Masonry Magazine December 2011 Page. 34
Mast climbing work platforms have become a vital tool of the trade for a huge number of contractors in many different disciplines, but the success of the product outpaced the development of Standards and safe-use guidelines.
However, within OSHA regulations, there is clear guidance available as to the responsibilities and safe working practices you MUST adhere to. In response to numerous requests for clarification we have prepared this information to assist contractors, owners and users in ensuring compliance to existing OSHA laws.
Essential Information you should have:
* OSHA Regulations
* ANSI A92.9 (2011)
* Manufacturers manuals
* IPAF/SIA US Safe Use Guidelines for MCWP's
* OSHA Tip Sheets on General MCWP Safety, Tying to the Structure and Ground Conditions.
* Evidence of training and relevant experience of your planning, technical and installation staff.
You Gotta Do It Right!
Much has happened in the world of mast climbing work platforms (MCWP's) in the last four years. Owners and users of MCWP's have responsibilities under OSHA regulations and because MCWP's are not mentioned in the regulations, 29 CFR 1926 (Title 29, Code of Federal Regulations 1926), there can be a misconception that the Scaffold Regulations (Sub-part L) Fall Protection (Sub-part M) etc., don't apply to MCWP use. They do!
This article sets out some of the main regulations which apply to our industry, and explains the relevance. But owners, rental companies and users must use this information to continue the research into other applicable areas of the 1926 Regulations. There is also a great deal of industry best practice information available to supplement 1926 Regulations. This is vital information which will be indispensible to ensure compliance. If you are an owner, user, or rental company, and you have questions about MCWP use, get the right advice before you begin the planning/installation process.
Whenever you require to erect a number of MCWP's on a Project, a 'qualified person should visit the site, assess all the hazards present or foreseeable, and compile, in conjunction with the users requirements, a job plan. This job plan should record details such as ground conditions, presence of any overhead power lines, details of the structure, its shape, its complexity, and its ability to hold the loads which will be applied by the MCWP, the number of machine positions and their individual configurations, which will have implications on the max. load capability of each platform.
There can be a misconception that the Scaffold Regulations (Sub-part L) Fall Protection (Sub-part M) etc., don't apply to MCWP use. They do!
For further information contact: www.mastclimbers.com Tel: 678 680 6730 Fax: 678 680 6733 Info@mastclimbers.com
Regulations You Should Follow: Planning Mast Climber Use
OSHA is clear on the responsibilities within the planning process. 1926.451 (a) (6) Scaffolds SHALL be designed by a 'Qualified Person'...
A Qualified Person is: One who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate. or professional standing, or who by extensive knowledge. training, and experience, has successfully demonstrated his/ her ability to solve or resolve problems related to the subject matter, the work, or the project.
..then constructed and loaded according to that design.
Installation, alteration and dismantle OSHA is clear on the supervision requirements for installation staff. 1926.451(f)(7) Scaffolds shall be erected, moved, dismantled, or altered only under the supervision and direction of a competent person qualified in scaffold erection, moving, dismantling or alteration. Such activities shall be performed by experienced and trained employees selected for such work by the competent person.
A Competent Person' is: One who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards....and who has authorization to take prompt corrective action to eliminate them. By way of training and/or experience a competent person is knowledgeable of applicable standards, is capable of identifying workplace hazards relating to the specific operation, and has the authority to correct them.
Only a few short years ago the industry was struggling to keep pace with the uptake of the product in N. America. The design standard for the product (ANSI A92.9) had not been revised since its introduction in 1993, there was no safe use guidance, or training requirements from the industry organizations, there was little recognition of the individuality of the product by OSHA, and there had been a number of highly publicized accidents.