Of course, you know everything there is to know about the Lift Industry, right?  Absolutely.  But just to humor yourself, read down the following list of information that folks who we have run into sometimes didn’t know, compiled in no particular order.

There are basically three levels of training employees might receive:

“Safety” or “Awareness” Training: This does not qualify an employee to run any machine. Its purpose is to increase the employee’s knowledge of worksite hazards to help the employee avoid accidents and incidents.

“Qualified” Training: The base level of training that OSHA accepts for employees to operate many machines under most circumstances. Industrial Truck (forklifts and tele-handlers) and Mobile Elevated Work Platform (scissor lifts and boom lifts) operators are required to be “qualified” as two of many examples. Signal Persons and Overhead Crane Operators need to be qualified, but in some circumstances successful completion of “Certified” level training may be required. Crawford Custom Consulting provides a variety of Qualified Training opportunities, all completed in house. The training can be done at one of our three locations or at a customer’s facility or job site.  

“Certified” Training:  A more involved, formal process that leads to nationally recognized certification. Crawford Custom Consulting provides training that prepares candidates to sit for the written and practical tests that lead to nationally recognized certification through the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO). NCCCO Certification is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), accreditation from the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), and is approved by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Operators of equipment such as Mobile Cranes, Tower Cranes, and Articulating Boom Cranes often require certification, either by federal and state regulatory agencies or by other organizations or employers. 

Facts you may not know

• How you use stuff affects its capacity. (Alright, for the most part the list is in no particular order, but this one is first because it’s really, really important.). Whether it is a $2.6 million crane, or an $11.00 eye bolt, how you use a piece of machinery, or a device impacts its capacity. 

• OSHA recognizes two types of Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (MEWPs).  Group A (scissor lifts and other vertical lifts), and Group B (articulating and telescopic boom lifts). Operators are to be trained specifically on the type of machine that they will use.  Additionally, each group of MEWPs is broken down into 3 types, creatively labeled type 1, type 2 and type 3 depending on what is permitted when traveling the machine horizontally.  Before operating a machine an individual should successfully complete a practical exercise utilizing the specific type (A or B; 1, 2, or 3) of machine he or she will be operating.  

• Occupants of Scissor Lifts, because they are classified as “mobile scaffolding”, are not required to wear Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS).  However, we at Crawford Custom Consulting recommend wearing PFAS anyway, as long as the scissor lift has designated PFAS anchor points.

• Not all scissor lifts have anchor points because not all lifts have the capacity to stop a falling individual.  In other words, if you are tied off, you could fall and pull the lift on top of you. Make sure that you (as you should always) thoroughly understand and follow the manufacturers guidance for the use of any machine.

• A sling used in a straight vertical pull is said to be at 90 degrees.  A shackle or an eyebolt used in a straight in-line pull is said to be at 0 degrees.  That’s just how it is.     
  
•  We use the terms “Lever Hoist” and “Come-Along” interchangeably, but technically a Lever Hoist is approved for overhead lifting and a Come-Along is not.  No matter what you call a device, make sure that you use it only in the manner that the manufacturer (or a Qualified Person) approves of.  
  
• “Four Is Three:  When lifting with a Quad Leg Bridle, the capacity of the bridle should be based on the capacity of three of the legs (based on the angle the legs are being used of course).  The concept is that the weight of the piece actually rests on three legs, the fourth is just serving to balance the load.  So, for example, “generic” three legged and quad bridles made of ½ inch 100 grade alloy should both be considered to have a capacity of 39,000 with the sling legs at 60 degrees. 

This is just a few of the things that we have found, that sometimes, emerge as gaps in the knowledge of folks working in the lift industry.  Be on the lookout for another installment (where we will actually discuss crane hook latches) which we plan on writing the next time we have a little bit of time, and way too much coffee.  

Tony earned a BS in Geology from Juniata College and an MS in Educational Leadership from Miami University.  During his more than two-decade career in higher education Tony was also a reserve component Infantry Officer and his military schooling includes the Air Assault School, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Commandant’s List Graduate of The Infantry Officer Basic Course, and The Distinguished Honor Graduate of The Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Warfare Officer’s Defense Course.  The positions that he held include Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, Rifle Company Commander and he served as the Logistics Officer (S4) for the 463D Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy) that included a yearlong combat deployment to the Sunni Triangle in Iraq.