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After a 39-year lull
of any significant new regulations for the crane industry OSHA releases a new
construction standard giving some as little as 90-days to comply.
The new standard (§1926.1400)
is aimed solely at the construction industry.
Signalperson
qualification is identified under
§1926.1428 and Rigger qualification under
§1926.1404(r)(1) and §1926.1425(c)(3).
Riggers working to assemble and disassemble cranes and all persons who may
signal a crane have until November 8, 2010 to become qualified.
Mobile Crane operators will require a "certification" such as from the National
Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) no later than
November 8, 2014.
There is little doubt a new standard was needed. The Center for Construction
Research and Training conducted a study
[Crane-Related Deaths in Construction and Recommendations for Their Prevention]
and provided some significant facts further driving home the need for updated
regulation. For Example; there were 323
construction worker deaths involving 307 crane incidents between 1992 and 2006.
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102 of these deaths were caused by
overhead power line electrocutions (32%).
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68 deaths associated with crane
collapse (21%).
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59 deaths involved a worker struck by
a crane boom or jib (18%).
Additional facts that came from this study:
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Construction laborers experienced the greatest fatality rate
(30%),
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Followed by equipment operators (23%),
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Followed by supervisors,
managers and administrators (12%),
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Ironworkers (6%), and
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Mechanics (5%).
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103 of the 323 construction workers
were employed by subcontractors with fewer than 10 employees.
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Fifty-one worked for
employers with over 100 employees.
To inquire about training and testing to
these new rules call 1-800-290-0007
or email
training@cranetech.com.
To open the new rule:
OSHA New
Construction Rule
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