Potential Hazards:
Worker injuries can be caused by falling loads due to rope, chain, or
sling failure during the lifting of items due to overloading, worn or
defective equipment or improper use and connection of the lifting
components.
Requirements and Example Solutions:
Attaching and moving loads
- Loads must be safely rigged before they are hoisted. [1915.116(b)]
-
When eye-bolts are used, spreaders may be required
to reduce the side pull on the eye-bolt. [1915.116(e)]
-
Skips must be rigged with a minimum of a three-legged
bridle. When open-end
skips are used, means must be taken to prevent the contents from
falling. [1915.116(g)]
See Figure 2.
-
Loads (tools, equipment, or other materials) must not be swung or
be suspended over the heads of
workers. [1915.116(j) and
1915.74(a)(12)]
-
When the hoist operator can not see the load, a
person to signal the operator is required. [1915.116(l)
and 1915.117(b)]
See Figure 3.
-
Pallets must be able to support the loads. [1915.116(m)]
-
Sufficient advance warning
must be given before loads or lifting gear are moved. [1915.116(p)]
-
Shock loading is prohibited. [1910.184(c)(11)]
Working with
slings
-
Slings must be padded or protected from sharp
edges. [1915.116(f)]
-
The loose ends of idle legs of slings in use must be
hung on the hook. [1915.116(h)]
-
Slings that are damaged or defective must not be
used. [1910.184(c)(1)]
-
Slings must not be shortened with knots, bolts, or
other makeshift devices. [1910.184(c)(2)]
-
Sling legs must not be kinked. [1910.184(c)(3)]
-
Slings must be securely attached to the load. [1910.184(c)(6)]
See Figure 4.
-
Suspended loads must be kept clear of all
obstructions. [1910.184(c)(8)]
Protecting workers
- Workers must not ride the hook or
the load. [1915.116(i)]
See Figure 5.
-
Workers must not be in between a swinging load and a
fixed object. [1915.116(q)]
-
Workers must keep clear of suspended loads and of loads about to
be lifted. [1910.184(c)(9)]
See Figure 6.
-
Hands or fingers must not be placed between the
sling and its load while the sling is being tightened around the load.
[1910.184(c)(10)]
-
In shipbreaking, hatches are typically removed. However, if the hatches
are in place the following is required:
- Hatches, through which materials are moved, must be completely open and hatch covers
must be secured. [1915.116(n)]
- Hatch covers must not be opened or closed while
workers are below the hatch. [1915.116(o)]
Using crawler, locomotive, and
truck cranes
-
The hoist rope shall not be wrapped around the load. [1910.180(h)(2)(i)]
-
The load shall be attached to the hook by means of
slings or other approved devices. [1910.180(h)(2)(ii)]
See Figure 7.
- Side loading of booms shall be limited to freely suspended loads. [1910.180(h)(3)(iv)]
- Cranes must not be used for dragging loads sideways. [1910.180(h)(3)(iv)]
-
Neither the load nor the boom shall be lowered below
the point where less than two full wraps of rope remain on their
respective drums. [1910.180(h)(3)(x)]
- When two or more cranes are used to lift one load,
one designated person shall be responsible for the operation. He shall
be required to analyze the operation and instruct all personnel
involved in the proper positioning, rigging of the load, and the
movements to be made. [1910.180(h)(3)(xii)]
- Operators must not be permitted to leave their
positions at the controls while the load is suspended. [1910.180(h)(4)(i)]
|
Figure 2: Skip being rigged with four sling legs.
Figure 3: Signal man used to assist crane operator.
Figure 4: Wire slings around load points, properly secured with shackles.
Figure 5: Prohibited practice - worker riding crane hook.
Figure 6: Workers keeping clear of suspended load.
Figure 7: Load properly attached to crane using chain and wire rope slings, connected by
shackles.
Figure 8: Properly coordinated two-crane lift. |
Back to Top
www.osha.gov
