National Safety Month: Crane, Derrick and Hoist Safety

Be sure to check out this DOL checklist on crane safety!

Crane, Derrick and Hoist Safety

Hazards and Solutions

To a crane operator, few experiences may be as frightening as when a crane becomes unbalanced while a load is being lifted or when the crane collapses under the weight of an excessive load. The following references aid in recognizing and evaluating hazards in the workplace.

• Subpart CC – Cranes and Derricks in Construction: Qualified Rigger. OSHA Fact Sheet, (October 2010).

• Subpart CC – Cranes and Derricks in Construction: Signal Person Qualification. OSHA Fact Sheet, (October 2010).

• Construction. OSHA eTool. A Spanish version is also available. Helps workers identify and control the hazards that cause the most serious construction-related injuries.

• Working Outdoors in Warm Climates. OSHA Fact Sheet, (September 2005).

• Crane Safety Awareness For Site Superintendents. OSHA Video. Discusses some of the hazards and risks involved in crane operations and identifies information managers should be familiar with if cranes are operating on their site.

• DOE-STD-1090-2011; Hoisting and Rigging Standard (Formerly Hoisting and Rigging Manual). U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), (September 30, 2011). Provides a table of contents to a reference document to be used by supervisors, line managers, safety personnel, equipment operators, and any other personnel responsible for safety of hoisting and rigging operations at DOE sites.

• Wildfires. OSHA. Includes links to OSHA fact sheets & QuickCards, related Safety and Health Topics Pages, training programs, and other resources.

• Hurricane Preparedness and Response. OSHA. Includes information such as news releases, public service announcements, fact sheets, frequently asked questions, and more.

• For additional information, see OSHA's Safety and Health Topics Pages on:

  • Fall Protection

  • Machine Guarding

  • Scaffolding

OSHA Bulletins (SHIBs), (HIBs) and (TIBs)

• Hazards of Transporting, Unloading, Storing and Handling Granite, Marble and Stone Slabs. (August 12, 2008).

• Overhead Launching Gantry Crane (PDF). (May 1, 2006).

• Hazards of Manually Lifting Balloon Framed Walls (PDF). (November 17, 2005).

• Hazards Associated with Transporting Granite and Marble Slabs (PDF). (September 8, 2005).

• Key Switch Controlled Elevating and Rotating Aerial Lifts (PDF). (April 11, 2002). Informs users of aerial lifts that emergency rescue of employees on the lifts can be delayed.

• Improper Support of an Elevator Car During Installation. (June 22, 1995). OSHA investigated a fatality involving an elevator car sling and platform (these are also known as platforms, car frames and platforms, car slings, car frames, and safety planks) which was improperly supported during the erection and installation of a traction elevator.

• Crane Modifications. (April 19, 1993). Discusses hazardous conditions created as a result of modifications for "auger piling" operations.

OSHA and the Crane, Hoist and Monorail Alliance

• Fact Sheet No. 1: Proper Inspection and Maintenance of Overhead Cranes and Hoists. Describes standards, reference manuals and safety tips for the application and operation of overhead material handling equipment. A Spanish version is also available.

• Fact Sheet No. 2: Hoists, Cranes and Pullers - Safety & Warning Labels and Test Certification. Identifies items that operators and inspectors need to know when purchasing, installing or using hoist, crane and puller equipment. A Spanish version is also available.

• Fact Sheet No. 3: Proper Inspection of Wire Rope Used on Hoists. Addresses issues associated with the inspection of wire ropes used on hoists, including information to determine if a wire rope is damaged and should be replaced.

• Fact Sheet No. 4: Radio Controls Can Enhance Safety and Productivity. Addresses issues associated with radio controls improving safety and productivity when used with overhead cranes.

• Fact Sheet No. 5: Crane Components That Can Improve Safety, Reliability, and Maintenance. Addresses crane components that can improve safety, reliability, and maintenance, including horns, warning/crane lights, and walkways.

• Overhead Crane Safety Tips Card: General Tips. Addresses issues associated with overhead crane safety, including general safety tips for overhead crane operators.

• Overhead Crane Safety Tips Card: Before Each Shift. Addresses issues associated with overhead crane safety, including tips for overhead crane operators to follow before each shift or before the crane is used each shift.

• Overhead Crane Safety Tips Card: Before Operating the Crane and Applying the Load. Addresses issues associated with overhead crane safety, including tips for overhead crane operators to follow before operating cranes and applying loads.

• Overhead Crane Safety Tips Card: Operating the Crane and Moving the Load. Addresses issues associated with overhead crane safety, including tips for crane operators to follow while operating a crane and moving loads.

• Overhead Crane Safety Tips Card: Parking the Load. Addresses issues associated with overhead crane safety, including tips for overhead crane operators to follow before parking the load.

• Overhead Crane Safety Tips Card: Fall Protection for Overhead Crane Operators and Service Providers. Addresses issues associated with overhead crane safety, including tips for overhead crane operators to follow to prevent falls.

• Safety Tips Sheet No. 1: Proper use of Hand Signals for cab-controlled cranes. Includes nine industry standard hand signals that are used for communication between the operator in the crane’s cab and the floor person.

• Safety Tips Sheet No. 2: Pre-operational equipment check of Cranes and Hoists. Includes a pre-operational equipment checklist for cranes and hoists.

• Safety Tips Sheet No. 3: Safe Lifting Practices. Describes safe lifting practices for moving loads of material. A Spanish version is also available.

• Safety Tips Sheet No. 4: Hoist Operation. Describes what an operator should and should not do while operating a hoist.

• Safety Tips Sheet No. 5: Employee Guidelines for Safe Carrying and Transporting Loads. Provides workers with guidelines on the safe carrying and transporting of loads.

• Safety Tips Sheet No. 6: Management Guidelines for Safe Carrying and Transporting of Loads. Provides employers with information on the safe carrying and transporting of loads.

• Safety Tips Sheet No. 7: Hazard Evaluation Checklist for Lifting, Carrying, Pushing, or Pulling. Provides workers with a checklist to help identify hazards when moving loads of material.

• Safety Tips Sheet No. 8: Alternatives to Manual Handling of Individual Containers. Provides workers with information regarding alternatives to manual handling of containers.

• Safety Tips Sheet No. 9: When and Why to Use Overhead Lifting as Opposed to Manual Lifting. Provides workers with information on when to use overhead lifting opposed to manual lifting techniques.

• Safety Tips Sheet No. 10: 4 Ways Cranes and Monorails Can Improve Ergonomics. Provides workers with information on ways cranes and monorails can improve ergonomics.

• Safety Tips Sheet No. 12: Hoist/Trolley Control - Contactor vs. Variable Frequency Drive (VFD). Provides workers with information on the differences between contractor and VFD hoist/trolley controls.

• Safety Tips Sheet No. 13: General Safety Guidance for Lever Hoists. Provides workers with information on the safe operation of lever hoists.

• Safety Tips Sheet No. 14 : Workstation Crane and Patented Track Systems Inspection. Provides workers with information on inspecting workstation cranes and patented track systems.

• Safety Tips Sheet No. 15: Overhead Manual Chain Hoist. Provides workers with information on the safe operation of overhead manual chain hoists.

OSHA and the Altec Alliance

• Crane Assembly & Disassembly - Around Power Lines Flowchart English/Spanish. (April 2012; Spanish translation, September 2013). Helps employers comply with OSHA's requirements for assembly and disassembly of cranes around power lines.

• Crane Operation Around Power Lines Flowchart English/Spanish. (April 2012; Spanish translation, September 2013). Helps employers comply with OSHA's requirements for crane operation around power lines.