made to promote operator certification but not legislatively for several years
Recommendations
• Tower Cranes – need pre-assembly inspections and post-erection inspections prior to operating • All Cranes – more specificity on frequency and content of inspections; maintain employer responsibility to assure safety • Increase oversight by state • Increase operator training assurance through certification
DOSH Decision Making Principles
• Crane safety requirements must result in greater workplace or public safety
• Employer is responsible for safety at worksite • Operator certification needed but does not relieve employer of overall site safety responsibility • L&I is committed to collaborative process with Legislature and business and labor stakeholders • WISHA state plan must remain as effective as Federal OSHA; OSHA working on negotiated rules for cranes and derricks. State can be more effective but not contradict Federal requirements.
2006 Tower Crane Collapse
2006 Tower Crane Collapse
2006 Tower Crane Collapse
2006 2nd Crane Weld Cracks
2006 2nd Crane Weld Cracks
2006 2nd Crane Weld Cracks
2006 2nd Crane Disassembly
Identify and Fix Hidden Hazards