OSHA addresses issues with compliance of cranes, derricks rule

Employers with compliance responsibilities under the new crane and derricks standard will find answers in a guide OSHA released to coincide with the rule.

The standard took effect in November and is expected to prevent 22 fatalities and 175 nonfatal injuries annually. It addresses key hazards related to cranes and derricks on construction work sites, including the four main causes of worker deaths and injuries -- electrocution, crushed by parts of the equipment, struck by the equipment/load, and falls.

Crane operators and others who work with or near cranes also may find this guide helpful. It is designed to address the most common compliance issues employers face.

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Other employers have responsibilities under the new standard as well. The duties are "consistent with OSHA's multi-employer policy which recognizes that the OSH Act imposes compliance duties on employers who create or control hazards, employers whose employees are exposed to hazards, and employers with general supervisory authority over a work site," OSHA said.

The guide is divided into chapters that correspond with sections of the standard. It is intended to complement additional material on crane-related topics, including an overview, chat transcript, webinar, frequently asked questions, and fact sheets.

Read more at the WorkersComp Forum homepage.

April 14, 2011

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