Most often, the question
of who is responsible for mobile crane operations is not an issue until an accident
occurs. Then, OSHA or a court of law has to determine where the fault lies.
Cranes have been a significant course of non-operator injuries and fatalities
in the past and unless a systematic approach to crane safety management is conducted
by all contractors who have employees exposed, these accidents will continue
to occur. Whether you are a crane rental service, a general contractor, or a
company who has its employees occasionally work around cranes, you have responsibilities.
Critical management issues such as selection and sizing of the crane, daily
inspections, communication between the site management and crane operator, and
the supervision of the operator will be discussed. Also, the crane supervisor
needs to know basic crane components and their functions, as well as the hazards
associated with crane operations and the regulations that address these hazards.
For registration and more information The Construction Safety Council at 1-800-552-7744