Safety Tidbit 2.50 - Cranes

Safety Tidbit 2.50 – Cranes

Reference:       29 CFR 1910.179 - Cranes

I was on a jobsite recently where they used an overhead crane but something didn’t look quite right. The hoisting unit looked fine and crane itself was okay with the load markings on it however, the support beams appeared out of place.  You see, the hoist was yellow and the immediate crane with its load marking was bright yellow. All good, right? But the support beams showed signs of fresh welds and were rusted at the base. Not to mention the beams appeared to have been hit several times by something very big and were no longer quite straight up and down or as the Masons would say “on the plumb.” So, being the trained observer that I am I asked: “How long has this been here?”  The employer said about three months that they moved the crane over to the new location when they rearranged the production floor. The support structure was left from a 100-year old railcar manufacturing facility that existed there previously. In reality, who knew how good the beams really were?

OSHA’s crane standard [1910.179(b)(3)] states:

“Cranes may be modified and rerated provided such modifications and the supporting structure are checked thoroughly for the new rated load by a qualified engineer or the equipment manufacturer. The crane shall be tested in accordance with paragraph (k)(2) of this section. New rated load shall be displayed in accordance with subparagraph (5) of this paragraph.”

Furthermore, I explained to the employer that cranes are to be inspected regularly either at daily or up to monthly intervals. Frequent inspections must include at least the following:

·      All functional operating mechanisms for maladjustment interfering with proper operation.

·      Deterioration or leakage in lines, tanks, valves, drain pumps, and other parts of air or hydraulic systems.

·      Hooks with deformation or cracks. Visual inspection daily; monthly inspection with a certification record which includes the date of inspection, the signature of the person who performed the inspection and the serial number, or other identifier, of the hook inspected. For hooks with cracks or having more than 15 percent in excess of normal throat opening or more than 10° twist from the plane of the unbent hook refer to paragraph (l)(3)(iii)(a) of this section.

·      Hoist chains, including end connections, for excessive wear, twist, distorted links interfering with proper function, or stretch beyond manufacturer's recommendations. Visual inspection daily; monthly inspection with a certification record which includes the date of inspection, the signature of the person who performed the inspection and an identifier of the chain which was inspected.

·      All functional operating mechanisms for excessive wear of components.

·      Rope reeving for noncompliance with manufacturer's recommendations.

Had any inspection been done on this crane the rust and deterioration along with the twisting support beam should have been readily identified.  I asked them to lockout the crane and place it out of service until they get it inspected and properly rated by a professional engineer.

Hope this was helpful and thanks for reading my Safety Tidbits! Comments and questions are always welcome. ~ Bryan

P.S. If you have an interesting safety or health question please let me know.

Safety Tidbit 2.49 - Grinder Safety

Safety Tidbit 2.49 – Grinder Safety

Reference:        OSHA Checklist on Abrasive Wheel

                        29 CFR 1910.215, Abrasive Wheel Machinery

I bet most of us have been on job sites and seen benchtop or pedestal grinders. Now, how many were properly set up? OSHA does have a nice little checklist that, I feel, every company should post near their grinder. There are three main points to be checked each and every time the grinder is going to get used.

1.     Do side guards cover the spindle, nut and flange and 75% of the wheel diameter? Or, as my client last week, is the side guard cover closed or was it left wide open so they could “see” better?

2.     Is the work rest used and kept adjusted to within 1/8-inch of the wheel? We want to keep everything from getting drawn in (fingers, ties, stock, etc.).

3.     Is the adjustable tongue guard on the top side of the grinder used and kept to within 1/4-inch of the wheel? We want to keep debris and sparks from flying out.

Two points that need to be checked when the wheel is being changed:

4.     Is the maximum RPM rating of each abrasive wheel compatible with the RPM rating of the grinder motor?

5.     Before new abrasive wheels are mounted, are they visually inspected and ring tested? I believe this should be done periodically (monthly, quarterly depending on how often the grinder is used).

And here are a few items thrown in for good measure:

6.     Is cleanliness maintained around grinders?

7.     Are goggles or face shields always worn when grinding?

8.     Are bench and pedestal grinders permanently mounted?

9.     Does each grinder have an individual on and off control switch?

With a little bit of preparation these handy pieces of equipment can be used safely. Unfortunately, we need constant vigilance to ensure everything is aligned the way it needs to be. I challenge each of you, every time you see a grinder do an inspection.  Also, don’t forget the portable grinders they need guards and most importantly ring testing.

Hope this was helpful and thanks for reading my Safety Tidbits! Comments and questions are always welcome. ~ Bryan

P.S. If you have an interesting safety or health question please let me know.