Crane Inspections

 

Cranes and derricks are inspected to prevent injuries and fatalities caused by equipment failures. A key method of accomplishing this goal is through the use of an inspection process that identifies and addresses safety concerns.
OSHA requires that the various inspections be conducted by either a “competent person” or a “qualified person” depending on the type of inspection. “Competent person” means one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.

“Qualified person” means a person who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or who by extensive knowledge, training and experience, successfully demonstrated the ability to solve/resolve problems relating to the subject matter, the work, or the project.

Each shift
The shift inspection is the first of three required regularly scheduled equipment inspections.
The employer will often use the equipment operator as the competent person who conducts the shift inspection. The operator, in most cases, by virtue of his or her qualification or certification, experience, and familiarity with the equipment, is a competent person. However, the employer has the flexibility to use someone else to conduct the shift inspection as long as that person is a competent person.

A competent person must begin a visual inspection prior to each shift the equipment will be used. It must be completed before or during that shift and consist of observation for apparent deficiencies. OSHA does not require documentation of the shift inspection.

Monthly
The monthly inspection of the equipment is the second of the three required regularly scheduled general inspections. It is identical in coverage and manner to the shift inspection and must be conducted by a competent person. However, unlike a shift inspection, the employer must document the inspection and retain the documentation for a minimum of three months.

The documentation must show the:
• Items checked and the results of inspection, and
• Name and signature of person who did the inspection and the date it was done.

Annual/comprehensive inspection
OSHA requires an annual (once every 12 months) general inspection of the equipment, the third of the three required regularly scheduled general inspections. It promotes safety by ensuring that a thorough, comprehensive inspection of the equipment is performed to detect and address deficiencies that might not be detected in the shift and monthly inspections.

Annual inspections must be performed by a qualified person due to the more thorough examination required. The higher level of expertise of a qualified person helps to ensure that the inspector is able to identify deficiencies necessitating a greater degree of scrutiny than what would be required in the shift inspection; for example, a deficiency that is not apparent in a visual inspection but is detectable through taking apart equipment components.

Some disassembly of the equipment may be needed for the qualified person to complete the inspection.

This information is provided by Assurance Agency https:www.assuranceagency.com

Dipping and Coating Operations

 Overview
In dipping and coating operations, employees need protection in addition to good ventilation systems. Examples of dipping and coating operations include:

• Electroplating
• Anodizing
• Dyeing
• Dipping
• Tanning
• Bleaching
• Degreasing
• Stripping
• Digesting
• Paint dipping
• Pickling
• Quenching
• Cleaning
• Roll coating
• Flow coating
• Curtain coating

How can I protect myself?
In order to protect yourself adequately, you need to know what the hazards are, what type of protection to use, and what emergency procedures you may need to follow.
Know the location of hazards
• Processes which use dip tanks, including the equipment and substances used.
• Operational hazards of dip tanks such as chemical hazards, wet floors, and equipment failures.

Personal protective equipment
• Foot protection using rubber boots.
• Gloves that are selected for the type of liquid used in the process. The length of the glove should be long enough to prevent liquid from entering the glove.
• Chemical goggles whenever splashing of chemicals may occur. A face shield may need to be added in some situations.
• Respirators - Used to reduce exposure and/or provide adequate oxygen. Respirator use must be according to OSHA’s standard on Respiratory Protection.
• Other types of PPE that would be necessary for a particular process including aprons, coats, jackets, sleeves, or other garments made of rubber or materials impervious to liquids.

Emergency procedures
• Permit-Required Confined Space - Entries into the tank must follow the applicable procedures outlined in OSHA’s regulation on Permit-Required Confined Spaces. A permit system, authorized entrants, attendants, and rescue equipment may be needed before anyone is allowed to enter a tank.
• First-aid - Employees must know the first-aid procedures that are appropriate to the dipping or coating hazards.

This information is provided by Assurance Agency https:www.assuranceagency.com

Lockout/Tagout

 

Overview Lockout/tagout is an important part of confined space entry. Locks and tags are used to prevent accidental start-up of equipment while you are in a confined space. Steam, water, gas, or power lines that enter the confined space, and mechanical equipment must all be locked out and tagged before you enter the space. Before entry into such spaces, the entire space should be removed from service and completely protected against the release of energy and material into the space. Lockout/tagout Procedures Employers must evaluate the confined space to determine if any equipment or lines need to be locked out and tagged. A pre-entry permit or checklist, a part of the confined space entry plan, must be completed before workers enter the confined space. All pumps and lines which may reasonably cause contaminants to flow into the space must be disconnected, blinded and locked out, or effectively isolated by other means, to prevent development of dangerous air contamination or engulfment. Main power switches to equipment must be locked out at main power panel. Locks must be tagged to inform others that a confined space entry is in process. If blocking and/or isolation requires entry into the space, the provisions for entry into a confined space must be implemented. Lockout/tagout Methods Lockout is the process of turning off and locking out the flow of energy from a power source to a piece of equipment or circuit, and keeping it locked out. Lockout is accomplished by installing a lockout device at the power source so that equipment powered by that source cannot be operated. A lockout device is a lock, block, or chain that keeps a switch, valve, or lever in the off position. Locks are provided by your employer and cannot be used for other purposes. Tagout is accomplished by placing a tag on the power source. The tag acts as a warning not to restore energy—it is not a physical restraint. Tags must clearly state: Do not operate or remove this tag or the like, and must be applied by hand. The employer’s primary tool for providing protection is the energy-isolating device. This is the mechanism that prevents the transmission or release of energy and to which all locks or tags are attached. This device guards against accidental machine or equipment start-up or the unexpected reenergization of equipment during servicing or maintenance. To avoid confusion and an accidental removal of a lock or tag when a confined space entry is in progress your company must have a lockout/tagout plan. Know the plan and never violate it for any reason. This information is provided by Assurance Agency

Crane Assembly/Disassembly

 

OSHA’s subpart CC, Cranes and Derricks in Construction, has specific requirements for the assembly and disassembly of cranes. Employers must comply with all manufacturer prohibitions regarding assembly and disassembly.

Assembly/disassembly responsibilities
Qualified person — a person who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or who by extensive knowledge, training and experience, successfully demonstrated the ability to solve/ resolve problems relating to the subject matter, the work, or the project.

Competent person — one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.

The work has to be directed by an A/D (Assembly/Disassembly) director. The A/D director must meet the criteria for both a competent person and a qualified person, or must be a competent person assisted by a qualified person. The A/D director must:
• Understand the applicable procedures.
• Review the procedures immediately prior to beginning work unless he or she understands the procedures and has used them before for that equipment type and configuration.
• Ensure that each member of the crew understands his or her tasks, the hazards of the tasks, and any hazardous positions or locations to avoid.
• Verify all capacities of any equipment used, including rigging, lifting lugs, etc.
• Address hazards associated with the operation, including 12 specified areas of concern: site and ground conditions, blocking material, proper location of blocking, verifying assist crane loads, boom and jib pick points, center of gravity, stability upon pin removal, snagging, struck by counterweights, boom hoist brake failure, loss of backward stability, and wind speed and weather.

Inspection
After assembly, but before use, a qualified person must inspect the crane to make sure it is configured according to the manufacturer equipment criteria. If these criteria are unavailable, the employer’s qualified person, with the assistance of a registered professional engineer if necessary, must develop the appropriate configuration criteria and ensure that these criteria are met.

Ground crew
A crew member who moves out of the operator’s view to a location where the crew member could be injured by movement of the equipment (or load) must inform the operator before going to that location. The operator must not move the equipment until that crew member informs the operator that he or she has relocated to a safe position.

Rigging
All rigging must be done by a qualified rigger. Follow manufacturer procedures when using synthetic slings during assembly or disassembly rigging (even when the employer has developed its own A/D procedure as an alternative to the manufacturer’s other procedures.)
Protect synthetic slings from abrasive, sharp or acute edges, and configurations that might reduce the rated capacity.

This information is provided by Assurance Agency https:www.assuranceagency.com

Entry Safety in Confined Spaces

 

The old cliche “it is better to be safe than sorry,” was made for confined spaces. Yet workers continue to make the mistake of entering deadly spaces without proper preparation. It is pretty much a given that you can go to your local library any day of the week and find a newspaper reporting on the latest victim of a confined space accident.

What is a confined or enclosed space?
The OSHA regulations for construction define a confined or enclosed space as any space having a limited means of getting out, and which can gather toxic or flammable gases, vapors, or has oxygen-deficient air. Examples of confined or enclosed spaces include storage tanks, process vessels, bins, boilers, ventilation and exhaust ducts, sewers, underground utility vaults, excavations, manholes, tunnels, pipelines, and open top spaces more than four feet in depth, such as pits, tubs, vaults, and vessels.

Confined or enclosed space hazards
What makes a confined or enclosed space hazardous? Many situations and hazards can cause a confined space to become deadly. Materials being used such as cleaning or bonding liquids, work being done such as welding, or the effects of the environment can cause dangerous vapors, gases, and mists to accumulate in these spaces. The result can be fires, explosions, and physical hazards.

Entering confined spaces
If you are required to enter and work in a confined or enclosed space you must first receive instructions on what you might encounter. Your company will train you on:
• What kinds of hazards you might encounter and why those hazards are dangerous.
• The necessary precautions to take for each type of hazard.
• The use of any protective and/or emergency equipment and instruments required.

Often, the confined space you are entering will not appear to be hazardous. It may have been entered on the last shift with no problems, and may not give signs of being dangerous. At other times there may be indications of danger—the distinct odor of toxic atmospheres, arcing of electrical equipment, or the presence of loose material.

You should always follow your company’s confined space program and use protective equipment made available to you. If you follow the safety rules carefully, you will be able to work safely even in confined spaces.

This information is provided by Assurance Agency https:www.assuranceagency.com

Ventilation Confined Space

 

Ventilation is the best method for making a confined space atmosphere safe and free of hazardous air. Planning the confined space entry operation, and selecting the proper ventilation equipment is critical. It is almost an art form to ensure every nook and cranny of the confined space is continuously ventilated. It also takes a little math to figure out how long it takes to ventilate a certain sized confined space with the equipment you have.

Types of ventilation
Some confined spaces can be ventilated naturally. This is the case with most excavations. However, any time a naturally ventilated confined space is occupied, adequate precautions must be taken to prevent employee exposure to air containing less than 19.5 percent oxygen and other hazardous atmospheres.

Other confined spaces must be ventilated with mechanical equipment.  

Ventilation is important to:

• Clear the confined space of hazardous air before you are permitted to enter.
• Keep the confined space clear of hazardous air while you are working in the space.
• Keep the confined space comfortable by lowering temperatures and providing fresh air.

Types of equipment

Blowers provide a continuous supply of outside air. Ventilation blowers can work two ways. They can either force fresh air into the confined space or suck the contaminated air out and pull fresh air in. The most popular (and efficient) method of the two is forced air.

Ducting is also important. The positioning can mean proper circulation and venting of the whole confined space or leaving pockets of contaminated air in corners.

If you are using blower equipment in a potentially explosive hazardous atmosphere you must use equipment designed to be spark-proof and have the ability to dissipate static electricity.

Because of the complications of selecting the right equipment, your site’s competent person must know how to evaluate the confined space and select equipment powerful enough to exchange air in the space. The size and configuration of the space and the output of the blower must be evaluated.

Confined space work can be safe. Proper and continuous ventilation is one of the best and easier methods to accomplish a hazard free confined space.

This information is provided by Assurance Agency https:www.assuranceagency.com

Construction Rescue

 

The OSHA rule at 1926.21(b)(6)(i) says that your employer must instruct you as to the: (1) nature of confined space hazards, (2) precautions to be taken, and (3) the use of protective and emergency equipment required [for rescue]. This toolbox talk concentrates on the rescue aspect of confined space entry.
Some examples of situations where a confined space rescue program is required are:

Open surface tanks—If in emergencies, such as rescue work, it is necessary to enter a tank which may contain a hazardous atmosphere, suitable respirators must be used.

Welding—When a welder enters a confined space...means must be provided for quick removal in case of an emergency. When safety belts and lifelines are used for this purpose they shall be so attached...that a welder cannot be jammed in a small opening. An attendant with a pre-planned rescue procedure must be stationed outside to observe the welder at all times and be capable of implementing rescue operations.

Excavations—Rescue equipment, such as breathing apparatus, a safety harness and line, or a basket stretcher, must be readily available where hazardous atmospheric conditions exist or may reasonably be expected to develop during excavation work. The equipment must be attended when in use. With regard to excavations, OSHA has stipulated that emergency rescue equipment is only required to be readily available where a competent person determines, based on the jobsite conditions, that hazardous atmospheric conditions exist or may reasonably be expected to develop during work in a particular excavation.

Work in manholes—While work is being done in manholes, an employee must be available nearby to give emergency assistance as may be required.

The minimum requirements you should look for in your company’s written emergency rescue procedure is that:
• Trained personnel must be available and stationed outside the confined space with proper equipment to provide for the rescue of persons entering the space.
• The equipment must include a safety harness and lifelines with provisions for hoisting employees from the confined space.
• If entry is required for rescue, the rescue person must be equipped with approved air supplied respiratory equipment and other appropriate personal protective equipment.

Of the approximately 54 workers who die each year in confined space accidents, almost two-thirds result from people attempting a rescue. Never attempt a rescue in a confined space if you are: (1) not trained, (2) do not have the proper equipment.

This information is provided by Assurance Agency https:www.assuranceagency.com