“Designated,” according to 1910.179(a)(35), refers to those individuals deemed to be qualified to operate an overhead crane for a specific application. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards for overhead and gantry cranes state, “Only designated personnel shall be permitted to operate a crane covered by this section” (1910.179(b)(8). The Requirements for Operator Training for use of Overhead Cranes and Hoists In 74% of the cases, the cranes were being used in routine operations where OSHA requires that specific training is provided to properly prepare and protect employees.īased upon the above, we can see both the safety need and the OSHA requirement for training of crane and hoist operators.
The most enlightening finding is that 70% of the incidents would have likely been prevented if proper training of the operators had been conducted. The economic loss averaged two million dollars per incident. The report outlined the human impact as well as the financial impact of the 270 reported injuries and fatalities. Therefore, every operation that relies on the use of overhead cranes must make effective crane and hoist operator training a major initiative.Ī 10-year OSHA study ending in 2007 analyzed the costs of approximately 250 OSHA reported accidents over the 10-year period. Improper rigging and operator error lead in the primary causes of overhead crane and hoist accidents.
Crane and Hoist Operator Training Requirements