AGC New Mexico Emphasizes Statewide Crane Safety

ALBUQUERQUE--- The Associated General Contractors--New Mexico Building Branch is reminding its members and others in the state’s construction industry to be particularly conscious of crane safety, in view of high winds in the state and the recent crane accidents in New York City; Las Vegas, Nevada, and other parts of the country.

“Even though the state took a major step toward reducing the chances of operator error 10 years ago when it established licensure requirements for crane operators, New Mexico contractors must continually be aware of all safety requirements when it comes to working with and around all types of cranes,” Maria Guy, J.B. Henderson Construction Co., Inc., 2008 president of the 200-member commercial builders’ association, says.

“Crane accidents can be caused by high winds, weakness in the boom structure, overhead power lines, improper hand signals, and lack of attention to the load capacities of the machines,” Guy adds. The AGC--New Mexico Building Branch has developed a Crane Safety checklist (65 kb PDF) which can be accessed on the chapter’s website.

“Accidents are rare when one considers the number of cranes in operation everyday. When accidents do occur, they are often catastrophic,” Mark Harwell, Jaynes Corporation, chair of the AGC chapter’s Safety and Health Committee, points out.

“Crane safety awareness not only applies to crane owners and operators but to workers on the jobsite and to the general public,” he adds.

Since mid-March, nine people have been killed in crane accidents in New York City. The dead include construction workers and members of the public. Many more have been injured, and property damage has been in the tens of millions.

Details on NM Hoisting Operators Safety Act:

AGC supported the passage of the Hoisting Operators’ Safety Act during the 1995 session of the New Mexico legislature. The purpose of the law is to assure that individuals who intend to operate cranes with two-ton lifting capacity and over have the necessary knowledge and experience to operate safely. New Mexico was one of the first states to implement such a licensing process.

In order to obtain a license, the operator must pass written and practical exams and provide evidence from an approved laboratory that he or she has recorded a negative result in a drug and alcohol screening test. The license must be renewed every five years.

The law requires a construction crane operator to have a current New Mexico hoisting operator license or show evidence of having completed a state-approved in-house certification class within the past two years before that individual can operate any crane two-ton and over in the state. The law is administered by the Construction Industries Division, Department of Licensing and Regulation.

AGC affiliate member Paradise Crane Consultants offers state-approved in-house certification courses regularly at the AGC office, 1615 University Blvd NE, Further information is available at 505-286-1883.

A major requirement in the testing process is that the operator understand and be able to utilize load charts, which are developed by manufacturers to indicate the strength of the crane boom with respect to lifting materials of varying weights

While the New Mexico Hoisting Operators’ Safety Act helps authenticate the qualifications of crane operators and thereby reduces the likelihood of operator error, another major consideration is the safety of the crane itself. Annual inspections of cranes are required by law. More frequent inspections are advised and, in fact, required by company policies and the demands of project owners. “Critical lifts”, for example, always require on-site inspection of the equipment and lift processes.

At the present time, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is reviewing the results of a negotiated rulemaking committee’s study of possible revisions to Subpart N—Cranes and Derricks--- of the OSHAct.
One of the recommendations of the stakeholders on the rulemaking committee is a requirement that crane operators complete a certification process, based on nationally-recognized standards. OSHA is continuing to review the committee’s report.

The National Commission for Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) has developed such a certification process. Successful completion of the NCCCO exam is recognized by the New Mexico as being reciprocal in meeting the examination requirements for hoisting operators under the state licensure law.

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Download a Job Safety Analysis (83kb PDF) for Crane Operations, courtesy of Crane Service, Inc., AGC Member.

Posted June 10, 2008

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