In this Spring 2005 IVES Update Newsletter edition we’ll cover the real motivation behind training, questions on fork ratings and hoist lines for cranes and boom trucks, crane certification in California, an accident report on a skid steer loader and one with a crane collapse.
Lest We Forget…
Every now and then, I have to take a step back from everything to reconsider what I am doing and why I am doing it. The “it” I am referring to here is training. Occasionally, while training, I get wrapped up in seemingly never-ending discussions about regulatory compliance with people who are up on their regulations. Other times, I get caught up defending the financial benefits of training with managers that don’t quite see the value of training. Sometimes, I lose sight of the very reason I found my way to training to begin with. What was it now? Oh yes, safety and health!
There are always people around able to pull obscure regulatory references out of their hat, then interpret them in there own unique way, which usually leads to total confusion. There will always be trainees around to second-guess the rules and demand to see “where it is written.” Getting wound up in regulations is a waste of time when training, and besides, every regulatory jurisdiction, whether federal or local, has some kind of “general duty” wording in their regulations that more or less covers everything anyway. General duty regulations are worded differently as you move around the country, but they all usually say the same thing: if it’s dangerous, do something about it, regardless of whether there are regulations about it.
When managers show up and express their concern for the money being spent on training (or wasted, as they sometimes view it), that’s a whole other ball of wax. Downtime, workers’ compensation claims, product and machine damage, and legal costs are just a few of the issues that will suck money from the bottom line like an industrial vacuum. Most managers will agree.
To maintain one’s quality of life, or even life itself, are the real reasons to train, as anybody that has lost a loved one to a workplace incident or been involved in a debilitating accident will tell you. Ask uncooperative trainees what they like to do in their spare time, then ask if they would like to continue those activities. People who don’t seem to care about their own safety should be asked if they would be able to live with themselves if their actions led to the injury or death of a co-worker.
Managers that don’t buy in should be told to have the condolence speech ready, because they will be the ones making that call to the family or dropping by the house to tell them that a loved one won’t be coming home…ever. Tough stuff.
I have had the unfortunate experience of losing a good buddy to an industrial incident. He was electrocuted when he was 20 years old. I was 19. There are many memories of that event that stay with me to this day, 24 years later. As a young man, I had never heard the mournful wails of an adult before. I can’t describe it except to say that it actually made me feel sick. I had never seen people (his parents) so overcome with grief and anguish and then have to watch the toll it takes in the form of alcoholism, depression and the like. I had never personally experienced such feelings of anger, sadness and confusion all at once.
When I think of it now, and I do, some of those old feelings still come through, now dampened by time. However, there is one feeling that burns as brightly now as the day it happened and that is how passionately I never want to be in that position again. That is what keeps me going…and training.
Rob Vetter, Managing Partner
Ives Training Group
Mobile Crane Programs Set For Upgrade
We are currently in the process of upgrading all crane-related operator and instructor materials and programs.
these upgrades are in response to the introduction of new crane operator training regulations and standards in Canada and the US. In fact, the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) of BC has recently released a proposed Occupational Health and Safety Guideline relating to Part 14 of the OHS regulation for cranes and hoists. This proposed guideline will accompany the proposed 2004 amendments to the regulations, in particular, regulation 14.34 – Crane operator training and competency.
To view in full the proposed guideline discussed here visit WCB’s website.
Following is a sample checklist to assist employers in determining if their crane operator training is adequate.
TRAINING CRITERIA
Topics:
- General principles of crane operation
- Regulatory requirements specific to cranes
- Standards appropriate to the type of crane to be operated
- Manufacturers manual and instructions specific to the model to be operated
- Hazards of lifting operations
- Determining weight and type of loads to be lifted (site-specific)
- General principles of instruction and maintenance requirements
- General rigging principles
- Communication methods including hand signals
- The use and maintenance of all crane safety devices
- Special lifting restrictions/requirements (site-specific)
- Determining safe soil conditions or support for the crane
SITE- AND EQUIPMENT-SPECIFIC DEMONSTRATION OF COMPETENCE
Competency:
- Site/job planning
- Pre-operation checks
- Startup
- Operation
- Shutdown
- Setup dismantling (if applicable)
- Special operations (if applicable)
- Other requirements such as but not limited to:
– Reading the equipment specific manual
– Using weekly/monthly checklists
Ask Bob
Hey Bob,
I have a forklift that’s rated at 8000 pounds. Does that mean that each of the forks has to be rated at 8000 pounds, too?
Dave
Dear Dave,
No. A forklift with a capacity rating of 8000 lbs. would only need to be fitted with forks rated for 4000 lbs. each. If you add the ratings of the both forks together, the number you end up with should be no less than the capacity listed on the plate.
Hope this helps,
Bob
Hi Bob,
I should know this, but what do the letters “IWRC” mean when talking about hoist lines for boom trucks and cranes?
Jordan
Dear Jordan,
Those letters refer to the construction of the wire rope; they stand for independent wire rope core. The wire rope used on most cranes is quite a marvel of engineering. First, several wires are wound together to form strands. Then the strands are wound around a center core that is made up of fiber or another wire rope. Simply put, an IWRC line is made up of a small wire rope inside a larger wire rope.
Bob
What’s Your Instructor IQ?
Test your knowledge by answering the following:
- Is it against regulations to put a piece of wood on top of the overhead guard to stay dry in the rain?
- How can you find out if a mobile crane or boom truck is level if it does not have a level indicator?
Check out the next edition of the Ives Update for the answers. Good luck!
Answers to “What’s Your Instructor IQ” (Winter Edition 2004)
- Does a powered industrial truck operator have to be retrained every three years or re-evaluated every three years?
A powered industrial truck operator must be re-evaluated every three years and retrained only if the evaluation indicates that it is needed. Retraining may also be required whenever performance issues become evident or there is a change in the operator’s equipment and/or environment.
- Does the operator of a boom lift have the responsibility of ensuring that all personnel on the platform are wearing fall arrest devices?
Yes. ANSI/SIA A92.5 – 8.8(g) lays that responsibility squarely on the operator.
Crane Operator Certification Mandated in California
On June 1, 2005, Cal-OSHA will begin enforcement of its new regulations regarding the certification of crane operators. These regulations apply to all operators of cranes with a rated load capacity of 15,000 pounds or more, or cranes with a boom capable of extending 25 feet or more. Operators will need to carry a photo ID indicating certification by an accredited certifying entity as defined by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
At the moment, the only organization that appears to be recognized by the NCCA as an approved certifying entity for crane operators is the National Coalition for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO). It is important to note that the NCCCO does not train crane operators, they only certify them as meeting the required standard by conducting written and practical tests.
Each trainee must pass a “core” written examination, regardless of what type of crane he/she operates. After that, trainees must also pass a “specialty” exam, which is another written test based on the specific type of crane that the trainee is seeking certification on, such as mobile, tower, or overhead cranes. When all the required written tests are successfully completed, operator trainees must pass a final practical examination on each type of crane they are applying for certification on. All testing, written and practical, is administered by the NCCCO. Practical evaluations may be administered at an approved NCCCO facility or on site.
The requirements and performance criteria are quite demanding. Operator trainees must pass a physical examination and substance abuse test before proceeding to any crane-related testing. They must also re-certify every five years.
Cal-OSHA regulation states that a trainee-operator may only operate under the direct supervision of a qualified operator. If you are currently training crane operators in California, you will need to become certified as an operator yourself in order to continue training. If not, you will need to arrange for a certified operator to supervise all lifting operations while you are conducting practical training/evaluations with a trainee.
Ives intends to stay in the crane operator and instructor training business; however, as of June 1, 2005 we will no longer be able to certify crane operators in the state of California, only train them. We are upgrading all of our mobile crane and boom truck training program materials and adding several crane experts to our staff of instructors in the field. For a more detailed description and explanation of the California’s new crane operator training regulations, visit our website at www.ivestraining.com and click on “CA crane operator certification.”
Here is a list of the states and cities that will mandate certification as of June 1, 2005:
States that license:
- California
- Connecticut
- Hawaii
- Massachusetts
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- West Virginia
Cities that license:
- Chicago
- Los Angeles
- New York
- New Orleans
- Omaha
- Washington, DC
Quick Tip
Have you ever written on a whiteboard with a permanent marker? If you have, then of course it goes without saying that you will never do it again, right? After all, it is highly unlikely that something like that would happen more than once, especially to someone as smart as you. In that case, maybe you can use this tip when you come across someone else that has done it. If you do, have them try this. Trace over the lines left by the permanent marker using a dry erase marker, the kind that you—sorry, they—should have been using to begin with. After that, leave it for a few seconds and wipe it off as usual, it really works!
FEEDBACK
Following is a response from a fellow trainer regarding the “Quick Tip” we ran in the last edition of the Ives Update.
I was just reading in the latest Ives Update the Quick Tip column about taking notes while doing an evaluation. I have found through years of experience that a small pocket tape recorder works well. It allows me to make quick notes verbally while not taking my eyes off the individual that I am evaluating. Most of us can only do one thing at a time, either write or look. If we are writing, we are not looking, therefore we may not see something that could affect our evaluation report.
Regards,
Bob Weicker
Frontline Fire Dept. Training
P.S. Keep up the good work. I like the newsletter!
I actually used Bob’s advice on an aerial boomlift program I did where it was raining so hard that I couldn’t fill out the evaluation forms. It worked like a charm!
RE-CERTIFICATION NOTICE
If you are in the Pacific Northwest and received Ives instructor certification training in Washington, Oregon, Idaho or Alaska, you are requested to contact Ives at 1-800-643-1144 when your certification expires, or whenever you have questions regarding credentials or equipment. It is important to remember that no safety council or institution, other than Ives, can re-certify you as an Ives equipment instructor. Do not be fooled by imitations or “bridge” offerings. Stick with the best … IVES!
ERROR NOTICE
For those of you using the Counterbalanced Forklift Re-certification Study Guide to conduct refresher/re-certification training, please be aware of the following temporary error. The answer given on page 24 at number “1” under the heading, “Understanding Forklift Safety/Center of Gravity” may be incorrectly stated as “ less” when it should be “more.” This answer is given in response to question number “1” on page 9 of the study guide which asks, “ A forklift is (more/less) stable when loaded. ” The error will be corrected immediately and will not appear in any future printings. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.
Accident Report
CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT LEAVES MAN IN SERIOUS CONDITION
A man was driving a front-end loader when, for unexplained reasons, he got off the vehicle and stepped into the path of a skid-steer loader. “One of the gentlemen apparently stepped off of his piece of machinery and was going toward the other one when the other one was backing up. The operator didn’t see him, and accidentally, apparently, ran over the other gentleman” said a police officer at the scene. The victim suffered serious internal injuries. One worker told officers the victim may have had a heart attack just before the incident. He says it appears he fell face up behind the skid-steer loader.
Operating a skid-steer loader in reverse is a very dangerous practice. Even if the operator is looking in the direction of travel, it is often difficult to see due to the design of the equipment. If an operator has to cover a lot of ground, it would be best to turn the unit around and drive forward, if possible. – Ed.
CRANE COLLAPSE KILLS ONE, INJURES THREE
A small crane collapsed while hoisting part of a water tower, killing one worker and injuring three others. The workers were installing the water tank’s bottom shell when the tower collapsed, causing one shell to crash to the ground. The crane’s collapse also caused another shell to twist, leaving it hanging 30 feet above the ground. The crane dislodged workers on safety ropes nearby, sending two workers falling 60 feet to the ground. A piece of steel also came off when the tower collapsed and pinned two men on the ground. “It sounded like a big stick of dynamite had gone off, and there was another boom not as loud,” a neighbor said about the accident.
One of the most, if not the most, important considerations when operating a crane is determining the crane’s load capacity throughout the entire range of the lift. Nobody should be operating a crane who cannot consistently and accurately determine its capacity. – Ed
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