Crane & Hoist

Training & Inspection Requirements

Crane Safety
Does Does the Occupational Safety
and Health Act of 1970,
Part 29CFR.
Standards for General Industry
Cover all types of Cranes & Hoists?
 The Occupation Safety and Health
Act 29CFR. Section 5. Duties

Sec.5 (a)(1)
Each employer-
Shall furnish to each of his employees employment and
a place of employment which are free from recognized
hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or
serious physical harm to his employees
Are Cranes & Hoists a Hazard?
Accident 170006100 -- Report ID: 1055360 --
Event Date: 01/24/1996
Inspection: 115402240
Open: 01/24/1996
SIC: 2295
Fiberglass Technology Industries Inc
A crane operator inadvertently carried a load over Employee
#1. At that moment, the floor pendant cable moved an after-
market quick-release lever on the vacuum lift, causing the
vacuum pads to release the plywood panel backing board. It
struck Employee #1on the head and he reported neck and
upper back injuries. Employee #1 He was treated at Valley
Hospital and released.
Accident 170891311 -- Report ID: 0950635 --
Event Date: 09/12/1995
Inspection: 112133558
Open: 09/13/1995
SIC: 3312
Western Tube & Conduit Corp
At approximately 2:45 p.m. on September 12, 1995, Employee #1
and a coworker, who was operating a crane, were attempting to
load the payoff of a large mill. Employee #1 was between the slit
coil, which was hanging on the crane, and the rack. When the
crane operator pushed the button to move the coil east toward the
payoff, the coil moved backward and pressed Employee #1 against
the rack. He suffered a contusion. The crane's hand control
switches were miswired, causing the east direction of the switch to
move the trolley to the west and vice versa.
Accident Investigation Summary
Summary Nr: 000566307 Event: 03/10/1995 Employee
Killed, Two Injured, When Struck By Rail Car Side
On or about March 10, 1995, Employee #2, a welder, was part of a four-person crew whose assigned task was to install
the sides on rail cars. A 15 ton crane is used to position the 3,500 lb steel car sides for welding. Before the crane is
released, the sides are wedged at the bottom and secured at the top with a chain attached to the center and side
structural member. Two of the crew then spot weld the side in place. The other two men are assigned to the horse shoe,
a piece of equipment which encapsulates the sides and top of the car and is equipped with pneumatic rams and a work
platform "basket." The horse shoe is placed at the end of the car and the rams clamp the sides and remove the air gap.
The welders work from a platform on the inside of the car. Employee #2 was operating the crane. He positioned one side
and, with the help of a coworker, placed wedges on the bottom. The crane was left connected because Employee #2
thought the crane was not needed elsewhere at the time, and the spot welding could be completed. Employee #1, the
supervisor, had been in the area helping, and Employee #3, the shop superintendent, came over to discuss a problem
with the location of one of the spot welds. Employee #2 observed an employee from Main Fit approach Employee #1
and say something. Employee #1 turned and asked Employee #2 if he was finished with the crane. Employee #2 replied
that he was, except for installing chains at the top of the car side, and he turned away. A short time later he observed
the Main Fit employee climbing the ladder and removing the clamps from the car side. Later, Employee #2, returning
from the Main Fit area, observed the top of the side move as if it were falling. He yelled and ran to push Employee #1
out of the way. As the side fell, it caught Employee #1, who was kneeling, and also struck Employees #2 and #3.
Employee #1 was killed and Employees #2 and #3 were seriously injured. Employee #2 required hospitalization.
Company operating instructions and procedures were not followed in that the crane was disconnected from the load, by
an untrained employee, from another department, prior to the installation of chains to secure the load in place. This
condition was the direct cause of the accident.
Do Any Standards Require
Operator Training?
ASME B30.16 (1999)

16-3.1.1 Before Operating Hoist

“The operator shall be familiar with all operating controls of the
hoist, and shall be instructed in the operations to be performed.
Instructions shall include, as applicable, the warnings on the
hoist, the hoisting practices listed in this Section, and the
operation instructions portion of the hoist manufacturers
manual”.
Inspection of Cranes & Hoists
Two General Classifications

Frequent- Daily-Monthly

Periodic- 1-12 Months

Frequent Inspections Minimums

Daily- By the operator visual inspection

no records required.

Monthly- By a qualified person with a

signed and dated record of the
inspection.
Periodic Inspection Minimum
Every 12 months by a qualified person,
with records signed and dated by the
person who performed the inspection.
Inspection Records Retention
Most recent Frequent (monthly).
Most recent Periodic (Annual).

Please Note: Preventative Maintenance

records, and Inspection records are
separate requirements