I keep running into folks who have questions about the ASME requirement for “documented” sling inspections. Most alarming to me is that a misconception has arisen that has caused some facility owners to simply “retire” their synthetic web slings and synthetic roundslings in order to avoid having to perform a falsely assumed “documented” inspection; e.g. […]

The dog days of summer are upon us. July and August are two of the hottest months in Florida, and we need to do what we can to prevent that heat from affecting us as we work and play. Working outdoors in hot weather can result in serious illness or even death. Workers exposed to […]

Fédération Européenne de la Manutention (FEM) has revised its guidance on the use of cranes to lift people in connection with leisure activities. Position paper FEM N0284, issued on 16 May 2011 by FEM Product Group Cranes and Lifting Equipment Sub Group Mobile Cranes, on the use of mobile cranes for lifting people, was interpreted […]

We often learn from our surroundings. By taking a page from other folk’s playbooks, we can start to appreciate new solutions to old problems. Standard rigging generally calls for two to four slings rigged from the crane hook to the load. Either the slings connect directly to a pad eye or manufactured connector like a […]

The concept of risk transfer is far from new. In fact, we’ve been doing it our whole lives and probably just never thought about it. Remember the waiver you signed before you went skydiving? That was risk transfer. How about the Best Buy warranty you bought for that new flat screen? Risk transfer. Or what […]

A recent SC&RA newsletter reported that a temporary enforcement policy issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration informs Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHOs) that they should not issue citations involving proximity alarms and insulating link use with cranes and derricks in construction when workers are otherwise properly protected. The policy goes into effect July 26, 2012, and ends […]

The US-based crane operator certification company, National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO), has announced that it will issue color-coded CCO cards for operators, riggers, signal persons, crane inspectors, practical examiners, and auditors. The new policy has been adopted in response to the growth in the range of certification programs offered by the […]

There’s more science to selecting the right outrigger pads for the job than most people think. That’s why Panora, Iowa-based DICA introduced its FIT Safety System. FIT stands for Fitting, Innovation, and Training.   The first step is choosing the right product for the application. “Three factors must be considered when selecting an outrigger pad: ground conditions, […]

Each year thousands of workers are injured and 225 die from construction-related falls. In order to provide additional tools to prevent worker injuries and fatalities in the construction industry, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) is joining with OSHA and NIOSH to support a new Fall Prevention Campaign. The national campaign to raise awareness […]

Most native Floridians are very familiar with preparing your home for a hurricane. Every year at this time, we keep an eye on the Atlantic Ocean, and take particular notice when a storm enters the Caribbean. We watch the storm models and the ‘spaghetti’ models, and we know when it’s time to head to Home […]