NM AGC Emphasizes Statewide Crane Safety

By Dennis Roberts

Crane safety has been at the forefront of public scrutiny because of recent accidents. Following safety rules can help prevent accidents before they occur.

In light of the recent rash of crane accidents across the U.S. from Las Vegas to New York, the construction industry should be particularly conscious of crane safety.

Dennis Roberts

“Even though New Mexico took a major step over 10 years ago toward reducing the chances of operator error when it established licensure requirements for crane operators, New Mexico contractors must continually be aware of all safety requirements when it comes to working with and around all types of cranes,” says Maria Guy, 2008 president of the New Mexico Building Branch, AGC and director of strategic project office at Albuquerque-based J.B. Henderson Construction Co.

“Crane accidents can be caused by high winds, weakness in the boom structure, overhead power lines, improper hand signals, and lack of attention to the load capacities of the machines,” Guy adds.

There are approximately 560 cranes presently operating in the state. A crane can average over 10 lifts per day, meaning that there are approximately 5,600 lifts presently being performed per day by cranes in this state.

“Accidents are rare when one considers the number of cranes in operation every day,” says Mark Harwell, chair of the AGC chapter’s Safety and Health Committee and senior project safety manager with Jaynes Corp. “When accidents do occur, they are often catastrophic.

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“Crane safety awareness not only applies to crane owners and operators but to workers on the jobsite and to the general public,” he adds.

Since mid-March, nine people have been killed in crane accidents in New York City alone. The dead include construction workers and members of the public. Many more have been injured, and property damage has been in the tens of millions.

The N.M. Building Branch, AGC supported the passage of the Hoisting Operators’ Safety Act during the 1995 session of the New Mexico legislature. The purpose of the law is to assure that individuals who intend to operate cranes with two-ton lifting capacity and over have the necessary knowledge and experience to operate safely. New Mexico was one of the first states to implement such a licensing process.

In order to obtain a license, the operator must pass written and practical exams and provide evidence from an approved laboratory that he or she has recorded a negative result in a drug and alcohol screening test. The license must be renewed every five years.

The law requires a construction crane operator to have a current New Mexico hoisting operator license or show evidence of having completed a state-approved in-house certification class within the past two years before that individual can operate any crane two-ton and over in the state. The law is administered by the Construction Industries Division, Department of Licensing and Regulation.

A major requirement in the testing process is that the operator understand and be able to utilize load charts, which are developed by manufacturers to indicate the strength of the crane boom with respect to lifting materials of varying weights.

While the New Mexico Hoisting Operators’ Safety Act helps authenticate the qualifications of crane operators and thereby reduces the likelihood of operator error, another major consideration is the safety of the crane itself. Annual inspections of cranes are required by law. More frequent inspections are advised and, in fact, required by company policies and the demands of project owners. “Critical lifts”, for example, always require on-site inspection of the equipment and lift processes.

At the present time, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is reviewing the results of a negotiated rulemaking committee’s study of possible revisions to Subpart N - Cranes and Derricks of the OSHAct. The number of high profile accidents no doubt will speed up the rulemaking process. A proposed rule is expected to be issued this month, according to Assistant Secretary of Labor Edwin Foulke. This means that there could be a new rule issued in 2009.

One of the recommendations of the stakeholders on the rulemaking committee is a requirement that crane operators complete a certification process, based on nationally-recognized standards.

The National Commission for Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) has developed such a certification process. Successful completion of the NCCCO exam is recognized by the State of New Mexico as being reciprocal in meeting the examination requirements for hoisting operators under the state licensure law.

Dennis Roberts is director of industry relations and safety at the N.M. Building Branch, AGC, a 60-year old organization ensuring the professional standards of the commercial construction industry. The 200 members of AGC are dedicated to the improvement of their profession.

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