MOBILE CRANE OPERATIONS

Field Reference Card

INTRODUCTION TO ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

While the organizational structure of various projects may differ, the following roles are described here for purposes of delineating responsibilities. All responsibilities listed below shall be assigned in the worksite organization.

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Crane Owner
Crane User
Site Supervisor
Lift Director
Crane Operator
Rigger

(A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL MAY PERFORM ONE OR MORE OF THESE ROLES.)

CRANE OWNER: The crane owner has custodial control of a crane by virtue of lease or ownership.
CRANE USER: The crane user arranges the crane’s presence on a worksite and controls its use there.
Site Supervisor: The site supervisor exercises supervisory control over the worksite on which a crane is being used and over the work that is being performed on that site.
Lift Director: The lift director directly oversees the work being performed by a crane and the associated rigging crew.
Crane Operator: The crane operator directly controls the crane’s functions.
Rigger: The rigger selects, configures, and assembles the rigging equipment for attachment, support, control, and detachment of the load during lift activities.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF the CRANE OWNER AND CRANE USER

In some situations, the owner and the user may be the same entity and is therefore accountable for all of the following responsibilities. In other cases, the user may lease or rent a crane from the owner without supervisory, operational, maintenance, support personnel, or services from the owner.

Crane owner:

  1. 1. providing a crane that meets the requirements of a specific job requirements defined by the user.
  2. 2. providing a crane and all necessary components, specified by the manufacturer, that meets the user’s requested configuration and capacity.
  3. 3. providing a crane that meets the requirements of a specific job requirements defined by the user.
  4. 4. providing additional technical information pertaining to the crane, necessary for crane operation, when requested by the crane user.
  5. 5. providing field assembly, disassembly, operation, maintenance information, and warning decals and placards installed as prescribe by the crane manufacturer.
  6. 6. establishing an inspection, testing and maintenance program and informing the crane user of the requirements of this program.
  7. 7. designating personnel for the purpose of maintenance, repair, transport, assembly, and disassembly.
  8. 8. designating personnel for equipment inspections.
  9. 9. maintaining the rope information for the rope currently installed on each drum.

Crane User:

  1. 1. complying with the requirements of this Volume, manufacturer’s requirements, and those regulations applicable at the worksite.
  2. 2. using supervisors for crane activities that meet the requirements for a qualified person.
  3. 3. ensuring that the crane is in proper operating condition prior to initial use at the worksite by
  4. > 1. verifying the crane owner has provided documentation that the crane meets all requirements.
  5. > 2. verifying that a frequent inspection has been performed.
  6. 4. verifying that the crane has the necessary lifting capacity to perform the proposed lifting operations in the planned configuration. Load rating charts may be temporarily removed from the crane for lift planning or other purposes provided the charts are replaced in the manufacturer’s designated location before operating the crane.
  7. 5. using crane operators that meet the requirements and are qualified to perform the tasks that will be required with the crane that they are assigned to operate.
  8. 6. ensuring the assigned operator(s) has been notified of adjustments or repairs that have not yet been completed, prior to commencing crane operations.
  9. 7. designating personnel for the purpose of maintenance, repair, transport, assembly, disassembly, and supervising lifting activities.
  10. 8. designating personnel for inspections as required.
  11. 9. ensuring that all personnel involved in lifting activities, maintenance, repair, transport, assembly, disassembly, and inspection are aware of their responsibilities, assigned duties, and the associated hazards.
  12. 10. informing the crane owner if any rope on the crane is replaced or shortened. If a rope is replaced,the wire rope information shall be provided as well as the date of replacement.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF the site supervisor AND lift director

In some situations, the site supervisor and the lift director may be the same person.

site supervisor:

  1. 1. ensuring that the crane meets the requirements prior to initial site usage.
  2. 2. determining if additional regulations are applicable to crane operations.
  3. 3. ensuring that a qualified person is designated as the lift director.
  4. 4. ensuring that crane operations are coordinated with other jobsite activities that will be affected by or will affect lift operations.
  5. 5. ensuring that the area for the crane is adequately prepared. The preparation includes, but is not limited to, the following:
  6. > 1. access roads for the crane and associated equipment.
  7. > 2. sufficient room to assemble and disassemble the crane.
  8. > 3. an operating area that is suitable for the crane with respect to levelness, surface conditions, support capability, proximity to power lines, excavations, slopes, underground utilities, subsurface construction, and obstructions to crane operation.
  9. > 4. traffic control as necessary to restrict unauthorized access to the crane’s working area.
  10. 6. ensuring that work involving the assembly and disassembly of a crane is supervised by a qualified person.
  11. 7. ensuring that crane operators meet the requirements.
  12. 8. ensuring that conditions that may adversely affect crane operations are addressed. Such conditions include, but are not limited to, the following:
  13. > 1. poor soil conditions
  14. > 2. wind velocity or gusting winds
  15. > 3. heavy rain
  16. > 4. fog
  17. > 5. extreme cold
  18. > 6. artificial lighting
  19. 9. allowing crane operation near electric power lines only when the requirements have been met.
  20. 10. permitting special lifting operations only when equipment and procedures required by this volume, the crane manufacturer, or a qualified person are employed. Such operations include, but are not limited to the following:
  21. > 1. multiple crane lift
  22. > 2. lifting personnel
  23. > 3. pick and carry operations
  24. > 4. multiple load line
  25. 11. ensuring that work performed by the rigger(s) is supervised by a qualified person.
  26. 12. ensuring that crane maintenance is performed by personnel that meet the competence requirements

lift director:

  1. 1. being present at the jobsite during lifting operations.
  2. 2. stopping crane operations if alerted to an unsafe condition affecting those operations.
  3. 3. ensuring that the preparation of the area needed to support crane operations has been completed before crane operations commence.
  4. 4. ensuring necessary traffic controls are in place to restrict unauthorized access to the crane’s work area.
  5. 5. ensuring that personnel involved in crane operations understand their responsibilities, assigned duties, and the associated hazards
  6. 6. addressing safety concerns raised by the operator or other personnel and being responsible if he decides to overrule those concerns and directs crane operations to continue. (In all cases, the manufacturer’s criteria for safe operation and the requirements of this Volume shall be adhered to.)
  7. 7. appointing the signalperson(s) and conveying that information to the crane operator.
  8. 8. ensuring that signalperson(s) appointed meet the requirements.
  9. 9. allowing crane operation near electric power lines only when the requirements determined by the site supervisor have been met.
  10. 10. ensuring precautions are implemented when hazards associated with special lifting operations are present. Such operations include, but are not limited to the following:
  11. > 1. multiple crane lift
  12. > 2. lifting personnel
  13. > 3. pick and carry operations
  14. > 4. mobile cranes operating on barges
  15. > 5. multiple load line use
  16. 11. ensuring that the applicable requirements of ASME B30.23 are met when lifting personnel.
  17. 12. informing the crane operator of the weight of loads to be lifted, as well as the lifting, moving, and placing locations for these loads.
  18. 13. obtaining the crane operator’s verification that this weight does not exceed the crane’s rated capacity.
  19. 14. ensuring that a crane’s load rigging is performed by a rigger(s) that meets the competence requirements.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF the Crane Operator

The operator shall not be responsible for hazards or conditions that are not under his direct control and that adversely affect the lift operations. Whenever the operator has doubt as to the safety of crane operations, the operator shall stop the crane’s functions in a controlled manner. Lift operations shall resume only after safety concerns have been addressed or the continuation of crane operations is directed by the lift director.In some situations, the site supervisor and the lift director may be the same person.

Crane Operator:

  1. 1. reviewing the requirements for the crane with the lift director before operations.
  2. 2. knowing what types of site conditions could adversely affect the operation of the crane and consulting with the lift director concerning the possible presence of those conditions.
  3. 3. understanding and applying the information contained in the crane manufacturer’s operating manual.
  4. 4. understanding the crane’s functions and limitations as well as its, operating characteristics.
  5. 5. using the crane’s load rating chart(s) and diagrams and applying all notes and warnings related to the charts to confirm the correct crane configuration to suit the load, site, and lift conditions. Load rating chart(s) may be temporarily removed from the crane for lift planning or other purposes provided the charts are replaced in the manufacturer’s designated location before operating the crane.
  6. 6. refusing to operate the crane when any portion of the load or crane would enter the prohibited zone of energized power lines except as defined when override procedures have been followed.
  7. 7. performing a daily inspection.
  8. 8. promptly reporting the need for any adjustments or repairs to a designated person.
  9. 9. following applicable lock out/tag out procedures.
  10. 10. not operating the crane when physically or mentally unfit.
  11. 11. ensuring that all controls are in the off or neutral position and that all personnel are in the clear before energizing the crane or starting the engine
  12. 12. not engaging in any practice that will divert attention while operating the crane controls.
  13. 13. testing the crane function controls that will be used and operating the crane only if those function controls respond properly.
  14. 14. operating the crane’s functions, under normal operating conditions, in a smooth and controlled manner.
  15. 15. knowing and following the procedures specified by the manufacturer or approved by a qualified person, for assembly, disassembly, setting up, and reeving the crane.
  16. 16. knowing how to travel the crane.
  17. 17. wearing the seat belt during transit and travel if the crane is so equipped.
  18. 18. observing each outrigger during extension, setting, and retraction or using a signalperson to observe
    each outrigger during extension, setting, or retraction.
  19. 19. ensuring that the load and rigging weight(s) have been provided.
  20. 20. calculating or determining the net capacity for all configurations that will be used and verifying, using the load rating chart(s), that the crane has sufficient net capacity for the proposed lift.
  21. 21. considering all factors known that might affect the crane capacity and informing the lift director of the need to make appropriate adjustments.
  22. 22. knowing the standard and special signals and responding to such signals from the person who is directing the lift or an appointed signalperson. (When a signalperson is not required as part of the lift operation, the operator is then responsible for the movement of the crane. However, the operator shall always obey a stop signal, no matter who gives it.
  23. 23. knowing the standard and special signals and responding to such signals from the person who is directing the lift or an appointed signalperson. (When a signalperson is not required as part of the lift operation, the operator is then responsible for the movement of the crane. However, the operator shall always obey a stop signal, no matter who gives it.)
  24. 24. understanding basic load rigging procedures. For responsibility of rigging the load and ensuring that the load is rigged properly.
  25. 25. if power fails during operations:
  26. > 1. setting all brakes and locking devices.
  27. > 2. moving all clutches or other power controls to the off or neutral position.
  28. > 3. landing any load suspended below the hook under brake control if practical.
  29. 26. before leaving the crane unattended:
  30. > 1. landing any load suspended below the hook, unless the requirements are met.
  31. > 2. disengaging the master clutch.
  32. > 3. setting travel, swing, boom brakes, and other locking devices.
  33. > 4. putting controls in the off or neutral position.
  34. > 5. stopping the engine. An exception to this may exist when crane operation is frequently interrupted during a shift and the operator must leave the crane. Under these circumstances, the engine may remain running and (1) through (4) above shall apply. The operator shall be situated where any entry to the crane can be observed.
  35. > 6. considering the recommendations of the manufacturer for securing the crane when a
    weather storm warning exists.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF the Rigger

Riggers assigned to a load-handling activity shall, at the minimum, be responsible for the following:

Rigger:

  1. 1. ensuring the weight of the load and its approximate center of gravity have been obtained.
  2. 2. selecting the proper rigging equipment, inspecting it, and complying with the applicable operating practices.
  3. 3. ensuring the rated load of the rigging equipment as selected and configured is sufficient for the load o be handled, based on the number of legs, hitch configuration, and effects of angle.
  4. 4. properly attaching the rigging equipment to the hook, shackle, or other load-handling device.
  5. 5. ensuring that rigging equipment is adequately protected from abrasion, cutting, or other damage during load-handling activities.
  6. 6. rigging the load in a manner to ensure balance and stability during the load-handling activity.
  7. 7. knowing and understanding the applicable signals for equipment in use.
  8. 8. installing and using the tag line(s) when additional load control is required.