Berry Bros. General Contractors, Inc.

Standard Operating Procedures for Crane Operations

Introduction
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI)
reported 72 crane related fatal occupational injuries in 2006.

In 2006 there were no multiple fatality incidents involving cranes; however 6 fatalities in
2005 and 8 fatalities in 2004 were the result of multiple fatality incidents involving
cranes.

In 2006, 30 crane-related fatalities were caused by being struck by falling objects. Only 9
of these fatalities were due to the crane striking them. The other workers were killed
when an object the crane was transporting fell from the crane onto them.

From 2003 to 2006, the most fatal occupational injuries involving cranes occurred in
Texas (42). Florida (27), California (25), and Louisiana (17) more information is
available from http://www.bls.gov/iif.

Crane-related fatal occupational injuries, 1997-2006

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

97 93 80 90 72 80 62 87 85 72

OSHA’s analysis identified the major causes of crane accidents to include: boom or crane
contact with energized power lines (nearly 45% of the cases), under the hook lifting
device, overturned cranes, dropped loads, boom collapse, crushing by the counter weight,
outrigger use, falls, and rigging failures.

Purpose
The purpose of developing Standard Operating Procedure for activities involving crane
operations in lifting and hoisting is to assure a safe work place.

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Hazard Evaluation
Some hazards associated with crane operations are:

 Contact with overhead power lines.

 Boom collapse.
 Overturning.
 Crushed by the counter weights.
 Rigging failures.
 Outrigger use.
 Falls.
 Loads that shift/slip.
 Pedestrians entering the work zone.

All foreseeable hazards should be addressed in a written scope of work prior to any crane
operations involving lifting or hoisting. The contractor will comply with all Federal and
State Regulations involving crane safety, overhead and gantry cranes, overhead hoists,
slings, fall protection, walking/working surfaces, and scaffolding.

Standard Operating Procedures for New Construction

 Prior to all crane operations Environmental Health and Safety must be supplied the
following information, boom length, crane weight, assembly/onsite or off site, and
weight of the heaviest load to be lifted.
 Scope of work will be discussed and conveyed to all affected employees prior to
starting work.
 Equipment that is being staged must be barricaded off to pedestrian and student
traffic. Barricades will consist of chain link fencing.
 Cranes that require assembly of the boom will be barricaded off to pedestrian and
student traffic. Barricades will consist of chain link fencing or orange barricade
fencing.
 The accessible areas within the swing radius of the rotating superstructure of the
crane must be barricaded. Barricades will consist of yellow caution tape.
 The area around the crane will be barricaded off to pedestrian traffic. No one will be
allowed to enter the work area unless they are trained to recognize the hazards
associated with crane operations.
 The cranes swing clearance “boom length” will be barricaded off to pedestrian and
student traffic in the event of a tip over or boom collapse. Barricades will consist of
chain link fencing.
 Proper Personal Protective Equipment will be utilized when working in a construction
zone, hard hats, steel toe shoes, eye protection, hand protection, fall protection when
applicable.
 Construction zone will be clearly identified by signage. Other signage will be utilized
as needed.
 Never suspend a load over or close to people.

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 Do not stand under suspended loads or in the loads line of motion.

Contractor Responsibilities
It is the contractor’s responsibility to assure a safe work site exists. The use of cranes
requires special attention for every application; however, most crane-related incidents fall
into four categories: overhead power lines, riggings and maintenance, jumping and
falling, and shifting or slipping loads. Accidents in each of these categories generally
involve human error and may be preventable. Some safety recommendations for each of
the four categories are addressed below.

Overhead Power Lines

 Lower the boom when in transit.

 Consider any overhead wire to be energized unless the line owner or utility company
tells you that it is not energized.
 Maintain a minimum clearance of 10 feet between the power line and any part of the
crane or load when working around energized power lines rated at 50kv or below.
 Maintain a minimum clearance between the lines and any part of the crane or load of
10 feet plus 0.4 inch for every 1kv over 50kv, or twice the length of the line insulator,
for voltages above 50kv.
 Look carefully before moving the boom, particularly in congested areas of poor
visibility, and request assistance if you cannot see clearly.

Rigging and Maintenance

 Keep your fingers and arms from between the sling and the load and from the sling
hook. Gloves are recommended.
 Follow lockout/tagout procedures (turn the crane off, lock the main switch in the off
position, and tag it), and place an OUT OF ORDER sign on the crane in a highly
visible place before starting any maintenance activity.

Jumping and Falling

 Use the ladder when climbing up to the cab. Keep a firm grip on the handrails to
avoid falling if your feet slip.
 Use the ladder to climb down, DO NOT JUMP DOWN.
 Avoid handling or carrying objects while climbing up or down the ladder.
 Take precautions to ensure that loose clothing, such as coats or rain gear, does not
catch on bolts or handles and cause a fall.

Shifting or Slipping Loads

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 Inspect the crane before use, checking for deformed or cracked hooks and wear on the
hoist chain, sling, and associated equipment. Ensure that the crane and associated
hoisting machinery is inspected by the annually by a competent person or by an
agency recognized by the U. S. Department of Labor.
 Ensure that the load is well secured and balanced in the sling or rigging before it is
lifted more than a few inches from the ground.
 Position the hook directly over the center of the load to minimize swinging.
 Do not attempt to manually shift, turn or redistribute a load once it has been lifted,
since this increases the risk of accidents and injuries. If the load is off center or looks
as if it will slip, ask the operator to lower the load back to the ground before you
approach to make adjustments.
 Check the area in the path of the moving load to ensure that it will not hit anything,
especially if it swings suddenly.
 Move the load smoothly, avoid sudden accelerations or decelerations, which can
cause the load to swing or shift.

References:
1. 29 CFR 1926.550,“Cranes and Derricks”
2. 29 CFR 1910.179, “Overhead and Gantry Cranes”
3. 29 CFR 1917.45, “Cranes and Derricks”
4. 29 CFR 1910.180, “Locomotive and Truck Cranes”
5. ANSI B30.2-90 and B30.2a, “Overhead and Gantry Cranes”
6. ANSI B30.16a-89, “Overhead Hoists”
7. ANSI B30.9-90, “Slings”
8. Mobile Crane Inspection Guidelines for OSHA Compliance Officers

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Project Name: Project Location:
Inspected by: Date: Manufacturer:

Equipment #: Serial #:

CRANE INSPECTION

HOOK: Yes No
1. Throat opening more than 15%. ___ __
2. Hook in twisted (not straight or on one plane). ___ __
3. More than 10% wear at the throat. ___ __
4. Any cracks or corrosion ___ __

WEDGE SOCKETS: ___ __

1. Wire rope size and wedge socket is a proper match. ___ __
2. Dead end of wire rope extends at least 9 inches beyond wedge
___ __
socket.
3. Dead end of the wire rope is secured properly. ___ __

SHEAVES:
1. The wire rope is seated properly in the sheaves. ___ __
2. The wire rope keepers (keeps cable from coming out of the
___ __
sheaves) are in good shape.
3. Check the bolts on the sheave plates for tightness. ___ __
4. Check for any weld cracks. ___ __
5. Signs of bent or buckled panels or parts. ___ __

BOOM:
1. Hydraulic leaks. ___ __
2. Check all 4 sides of boom for bent parts or buckled panels. ___ __
3. Lattice boom extension is secured properly. ___ __
4. Lattice sections are not bent (each rib is straight). ___ __

TIRES:
1. Properly inflated (look on load charts for Manufacturing
___ __
recommendations)
2. Cuts in the tires or bulges. ___ __

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FLUIDS:
1. Crank case oil is clean and full. ___ __
2. Water is about 2 inches below cap. ___ __
3. Check hydraulic oil level. ___ __

MISCELLANEOUS:
1. Out rigger pads not cracked. ___ __
2. Hydraulic hoses in good condition. ___ __
3. The drum cable is properly spooled. ___ __
4. Handrails leading into crane cab are good. ___ __
5. Fire extinguisher is available. ___ __
6. Load chart is in cab. ___ __
7. Boom angle indicator is available and working. ___ __
8. Back alarm is working. ___ __
9. Engine is started and gauges are checked, working properly. ___ __
10. Out riggers are extended out; working properly. ___ __
11. Crane is leveled, working properly. ___ __
12. Boom up, unlock the swing break, does it swing when level? ___ __
13. Swing through 360 degrees, does boom angle indicator stay the
___ __
same throughout rotation?
14. Does the horn work? ___ __
15. Does boom swing break work properly? ___ __
16. Extend out the boom, are all sections extending evenly. ___ __
17. Brakes & brake systems check out. ___ __
18. Safety pressure relief valves check out. ___ __

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