The Construction Center

Safety:

New Crane Rule: Significant Changes and New Requirements

July 29, 2010

In 1998, OSHA's expert Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH) established a workgroup to develop recommended changes to the current standard for cranes and derricks. In December 1999, ACCSH recommended that the Agency use negotiated rulemaking to develop the rule. The Cranes and Derricks Negotiated Rulemaking Committee (C-DAC) was convened in July 2003 and reached consensus on its draft document in July 2004. In 2006, ACCSH recommended that OSHA use the C-DAC consensus document as a basis for OSHA's proposed rule, which was published in 2008. Public hearings were held in March 2009, and the public comment period on those proceedings closed in June 2009. Details on the changes to the final rule from the proposed rule are available here.

The following is a list of the main changes in the new rule; which becomes effective 90 days after August 9, 2010, the date the final rule will be published in the Federal Register: Certain provisions have delayed effective dates ranging from 1 to 4 years.

This new standard will comprehensively address key hazards related to cranes and derricks on construction worksites, including the four main causes of worker death and injury: electrocution, crushed by parts of the equipment, struck-by the equipment/load, and falls.
Significant requirements in this new rule include: a pre-erection inspection of tower crane parts; use of synthetic slings in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions during assembly/disassembly work; assessment of ground conditions; qualification or certification of crane operators; and procedures for working in the vicinity of power lines.
OSHA expects the final standard to prevent 22 fatalities and 175 non-fatal injuries each year.
Several provisions have been modified from the proposed rule. For example: Employers must comply with local and state operator licensing requirements which meet the minimum criteria specified in § 1926.1427.
Employers must pay for certification or qualification of their currently uncertified or unqualified operators.
Written certification tests may be administered in any language understood by the operator candidate.
When employers with employees qualified for power transmission and distribution are working in accordance with the power transmission and distribution standard (§ 1910.269), that employer will be considered in compliance with this final rule's requirements for working around power lines.
Employers must use a qualified rigger for rigging operations during assembly/disassembly.
Employers must perform a pre-erection inspection of tower cranes.
This final rule requires operators of most types of cranes to be qualified or certified under one of the options set forth in § 1926.1427. Employers have up to four years to ensure that their operators are qualified or certified, unless they are operating in a state or city that has operator requirements.
If a city or state has its own licensing or certification program, OSHA mandates compliance with that city or state's requirements only if they meet the minimum criteria set forth in this rule at § 1926.1427.
The certification requirements in the final rule are designed to work in conjunction with state and local laws.
This final rule clarifies that employers must pay for all training required by the final rule and for certification of equipment operators employed as of the effective date of the rule
State Plans must issue job safety and health standards that are "at least as effective as" comparable federal standards within six months of federal issuance. State Plans also have the option to promulgate more stringent standards or standards covering hazards not addressed by federal standards.
OSHA will have additional compliance assistance material available within the next month.

Mobile Section, Alabama AGC
Construction Safety Excellence Awards

Mobile Section, AlabamaAGC recognized their members who maintained an excellent safety record throughout 2009, Thursday,
February 25, 2010 at a luncheon at the Country Club of Mobile.

Over 110 of the leading commercial, industrial, and specialty contractors and suppliers in the Mobile area were in attendance as 28 companies received awards. Guest Speaker, Stephen Yeend with the Mobile Area OSHA office, commended the contractors and suppliers for their outstanding safety performance.

This local program sponsored by insurance, safety and health members of AGC along with Hand Arendall, LLC is an ongoing and evolving effort by the Mobile Section, AGC to recognize their members in the Mobile area, who have developed and implemented excellent safety and loss prevention programs through management commitment, employee training and program innovation.

The following companies are to be commended for the safety excellence they have demonstrated throughout 2009.

Building Division

Over 200,000 Hours

White-Spunner Construction

Building Division

100,000 to 199,000 Hours

Ben M. Radcliff Contractor, Inc.

Building Division

Under 100,000 Hours

J. F. Pate & Associates Contractors, Inc.

Industrial Division

Over 500,000 Hours

Robt. J. Baggett, Inc.

Industrial Division

200,000 to 300,000 Hours

Industrial Services of Mobile

Industrial Division

Under 100,000 Hours
Hargrove & Associates, Inc.

Municipal Utilities Division

70,000 to 100,000 Hours

S. J. & L., Inc.

Municipal Utilities Division

Under 70,000 Hours

Construction Labor Services, Inc.

Highway Division

Over 200,000 Hours

Esfeller Construction Co., Inc.

Highway Division

Under 200,000 Hours

John G. Walton Construction Co.

Specialty Divisions:

Pile Driving

Over 75,000 Hours

Jordan Pile Driving, Inc.

Steel Erection

Over 100,000 Hours

Cheyenne Steel, Inc.

Rigging

Over 100,000 Hours

Barnhart Crane & Rigging Co.

Structural Concrete

Over 100,000 Hours

R and R Contracting, LLC

Electrical

Over 300,000 Hours

Gulf Electric Co., Inc.

Electrical

Over 100,000 Hours

Smith Electric & Associates

Mechanical/HVAC

Over 250,000 Hours
Batchelors Mechanical Contractors

Mechanical/HVAC

Under 200,000 Hours

James B. Donaghey, Inc.

Engineering & Construction Mgmt.

Over 500,000 Hours

Thompson Engineering, Inc.

Engineering

Under 500,000 hours

Hargrove & Associates, Inc.

Geotechnical Engineering

Under 100,000 Hours

Southern Earth Sciences, Inc.

Fabrication and Mechanical Service

Under 100,000 Hours

Alabama Metal Fabricators, Inc.

Utility Subcontractor

Over 50,000 Hours

Mobile Pipe & Welding, Inc.

Supplier Divisions:

Concrete Supplier

Over 100,000 hours

Bayou Concrete, LLC

Concrete Pipe Manufacturer

Under 50,000 hours

Hanson Pipe & Precast

Welding and Industrial Gas Supplier

Over 200,000 Hours

WESCO Gas & Welding Supply, Inc.

Specialty Division

Over 350,000 Hours

Smith Industrial Service

Winner of the 2009

“Safety Leader of the Year”

was Joe M. Kelley

Safety Director for J. F. Pate & Associates Contractor, Inc.

This event was made possible by the following Corporate Sponsors:

CompTrust AGC

Hand Arendall, LLC

Industrial Wellness Rehab

International Assurance

Lyon, Fry, Cadden Insurance

RSC Equipment Rental

Safety Guidance Specialists

Safety Plus

Safety Source

Stewart Sneed Hewes Insurance & Bonding

Turner Insurance & Bonding

Thames, Batré, Mattei, Beville & Ison

Willis of Alabama, Inc.

Congratulations to
Winners of
Mobile Section, AGC
Construction Safety
Excellence Awards
for work performed in 2008

OSHA Update - September 2009

OSHA is out in full force inspecting construction sites in Mobile and Baldwin Counties. These inspections are aimed at reducing the upward trend in construction related fatalities in the Southeast. Please be aware that OSHA compliance officers are specifically focusing their enforcement efforts on
construction sites throughout our region.

These inspections are intended to identify and eliminate safety hazards, thereby reducing exposure to the four leading causes of employee fatalities:
    Falls
    Struck By's
    Electrical Hazards
    Caught-ins
   Trenches

Please make sure your job sites are safe and "in compliance" with OSHA rules and regulations!

For valuable free employee training information visit the OSHA website: www.osha.gov On the tabs at the top of the page, choose Publications.

AGC has over 200 Safety Videos at our office available for use. To rent a video, please contact the AGC office.

Appreciation is extended to
Torrey Garrison - Coporate Safety Director
for White-Spunner Construction,
Frankie Brock with White-Spunner Construction
and Tom Alsip - Safety Consultant
for teaching a Free Trenching & Excavation Course
at White-Spunner's Rec-Center Project at the University of South Alabama on July 23, 2009, where hands-on demonstrations were utilized.

Mobile Section AGC
June Lunch & Learn featured Buzzy Riis
"Dealing with OSHA Inspections and
Contesting OSHA Citations"

25 contractors attended Mobile Section's June Lunch & Learn program at the AGC office in Mobile, June 11th. This month's program featured Attorney Buzzy Riis with Hand, Arendall LLC who talked with the contractors about
"Dealing with OSHA Inspections and Contesting Citations".

Among the topics discussed, Riis told the contractors that he has heard of discussion that the new administration is pushing for even stiffer penalties which could result in an increase of 10 times the current penalties. He urged contractors to make sure that they had their safety policies in place and all written documentation on file before OSHA visits their jobsite.
For a copy of
Buzzy's handout:
"Dealing with OSHA Inspection and Contesting OSHA Citations"
please click here.

Construction Safety Excellence Awards
2010 Sponsors


	Construction Safety Excellence Awards Sponsors

Click here to view:
2008 Mobile Section, AGC
Safety Awards Winners

Mobile Section, AGC offers safety meetings, seminars, training and safety information for members and non-members.

Safety Classes can be arranged as needed. Classes must have a minimum of 10 participants.

A Safety Library, complete with safety videos and publications is available to all members.

Mobile Section, AGC hosts an Annual
"Excellence in Safety Awards" Luncheon
each year to recognize the outstanding safety performance of local members.

Safety Courses offered in Mobile:

Bloodborne Pathogens for Construction
Commercial Driver's License Preparation Training
Competent Person Training for
Trenching & Excavation
Confined Space Safety
Defensive Driving
Fall Protection Training
Fall Hazard “Competent Person” Awareness
Forklift Safety Training
Hazard Communication Training
Hearing Conservation
Medic First Aid/CPR Training
Miner Safety & Health Training (MSHA) and
Refresher Training
OSHA 10 Hour Construction Safety Course
and 5 Hour Refresher Training
OSHA Record Keeping
Respiratory Protection Training
Scaffolding Safety Training
Work Zone Safety
Struck By Hazards

All of the above courses are available in Spanish.
______________________________

Over 300 Safety Videos are available to be checked out from the Mobile office.

For a complete list of videos click here.
Video List