by Jbs073010 h3 — August 2, 2010 — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced July 28 that it is issuing a new rule addressing the use of cranes and derricks in construction, which will replace a 1971 rule based on 40-year-old standards. Approximately 267,000 construction, crane rental and crane certification establishments employing about 4.8 million workers will be affected by the new rule.
The new rule is designed to prevent the leading causes of fatalities, including electrocution, crushed-by/struck-by hazards during assembly/disassembly, collapse and overturn. It also sets requirements for ground conditions and crane operator assessment.
In addition, the rule addresses tower crane hazards, addresses the use of synthetic slings for assembly/disassembly work, and clarifies the scope of the regulation by providing both a functional description and a list of examples for the equipment that is covered.
Cranes and Derricks in Construction is available on the OSHA Web site. The new rule will take effect on November 8, 2010.
