Cranes. They are ubiquitous on our jobsites. After all, it might actually be impossible, and certainly inefficient, to build high-rise towers, bridges, roads, or any large project without construction cranes. They’re the tool to raise or lower heavy materials, move them around the construction site, and keep the parts moving when constructing—or deconstructing—large buildings. Ironworkers use cranes every day for these purposes. Most of the time—like 99.9% of the time for Ironworker’s Local 512—the people operating the cranes are operating engineers who are members of International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49, known commonly as 49ers.
But for all the usefulness cranes provide, they also create additional jobsite risks. Among the most common dangers posed by a crane on a jobsite:
· The crane boom colliding with a building, another crane, or other object. This danger is mitigated by making sure the crane operator has clear visibility. If that visibility is compromised, there’s an Ironworker on the ground, known as a signal person, who communicates with the crane operator. They communicate using standard hand signals or voice signals as laid out in that OSHA 1926 Subpart CC and ASME B30. Voice signals are relayed via two-way radios when the signal person is not in clear view of the operator.
· Falling loads. Proper rigging is a vital part of crane safety. The 49ers and the Ironworkers know the load limits for the cranes, and know the weight of loads before they’re lifted. Ironworkers pride themselves on being the best riggers and signal people in the building trades. We use cranes every day to hoist our materials, and we are often hired to hoist materials for other jobsite trades as well.
· The crane striking an overhead power line. This is another area where the operator’s sight lines and working with the signal person are crucial. As with most of the dangers on any job site, maintaining power line safety is covered by OSHA rules (OSHA 1926.1408 Subpart CC).
· Tip-overs. Crane stability is key here, and getting the right setup can take a lot of preparation, beginning with assessing the ground conditions. Ironworkers are trained to know how and where to set up a crane, and what is necessary to maintain stability. You can see all of these risks reflected in these general rules of crane safety that we train all Ironworkers on:
1. Crane setup always follows the manufacturer specifications.
2. Always work within the limits of the crane’s load chart.
3. Never fly anything over the top of anyone. The riggers are the only exception here; they have to be beneath the crane’s load to hook and unhook it.
4. Keep away from powerlines, and always assume powerlines are live.
5. Know the weight of each pick and the capacity of the crane in the quadrant the crane is swinging through.
These are just some basic rules of safety in using a crane on a jobsite. We also train Ironworkers on things to do to keep themselves safe from cranes on the job site:
1. Never walk underneath a load hoisted by a crane.
2. Never enter the area inside the crane’s outriggers. The area should be should be marked by a warning line.
3. Always stay on the “safe” side of a crane load. This is the area between the load and the crane. Stay out of the “hospital” side of the load. This area is the area opposite the crane—cranes typically tip over forward, toward the load.
The 100% safe jobsite hasn’t been invented yet, and cranes bring another element of risk to our work. But part of being an Ironworker is having the knowledge and training to minimize risks, and making sure that everyone on the job knows how to perform it safely. If you’re interested in becoming an Ironworker, or learning more about being part of a raising gang, visit us at ironworkers512.com.
