CARPENTER CRANE LIFT TEAM SAFETY POLICY

This is our Creed, what we believe will bring Safety, Success and Satisfaction to every project; these are our...

“TEN CRANEMANDMENTS”

  1. ASSUME NOTHING. QUESTION EVERYTHING - Verifying all aspects of the proposed hoisting is mandatory – weight, radius, rigging and apparatus.

  2. BE FIRM WITH YOUR PRIORITIZED CRITERIA
    • It is acceptable to disappoint a customer by not making the lift as originally intended or not making it immediately upon striking the site
    • It is not acceptable to hurt someone , lose a load or lose a crane.

  3. EVERYTHING STARTS FROM THE BOTTOM
    • Outrigger and crawler cribbing on top of adequate soil is mandatory - Jobsite scrounging for cribbing often leads to disaster
    • Inquire about dry wells, fuel tanks, buried lines or structures and verify their locations and depth. Loading must be known and verified.
    • When setting up near excavations use the “1 on 1” rule. For every foot of excavated depth, keep the crane back one foot from the edge and abate the risk.
    • Freshly excavated and back-filled soil may be adequately compacted for the job requirements, but falls far short of your crane's needs. The weight of the crane, plus the weight of the load is what the cribbing has to transfer to the ground at each outrigger.

  4. IT'S A SETUP
    • When erecting and setting up the crane, great care and attention must prevail.
    • One person should take charge and direct the sequence of events, placement of support equipment and maintain order. Too many hands often lead to disaster.
    • Idle conversation must be avoided. Unfamiliar people must be informed and overseen. Even the mightiest boom can fall from the sky for the sake of a cotter pin that was missed.

  5. THE NEIGHBORHOOD
    • The area surrounding the crane needs discipline both in being kept clear of trucks, material and equipment, as well as personnel traffic.
    • Roping off the swing area is a must, but also a minimum. Anything that will draw the operator's attention for even a split second is a hazard and should be avoided.

  6. FAMILIARITY
    • It is imperative that the operator is allowed to become familiar with the crane that is to be operated.
    • Similarities can be dangerous. “Oh yeah, Pete ran a brand x for years.”
    • There is no substitute for the “oneness” that being comfortable with a particular machine affords both the operator and the crew doing the related work.
    • Have the books handy and don't hesitate to consult them. If you're unsure or vague about a certain aspect of operation or erection and dismantling, go and have a look at the books and drawings. One thing is certain, you know they'll be coming for the team when something goes wrong.
    • Be proud of your expertise.
    • Promote a good attitude and constantly inform yourself of your surroundings, equipment and your industry.

  7. RESPECT
    • Today's modern mobile cranes are high tech and high performance.
    • Assuming that there's plenty of reserve in the capacity is naive. If the crane could do any more, the sales department would have it in ink and already by flaunting it.
    • Load Moment Indicators (LMI's) and total LMI's must be appreciated as intended. It is only accurate for weight indication at cutoff. If a load needs to be weighed, it must be accomplished with a load cell or a scale.

  8. HAVE A LIFT PLAN
    • A crane performance must take place with the rhythm of a band and the oneness of a football team. The riggers and all other participants must know the plan and implement it as it was laid out prior to the commencement of hoisting.
    • This plan needs to include all job hazards.
    • Clear occupants from buildings prior to hoisting over them.
    • Take a specified route to avoid hoisting over an area that cannot be cleared.
    • Follow your company's policy on governing hoisting in the proximity of energized wires. These policies should be more stringent that merely maintaining a 10 foot clearance and grounding the crane adequately.
    • Mark the “10 foot zone” clearly and obviously. Establish a work pattern that avoids the 10 foot zone and appoint a spotter that has visual and audible contact with the operator and can stop the operator's swing far enough from the 10 foot zone to come to a slow, controlled stop.

  9. COMMUNICATION
    • The most common level of crane and hoisting communication is the hand signal.
    • The appointed signal person must be able to clearly relate the required motions to the operator and constantly be aware of his visibility to the operator.
    • A dirty glove in a shadow or held close to dark clothing is a poor message.
    • Signals relayed from person to person require slower operation and greater anticipation by the signal persons.
    • Often radio or hard wired phone signaling is a much better alternative. The primary criteria for radio signaling is that no voice transmission means no crane movement.

  10. STATE OF WHAT?
    • The crane operator has a special role in that he or she must maintain a proper state of mind and attitude.
    • The crane's seat is positively not a place for impatience, anger or hostility and contempt. Any such feelings should be cooled before lifting.