Reference
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SAFETY INFORMATION
2250 MAX-ER 2000 OPERATOR’S MANUAL
2-24
Published 01-08-13, Control # 049-05
PERSONNEL HANDLING POLICY
In 1998, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
is sued a new American National Standard entitled,
Personnel Lifting Systems, ASME B30.23-1998. This
standard provides, “lifting and lowering of personnel
using ASME B30 Standard hoisting equipment shall be
undertaken only in circumstances when it is not
possible to accomplish the task by less hazardous
means. Unless all of the applicable requirements of this
volume are met, the lifting or lowering of personnel
using ASME B30 Standard equipment is prohibited.”
The ASME Standards recognize that mobile and locomotive
cranes are primarily designed and intended for handling
materials and not personnel. The ASME Standards have a
retrofit statement that applies to existing cranes after the
standards go into effect. It is not the intent of the standards to
require retrofitting of existing equipment. If an item is being
modified, the performance requirement shall be reviewed
relative to the current standard.
This new standard is consistent with the U.S. Department of
Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration
( O S H A ) r e g u l a t i o n s fo r C o n s t r u c t i o n th a t s tat e , i n
29CFR1926.1431(a): The use of a crane or derrick to
hoist employees on a personnel platform is prohibited,
except when the erection, use, and dismantling of
conventional means of reaching the work site, such as a
personnel hoist, ladder, stairway, aerial lift, elevating
work platform or scaffold, would be more hazardous or
is not possible because of structural design or work site
conditions.
Use of a Manitowoc crane to handle personnel is acceptable
provided:
•
The crane user shall comply with the manufacturer’s
specifications and limitations for lifting accessories
(hooks, slings, personnel platforms, etc.).
•
The requirements of the applicable national, state and
local regulations and safety codes are met.
•
A determination has been made that use of a crane to
handle personnel is the least hazardous means to
perform the work.
•
The crane operator shall be qualified to operate the
s pec if ic t yp e of hois ting eq uipment us ed in t he
personnel lift.
•
The crane operator must remain in the crane cab at all
times when personnel are off the ground.
•
The crane operator and occupants have been instructed
in the recognized hazards of personnel platform lifts.
•
The crane is in proper working order.
•
Load and boom hoist drum brakes, swing brakes, and
locking devices such as pawls and dogs shall be
engaged when the occupied personnel platform is in a
stationary position.
•
The crane must be equipped with a boom angle
indicator that is visible to the crane operator.
•
The crane must be equipped with boom hoist limiting
device.
•
If the luffing jib is used for hoisting personnel, the crane
must be equipped with a luffing jib angle indicator that is
visible to the crane operator.
•
If the luffing jib is used for hoisting personnel, the crane
must be equipped with a luffing hoist limiting device.
•
The crane is equipped with a positive acting device
which prevents contact between the load block or
overhaul ball and the boom tip (anti-two block device).
For friction cranes, this implies the addition of spring
applied brakes activated by the anti-two block device.
The load line hoist drum shall have a system or device
on the power train, other than the load hoist brake, which
regulates the lowering rate of speed of the hoist
mechanism (controlled load lowering).
Free fall of the hoist line is prohibited.
•
The crane’s Operator’s Manual is in the crane’s cab,
readily accessible to the Operator.
•
The crane’s load Capacity Chart is affixed inside the
crane cab, readily accessible to the operator. The total
weight of the loaded personnel platform and related
rigging shall not exceed 50 percent of the rated capacity
for the radius and configuration of the crane.
•
The crane is uniformly level within one percent of level
grade and located on a firm footing. Some Capacity
Charts require more stringent levelness criteria.
Cranes with outriggers or stabilizers shall have them all
extended and locked. All outriggers or stabilizers must
be extended equally in accordance with the Capacity
Charts and operating procedures.
•
Handling personnel from a platform suspended by wire
rope from a luffing jib is acceptable, but only when it is
not possible to accomplish the task using a less
hazardous means. The crane user and operator shall
take into account hazards that may be present when
using a luffing jib.
•
Direct attachment of a personnel platform to a luffing jib
is prohibited.
•
The platform meets the requirements as prescribed by
applicable standards and regulations.
•
Applicable personal protection equipment is provided
(i.e., personal fall-protection system, etc.)
