Crane: \ ˈkrān \

noun

  1. Any of a family (Gruidae of the orderGruiformes) of tall wading birds superficially resembling the herons but structurally more nearly related to the rails
  2. Any of several herons
  3. An often horizontal projection swinging about a vertical axis: such as
A machine for raising, shifting, and lowering heavy weights by means of a projecting, swinging arm or with the hoisting apparatus supported on an overhead track‍

Just in case you weren’t aware of which definition of “Crane” we’re referring to in our new weekly Crane Safety blog, it would be “3” above!

Cranes are a wonderful marvel of engineering, invented to make the lives of those in MANY industries across the globe easier. We no longer need to build pyramids with our own labor, should we be so inclined.

A crane is a piece of heavy machinery that is either a tower or platform, equipped with cables and pulleys.

They are used to lift and lower materials. They have many uses in many different sectors, but the most common use of cranes is in the construction industry and in heavy equipment manufacturing.

That being said, we must acknowledge that cranes are also inherently dangerous because they have to hoist large and heavy objects, and place them in a specific place. Typically, cranes handle objects that weigh hundreds and even thousands of pounds apiece.

We at Craneology Inc. aren’t just Crane Operator trainers and NCCCO accredited examiners, we’re also Crane Safety Consultants.

Two additional services we offer in addition to crane training and certification, are Accident Investigation and acting as Expert Witnesses in Crane-related court cases. As a result, we naturally keep on top of all the latest changes as related to Crane Operators, Riggers, and Signalpersons coming from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).

As some of you may already be aware, a new “ASME B30.5 Mobile and Locomotive” revision has been published, as of Dec 17, 2021.

Over the next coming weeks, we will look into the changes made to this volume as well as other volumes, recently revised, in a weekly series of Blogs which we will simply call, “Safety Saturday”.

Today we aren’t going to discuss a simple revision, but rather a whole new addition to the volume.

This is the addition titled, “Responsibilities of a Signalperson”, which can be found in ASME B30.5–3.1.3.5(a)-(i). If you have been paying attention to the revisions in the past, you may have noticed the addition of, “Responsibilities of the Rigger”, which was added to the 2018 revision. So, it was just a matter of time before the Signalperson requirements were included, as well. These responsibilities include:

-CONFIRMING the method of communication with the Crane Operator…

- Ensuring the usage of PROPER hand signals…

- Ensuring special signals DO NOT conflict with other signals…

-Ensuring ALL signals come from the CRANE OPERATOR’S perspective…

- Verifying crane movements are stopped, PRIOR to giving instructions…

- Ensuring communication equipment is TESTED, prior to use…

- Ensuring CONSTANT communication during ALL crane movement…

- AVOIDING the carrying of loads over people…

- Directing the movement of crane components when it is NOT VISIBLE to the Crane Operator…

While these activities are nothing new, they are newly assigned in the ASME B30.5. They’re all direct responsibilities of a designated Qualified Signalperson.

This is a mandatory and crucial position, that MUST be filled whenever there are employees working in the Fall Zone…either hooking/unhooking a load, guiding a load or operating a concrete bucket. If your employee is not familiar (or comfortable) with the responsibilities of a Qualified Signalperson, then they have absolutely no business signaling Crane Operations. Period.

As with all ASME volumes, this Standard will become effective 1 year from the Date of Issuance: December 17, 2021.

Please…Educate yourselves and be safe. Always.

Craneology, Inc. is a registered “Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business” and a minority-owned business, whose main objective is to provide comprehensive training courses and certification examinations. Craneology, Inc. achieves this objective through its team of expert trainers from the various fields within the Crane and Rigging Industry. Craneology, Inc. has provided training and certification services locally, and around the globe. We look forward to working with you!