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OSHA Changes Policy on Monorail Hoists in Construction

OSHAOSHA

In a year that OSHA can’t seem to enforce any new rules, it appears to have found a way to remove a rule from its books. As announced last week, OSHA has removed monorail hoists from Subpart CC – Cranes and Derricks in Construction.  Employers are still required to follow other OSHA regulations regarding the hoists, but this rule should help clear up some inconsistencies.

In the press release, OSHA stated that the change was due to comments from those in the industry that mobile hoists operate much differently from cranes and derricks, as they don’t rotate, swing, or boom beyond the mounting equipment.

Because of the change in policy, OSHA will no longer cite employers for not following portions of Subpart CC with regards to monorail hoists.  Employers will still be responsible for complying with the following standards:

  • 29 CFR 1926.554 (Overhead hoists) – requires the use of outriggers and supports, if required by the manufacturer
  • 29 CFR 1926.21 – requires that operators are properly trained
  • 29 CFR 1926.20(b)(4) – makes sure the employer has verified the operator has been properly trained
  • Any other applicable standard, if the monorail hoist is mounted on equipment, such as work vehicles, utility trailers, or scaffolding systems.

“This enforcement policy is a commonsense approach to addressing industry concerns while also ensuring workers are protected,” said Dean McKenzie, director of OSHA’s Directorate of Construction said in the press release.

In a year that OSHA can’t seem to enforce any new rules, it appears to have found a way to remove a rule from its books. As announced last week, OSHA has removed monorail hoists from Subpart CC – Cranes and Derricks in Construction.  Employers are still required to follow other OSHA regulations regarding the hoists, but this rule should help clear up some inconsistencies.

For many construction superintendents and project managers across the world, tablets are becoming one of the most important tools on the job site.  They’re great for looking at plans, taking pictures, making notes, and running your favorite construction apps. Carrying a tablet does take up at least one of your hands, however, so it can be a hindrance if you need to help a co-worker lift material or climb a ladder.

High demand battery packs have allowed many construction workers ditch the cords on jobsites throughout the country, by providing more power and longer runtime. As with any battery packs, it’s important to follow safety warnings, but with a higher capacity can sometimes mean greater consequences when those warnings are not followed.

Just before 11 am on Monday morning, 6/26, firefighters were called to an under-construction residential building in Queens, New York after concrete scaffolding and formwork collapsed during a pour.

Two construction workers in Sarasota, Florida were recently trapped 15 stories in the air after one of the lines on their suspended scaffolding snapped.   One of the two men was able to be pulled to safety by some co-workers on site, but the second was stuck on the scaffold for an hour before the fire department could rescue him.

According to OSHA, more than 40 percent of all heat-related worker deaths occur in the construction industry.  Many more workers also become ill from extreme heat and humidity.  With summer now in full effect, it’s time to re-evaluate your personal steps for keeping safe in the heat and how your company is going to help their employees stay safe.

A Real Life Saver: The OVAL Fire Extinguisher

Every now and then a new product comes along and you ask yourself, “why didn’t I think of that?!”  The OVAL Fire Extinguisher is just that product.  Architecture and interior design have been moving towards cleaner lines in their spaces.  Foregone are the days of bulky protruding water fountains (bubblers for my northern friends) and fire extinguisher cabinets.   Interior designers are looking for cleaner and sleeker interior spaces but the 10lb fire extinguishers and cabinets have not changed for quite some time.   OVAL is about to change all that. 

On Tuesday, June 20, OSHA is set to propose a delay on new requirements for cranes and derricks in the construction industry at a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH).