Masonry Magazine March 2007 Page. 34
CRANES
Jeff York, president of Signal-Rite LLC, a San Leandro, Calif.-based company that provides onsite training and testing for crane signals, has had similar experiences. He points out that crane operators have to rely on others to help them do their job safely, such as riggers and signalers. It's therefore imperative for everyone to be able to communicate effectively, said York, who's been operating cranes for 25 years.
"The problem is that folks who work around cranes haven't had any formal training on how to signal and how to rig," he said. "Someone has to be versed on hand or voice signals." Crane operators and signal people often communicate via a two-way radio, which sometimes ends up in the hands of unqualified workers.
"Typically, the person with the least amount of experience gets the radio. The most experienced guys want to pass it off," York said. "They probably think they're going to save money, but the quickest way to watch the profits go down the toilet is to have a crane accident."
His advice to contractors is simple: "Make sure personnel are capable of signaling the crane. You get 20 to 30 percent more production if the person understands the signals instead of using [an incompetent person) who is working without any training," he said. "It will probably prevent an accident."
Mandatory Signal Training on the Horizon
TRAINING PEOPLE who signal cranes may soon become mandatory. OSHA is most likely just a few years away from requiring that only people who are qualified will be allowed to give signals to the crane operator.
York predicts that OSHA will have the regulation in place by the year 2010, although he notes that some people want to "fast track" the process and get it on the books even sooner; in fact, draft language could be out as soon as this year. The OSHA regulations, if they are sanctioned, won't be the first time training has been mandatory - Cal OSHA already requires it.
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) B30.5, updated in November 2004, calls for a general understanding of signals between the crane operator and the person giving the crane signals. It states that, prior to giving signals, the person needs to be tested to demonstrate a basic understanding of
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