So here’s the one rule that would be more effective in making a safe work environment than all of the rest of the crane and hoist rules added together.
“Thou shall have overload protection on all lifting devices.”
There it is, just nine words. You may have thought that a mechanical or electrical device to prevent the operator from lifting loads in excess of the safe capacity was already required, but it’s not!!!
Not in OSHA, not in CMAA (Crane Manufacturers Association of America), not in HMI (Hoist Manufacturers Institute)…nowhere. Worse yet, it is such a common sense idea, most crane and hoists buyers just assume that when they insist that their equipment be OSHA and/or CMAA compliant, it will meet this most rudimentary requirement. Well it’s not. Yes, there are rules that prohibit you from lifting loads in excess of the rated capacity of the crane, but no rules that require this to be built into the crane.
I have even met a few buyers that insist that they don’t need overload protection, because they never get loads that exceed the rated capacity of their crane or hoist. Although they may never get larger loads, they do get that one trucker that forgets to take off all the chains or the lathe operator that forgets to un-chuck the shaft. Next thing you know, they are lifting the whole lathe.
Bottom line is it’s up to you. Make sure to write into all your purchasing specs that “Overload” protection is required on all new lifting equipment. If the seller says OSHA doesn’t require it, tell them that you do!
Dr. Frazier Crane
PhD in Craneology (Piled High and Deep)
