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What You Need to Know About Crane Operator Evaluations

12/14/2020

 
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In April 2019, the final piece of the OSHA Cranes & Derricks Standard 29CFR 1926.1400 came into effect. This requires employers to conduct evaluations of crane operators to ensure that they are certified and qualified. If an employer is not conducting evaluations of their crane operators, they are not in compliance with OSHA.

Once the operator has been successfully evaluated for the necessary skills and knowledge for the size and configuration of the crane they plan to operate, they may operate similar equipment. In order to do so, it must be determined that it does not require considerably different skills, knowledge, or ability to recognize and avert risk.

Operators must demonstrate their skills and knowledge, which includes understanding of crane
configuration, counterweight setup, use of safety devices and operational aids, and other items.

The OSHA Crane & Derricks standard 29CFR 1926.1400 took almost 10 years to fully come into effect. Rigger & Signal persons had to be qualified by November 2010 and crane operators had to be certified by November 2017. The final piece, the requirement to evaluate operators, is now also in force.

Best Practices
  • 1926.1427(f) requires that employers conduct an evaluation of each crane operator to ensure he/she is qualified.
  • Items to be evaluated include: skills and knowledge of safety devices, operational aids and software; understanding the size and configuration of the crane to be operated, including lifting capacity, boom length, attachments and counterweight set-up. The evaluation must also cover the operator’s ability to perform the hoisting activities required to perform their tasks, and if applicable, blind lifts, personnel platforms and multi-crane lifts.
  • Evaluations must be conducted by someone who has the “knowledge, training, and experience necessary” to assess the operators.
  • The documented evaluation must be available at the worksite and include the name of the operator and evaluator, the date of the evaluation, make, model and configuration of the crane used in the evaluation.
  • To be in compliance with OSHA, all operators must be certified and evaluated.

Resources:
OSHA Enforcement Memo
Free Operator Evaluation Form
Operator Qualification final rule
https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427

This Safety Flash was contributed by Bryan McClure, Senior Safety Consultant, Trivent Safety Consulting in cooperation with SEAA’s Safety Committee. It is designed to keep members informed about ongoing safety issues and to provide suggestions for reducing risk. Best practices are gathered from a variety of sources. They may be more or less stringent than individual corporate policies, and are not intended to be an official recommendation from SEAA. Always get approval and direction from your company officers on any new practice or procedure as these best practices may not work for all situations.  
 
Everyone benefits when a worker avoids injury. Submit your ideas for Safety Flash  
to executivedirector@seaa.net

Open Web Steel Joist Safety

10/12/2020

 
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Bar joists are popular for steel construction, because they are economical and strong. However, working with bar joists come with many hazards until they are completely installed and under deck. 

Historically, building collapses and accidents occurred during bar joist installation. OSHA Subpart R 1926.750 specifically addresses procedures to prevent structural collapse and/or injury. Unfortunately, there are still erectors that do not understand these rules and procedures. 

The hazards start with unloading and continue through each step of construction, including hoisting, laying out, placing, connecting, welding, burning, guying, bracing, bolting, and rigging bar joists. Training employees on how to properly  install bar joists and their  potential safety hazards is crucial to prevent injuries and structural collapse.  

Give your employees the proper training to understand clearly how to erect joists safely. Reviewing and following these best practices will reduce the chances of collapse and possible injuries. 
 
 
Best Practices


Inspect the load before the chains are taken off the truck. Often banding is broken during delivery. If the driver releases chains with broken bands, bar joists can fall off the truck, creating a crushing hazard. If they are not properly banded, take precautions such as basketing with proper sized wire rope slings and holding the joists in place with a crane or forklift before releasing or breaking the chains. You might also possibly re-band the loads while they are being held by the crane or forklift, to re-secure them.  

As unloading begins, do not break the banding while the joists are in the vertical position. This is a common mistake. Instead, lay all joist and girders flat prior to breaking shipping bands. Once joists are laid out in the laydown area, they will need to be sorted and bundled according to sequence of erection. 

Before building erection begins, bracing and fall protection plans must be established. 

  • A bracing plan helps eliminate the hazards of collapse. According to OSHA, when steel joists are used, columns are must be framed in at least two directions with solid web structural steel members. The steel joist shall be field-bolted at the column to provide lateral stability to the column during erection. At these points, the bottom cord must slide in a clip on the column to prevent rolling. With the box support in place, implement the bracing plan further stabilize the structure. A qualified person must provide the appropriate bracing plan as it can change for each structure. Remember, on tiered buildings, never exceed 48 ft. or 4 floors, before completely bolting and welding and continuing to the next level. 
  • A qualified person must create a fall protection plan. Most joists manufacturers do not allow fall protection to be anchored to the bar joist. Most sliding beam anchors require steel to be at least ½ in. thick by 3.5 in. wide. Many joists are only 3/16 in. thick. Therefore, the qualified person for fall protection must approve an access plan, whether that is from boom or scissor lifts or horizontal lifelines. 

Use proper methods for landing joists and placing loads on joists. Although there are several options for doing so, it is an area where poor practices are commonly used. Landing joists can be done by setting a bundle in a bay, landing a single joist, or by panelizing.

When landing bundles, the bundle must be secured prior to being released from the crane or forklift. As the erector begins shaking the joist out, OSHA requires that each steel joist must be attached to the support structure. This must be on at least at one end on both sides of the seat, immediately upon placement in the final erection position and before additional joists are placed. It is not permitted to shake the entire bundle out and then go back and weld in place. Even with a site-specific erection plan, OSHA states that erectors are required to keep decking bundled within 1 ft. of the beam/girder line.
When landing a single joist, the erector needs to understand how many rows of bridging must be installed prior to releasing the bar joist from the crane or prior to placing loads on the joists. When panelizing, the panel/joist must be attached at the four corners prior to releasing from the crane. 

 
Resources
​

OSHA 1926.757 Steel Erection
1926.757(a) 
General. 
1926.757(b) 
Attachment of steel joists and steel joist girders 
1926.757(c) 
Erection of steel joists. 
1926.757(d) 
Erection bridging. 
1926.757(e) 
Landing and placing loads.  
 
Ironworkers: On the Safe Side: Erecting Open We Steel Joist 
 
Steel Joist Institute 2008 “Technical Digest No. 9, Handling and Erection of Steel Joists and Joist Girders
 
AISC: 2017 NASCC The Steel Conference Presentation, "Safe and Efficient Installation of Steel Joists and Metal Deck"
​
Ironworkers: On the Safe Side: Erecting Open We Steel Joist
​

This Safety Flash was contributed by Ed Valencia, Safety Director, Derr & Gruenwald Construction in cooperation with SEAA’s Safety Committee. It is designed to keep members informed about ongoing safety issues and to provide suggestions for reducing risk. Best practices are gathered from a variety of sources. They may be more or less stringent than individual corporate policies, and are not intended to be an official recommendation from SEAA. Always get approval and direction from your company officers on any new practice or procedure as these best practices may not work for all situations. 
 
Everyone benefits when a worker avoids injury. Submit your ideas for Safety Flash 
to executivedirector@seaa.net 

Suicides in Construction Occur at Higher Rate than OSHA’s Fatal Four

8/10/2020

 
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The construction industry is four times more likely than any other industry to lose an employee to suicide. Take time to educate employees about the contributing factors, signs, and prevention during National Suicide Prevention Week, September 6-12.

The suicide rate in construction is 45.3/100,000 compared to the national average for other industries of 14.2/100,000. Based on these numbers, it is five times more likely that an employer will lose an employee to suicide than to what OSHA considers the fatal four: falls, electrocution, struck by, caught in/between.

For men between the ages of 25 and 54, suicide is the second biggest cause of death. Men in the
construction industry face the additional hardship from physical activity paired with a ‘tough guy’
culture that can make it more difficult to reach out and seek help.

Stress is one of the main contributors to the decline in mental health, and it can manifest in four ways: physical, emotional, intellectual, and personal well-being. Physical symptoms can present itself as rapid weight gain or weight loss, difficulty sleeping or fatigue. Emotional stress symptoms can come from feeling incompetent and cause irritability. Intellectual symptoms are often shown through procrastination or difficulty concentrating, and personal well-being stressors can mean isolation from friends and family or a loss of sense of humor.

These types of stress can exacerbate mental health issues and lead to depression and suicidal thoughts. Often, individuals choose to self-medicate and abuse both drugs and alcohol instead of seeking professional help, due in part to the stigma associated with mental health.

Stress factors common in the construction industry that can contribute to a decline in mental health:
  • Periods of unsteady employment depending on seasons
  • Sleep disruption
  • Chronic pain caused by manual labor
  • Travel which may separate workers from families and friends
  • Pressure to finish projects
  • Difficult working conditions
​
​In the workplace, it is important to know what resources are available to support employees’
psychological health, and where there are gaps in the system. Learn to recognize the signs of an at-risk employee and create a supportive environment where individuals aren’t afraid of being reprimanded.

Best Practices
​
  • Be aware of the signs and behaviors that tell us we may not be functioning at our best.
  • Help employees develop coping skills for life’s challenges such as, stress management, parenting, conflict resolution, and anger management.
  • Integrate psychological safety into overall health and wellness priorities.
  • Conduct Toolbox Talks on psychological safety topics.
  • Contact your work comp provider to see what resources are available.
  • Contact the National Suicide Prevention Line (800) 273-8255 if you or someone you know is
  • struggling.
  • Make a commitment to your employees to establish and maintain a mentally healthy workplace.

Resources

National Suicide Prevention Hotline - (800) 273-8255

​Recognizing Risk - 5 Rs of workplace mental health
​

Construction Company Case Study: Frank Talk about Mental Health
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Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP)
​

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
​

Suicide Awareness Voices of Education
​

Man Therapy
​

Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
This Safety Flash was contributed by Dax Biederman, CHST, Trivent Safety Consulting in cooperation with SEAA’s Safety Committee. It is designed to keep members informed about ongoing safety issues and to provide suggestions for reducing risk. Best practices are gathered from a variety of sources. They may be more or less stringent than individual corporate policies, and are not intended to be an official recommendation from SEAA. Always get approval and direction from your company officers on any new practice or procedure as these best practices may not work for all situations. Everyone benefits when a worker avoids injury. Submit your ideas for Safety Flash to executivedirector@seaa.net. ​

The Bone Yard Is A Jobsite Too

6/2/2020

 
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​When trucks bring steel back from a jobsite, it most often just gets thrown into a laydown area,
or bone yard, with cranes, lifts and welding machines. This can cause a lot of potential hazards,
as improper material storage can cause leg, ankle and/or hand crushes, also known as pinch
points.

All laydown areas are dangerous, not just those on jobsites. They create trip hazards that can
do more damage than just a crushing injury, such as broken bones, caused by a fall.

One of the most important things to have when working in a laydown area is to have a spotter.
A spotter should always make himself/herself seen by the forklift operator, know how to
handle the forks on the lift, and always be on the lookout for damaged dunnage.

When working in a bone yard, remember to watch where you put your hands. The laydown
area can be full of spiders and snakes in addition to the sharp edges. Never go into the bone
yard unprotected. Old cables or chokers can cut you, that’s one of the main reasons they’re in
the bone yard.

There can be many hidden traps, so you must be on the lookout. That means to look under,
around, and beside you, even if you’re just getting one piece out. Always fix the pile when
you’re done. Don’t leave a trap for the next person.

Best Practices
​
  • Always be on the lookout for damaged dunnage, like 2 x 4’s or double-stacked wood that can crush your hands.
  • Have a spotter that is educated on the equipment being used.
  • Watch where you put your hands. The laydown area can be full of spiders and snakes in addition to the sharp edges.
  • Secure deck during storage to keep it from becoming airborne during inclement weather.
  • Always wear proper PPE.
  • Know and understand the potential hazards associated with the task at hand and how to control the workplace to minimize danger.
  • Look for possible pinch points before starting any task.
  • Employers and employees should work together to examine the workplace to detect any unsafe or unhealthful conditions, practices, or equipment.
  • Avoid overloading equipment when moving materials mechanically

Resources
​

Middle Georgia State University- Environmental Health and Safety manual for pinch points
​

https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA2236/osha2236.html

This Safety Flash was contributed by Dave Schulz of Schulz Iron Works, Inc., in cooperation with
SEAA’s Safety Committee. It is designed to keep members informed about ongoing safety
issues and to provide suggestions for reducing risk. Best practices are gathered from a
variety of sources. They may be more or less stringent than individual corporate policies,
and are not intended to be an official recommendation from SEAA. Always get approval
and direction from your company officers on any new practice or procedure as these best
practices may not work for all situations.

Everyone benefits when a worker avoids injury. Submit your ideas for Safety Flash
to executivedirector@seaa.net

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in Construction: Liability, Recordability, and Financial Implications

4/9/2020

 
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​Over the past few weeks, it’s become clear that the world is facing a remarkable health crisis. The coronavirus pandemic has created personal, practical, and legal implications for those in the construction industry. This article addresses three areas of concern for employers: 1) Recordability, EMR and Insurance Costs; 2) Legal Considerations; and 3) Financial Considerations.
​

As business leaders, it is important to consider these three categories noted while navigating
emergency action planning, business continuity, and remote work/alternate revenue sources.

Read More

New Training Requirements for Aerial Equipment Operators Effective March 1

2/10/2020

 
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A new ANSI A92 standard for aerial equipment is set to go into effect March 1, 2020. In addition to terminology and design changes, there are changes that directly impact training of operators and usage. These changes will improve safety for users and harmonize the American National Standards Institute and Canadian Standards Association standards with international standards (ISO and EN280), which are currently in place. ​

Read More

Making the Most of Toolbox Talks

12/17/2019

 
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Summary
Toolbox Talks are an important part of safety and health programs. They allow employers to
proactively address hazards specific to the jobsite or project, creating awareness of certain risks and how workers should handle them. Perhaps just as important, Toolbox Talks can be used to build trust and boost communication when the tone is one of a safe space for employees to voice any safety concern or suggest ideas they have for improving safety.

Read More

Protecting New workers from injury

10/4/2019

 
PictureTraining in a controlled environment using “real life” models and training aids exposes the trainee to safe and efficient practices.

Summary
Safety is a core value for many construction companies, with many subscribing to the mantra that all workers will return home at the end of the day in the same condition as they left home. But as experienced workers leave the industry, maintaining this goal with workers with less experience creates a new challenge.


Read More
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