Regional News Release U.S. Department of Labor

January 3, 2013

US Labor Department's OSHA cites two Wisconsin companies following worker's death on US Route 41 bridge construction site near Oshkosh. The July 5 incident occurred when a crane collapsed at a bridge construction site on U.S. Route 41. A truck driver died when he was struck by the boom of a crane that overturned while bridge girders were being erected with a multiple crane lift. The willful violation is for failing to comply with crane operator standards by designating a lift director and conducting multiple crane-lift planning meetings.

Regional News Release U.S. Department of Labor

January 3, 2013 A willful violation is one committed with intentional knowledge or voluntary disregard for the law's requirements, or with plain indifference to worker safety and health. Proposed penalties for “XYZ” Construction total $105,000, and total $13,220 for “ABC” Construction. Both companies have 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. OSHA has placed “XYZ” Construction in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which focuses on recalcitrant employers who endanger workers by committing willful, repeat or failure-to-abate violations. Under the program, OSHA may inspect any of the employer's facilities or job sites.

Rule

• 1926.1432(b)(1)

The multiple-crane/derrick lift must be directed by a person who meets the criteria for both a competent person and a qualified person, or by a competent person who is assisted by one or more qualified persons (lift director)

• 1926.1432(b)(2)

The lift director must review the plan in a meeting with all workers who will be involved with the operation

Definition

Competent Person means one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them

Webster's definition of Competent:

Having adequate ability or qualities; legally qualified

Definition

Qualified Person means a person who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or who by extensive knowledge, training and experience, successfully demonstrated the ability to solve/resolve problems relating to the subject matter, the work, or the project Webster's definition of Qualified: having the necessary skill, experience, or knowledge to do a particular job or activity

B30.5

B30.5-3.1.3 says:

“All responsibilities listed below

shall

be assigned in the work site organization”

Shall: term used to indicate that a rule is mandatory and must be followed

B30.5-3.1.3 (continued)

A single individual may perform one or more of these roles:

(a) Crane Owner

(b) Crane User

(c) Site Supervisor

(d) Lift Director

(e) Crane Operator

Lift Director Responsibilities ASME B30.5-3.1.3.2.2

• Be present at the site during lifting operations

• Stop crane operations if alerted to an unsafe condition

• Ensuring the lift area is prepared before lifting

• Assure population control is in place before lifting

• Assure everyone knows what they should do and how to do it

• Addressing safety concerns of the operator or crew before continuing with the lift

• Appointing the signal persons and ensuring they are qualified

Lift Director Responsibilities (Continued)

ASME B30.5-3.1.3.2.2 • Ensuring precautions are implemented for special lifts

– Multiple Crane Lifts ------ OSHA Rule – Lifting Personnel --- Ensuring B30.23 requirements are met – Pick and Carry – Mobile Cranes on Barges

• Ensuring the operator has correct weights, travel path, pick and set locations

• Obtaining verification from the operator the load does not exceed capacity

• Ensuring rigging personnel are qualified • Ensuring the load is properly rigged and balanced

Lift Director Responsibilities (Continued)

ASME P30.1

• Lift Director Definition; The person designated to direct the load handling activity

• Personnel Roles and Responsibilities; The Lift Director is responsible for verifying the category of the load handling activity, reviewing and implementation the lift plan

Lift Director Responsibilities (Continued)

ASME P30.1

• The Lift Director Should:

– Hold pre-lift meetings

• Assure the meeting attendees understand the plan and what each person is supposed to do

• Decide the frequency of pre-lift meetings for repetitive lifts.

– Confirm all set up preparations are according to the lift plans

– Ensure load handling activity complies with the plan

– Conduct a post-lift review

Should: term used to indicate that a rule is a recommendation, the advisability of which depends on the facts of each situation

Where do we find them?

Who is this person?

13 Company Confidential

Who Is This Person?

Previous to the inclusion of the Lift Director requirement in the standards, they often were considered as “lead man” for the

crew and were not compensated for assuming these responsibilities

Furthermore, they often assumed the responsibility but not given the authority to take corrective actions

Lift Directors are nothing new. They have been with us all along,

assuming all the responsibilities we have just discussed

Who Is This Person?

One that is not afraid to make informed decisions and stand behind them

A person that others will trust and follow

First of all, this person will be a “natural leader”

Who Is This Person?

Second, this person must have the

“necessary experience based on work history”

to effectively perform all the task and to live up to

the many responsibilities

Who Is This Person?

Reputations, good and bad, are built over time and follow individuals

The crane and rigging industry is a small group in this country Good and Bad actors are easily identified

Check references and call previous employers

This person must be “reliable and dependable”

Lift Director Profile

“Gray Hair” Effect - Made the client comfortable with a lot of experience Iron Worker Craft (not the crane operator) - But was educated with the crane's operation Being the Iron Worker - had much more understanding of “How to Handle the Load from the Hook End” Absolute respect from the "Crew" at all times Very adaptable to unplanned issues that may occur - No “Knee-Jerk” Decisions

Varying Degrees of Experience

The Lift Director may be overseeing:

Super heavy complicated lifts -- Or

Simple one or two crane lifts with smaller cranes, working at a low percentage of chart -- Or

Somewhere in between

You may have a very busy site with multiple lift directors working within the limits of their individual experience levels

Where do we find them?

Many construction craftspeople move from job to job. Place ads with the local media in areas where large projects are winding down Use social media – A valuable resource for matching up qualified craftspeople with employers needs

Look first within your own organization. You may be surprised to find some treasures right under your nose!

Should the Lift Director Be Certified?

Train and Certify whenever and wherever possible!

A recent internet search turned up several reputable companies providing Lift Director Training

That search also turned up several other reputable companies the are in development of training and certification programs

The National Commission for the Certification of

Crane Operators

offers

Certification for Lift Directors

The NCCCO Lift Director Core Exam includes 6 Domains: • Domain 1: Site

• Domain 2: Roles, Responsibilities, and Qualifications

• Domain 3: Lifting Operations

• Domain 4: Lift Plans

• Domain 5: Rigging

• Domain 6: Signals

The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators offers certification for

Lift Directors

The Lift Director Specialty Exams include:

• Mobile Crane

• Tower Crane

The content domains in the outline for the Specialty Exams represent the knowledge areas that are generally relevant to load chart usage or lift planning

Compensation

The Lift Director accepts a considerable amount of responsibility. In most cases, even more than the site supervisor and or crane operator

Effectively, they could land in a court of law or have criminal charges brought against them in the event of a serious accident

Lift Directors should be compensated by a higher pay rate than the rest of the crew members but less than the supervisor

Provide The Lift Director With The Proper Tools

There is a multitude of requirements for the Lift Director to remember. Being an expert in

your field does not mean you possess a photographic memory

Develop comprehensive check list

for the Lift Director

Check Lists Work!!!

Provide The Lift Director With The Proper Tools

Provide the Lift Director with the proper tools such as:

• Comprehensive/standardized lift

plan forms

• Ensuring the lift team recognizes the

Lift Directors authority

• Support them by making needed

resources readily available

– Such as, Engineering assistance,

Federal and Local Standards,

Client Policies, etc.