821 Cranes and Derricks Safety II

Tilt-up or Tilt-down Operation

According to OSHA 1926.1425, during a tilt-up or tilt-down operation must be directly under the load.

Only employees essential to the operation are permitted in the fall zone (but not directly under the load).

An employee is essential to the operation if conducting one of the following operations and the employer can demonstrate it is infeasible for the employee to perform that operation from outside the fall zone:

1. physically guide the load;
2. closely monitor and give instructions regarding the load's movement; or
3. either detach it from or initially attach it to another component or structure (such as, but not limited to, making an initial connection or installing bracing).

Free Fall Generally Prohibited

Some older cranes are designed with a "live boom," where the rate of lowering the boom can only be controlled by a brake. Failure of the brake can lead to free fall of the boom and a risk of death or serious injury to workers near the crane. This standard prohibits the use of equipment with a live boom unless:

• the equipment was manufactured before October 31, 1984, or
• the equipment is a floating crane/derrick or a land crane/derrick on a vessel/flotation device.

Free Fall Specifically Prohibited

Even in the two situations where the equipment may have a live boom, the equipment must not be used in the following circumstances:

• An employee is in the fall zone of the boom or load.
• An employee is being hoisted.
• The load or boom is directly over a power line, or over any part of the area extending OSHA's 1926.1408, Table A clearance distance to each side of the power line; or any part of the area extending the Table A clearance distance to each side of the power line is within the radius of vertical travel of the boom or the load.
• The load is over a shaft, except where there are no employees in the shaft.
• The load is over a cofferdam, except where there are no employees in the fall zone of the boom or the load.
• Lifting operations are taking place in a refinery or tank farm.

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