Performance Standards

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
By: John W. Davis, PE

During the past several months, I have participated in a number of court cases which are worth reviewing for purposes of improved risk management. I assume it’s no revelation to you that each time you certify a crane, you assume a certain amount of risk. The trick is to minimize that risk. You may not be doing the things noted below, but you can use these comments to firm up your resolve to strengthen your risk management situation.

A recent case in California involved a commercial truck mounted crane that dropped a suspended load because the winch brake slipped and a worker was crushed. The crane had been inspected within the previous two months by a certifier and the brake problem had not been discovered. Other deficiencies had been discovered and listed and they were repaired by a service facility. Some of the repairs were structural and it was undetermined whether or not the crane had been load tested. In any event, the brake problem remained unidentified. The crane was returned to the owner and a couple of days later the injury occurred. The court found that the responsibility rested on the certifier because he failed to inspect or test the brake. His insurance settled for the limits of his policy. This case demonstrates the wisdom of testing at rated line pull and/or checking brake adjustment and wear. Failure of the certifier to determine that hoist brakes are within operational specifications is not defensible, even if a repair facility has worked on the crane in the repair-verification-certification process.

In another case an iron worker was killed when the power down brake failed to hold, dropped the load, and crushed him. The brake had not been inspected for several years nor had the function been tested at maximum line pull. The certifier and the owner were both held responsible because both had failed to heed the manufacturer’s instruction to inspect the brake at specific periods and the certifier had failed to test it. This case also demonstrates the wisdom of testing the hoist at rated line pull at minimum. Trial attorneys have the nasty habit of attacking if we inspect and don’t test or test and don’t inspect! The only sure way to minimize the risk is to do both. This issue is not limited to hoist brakes. The same concerns exist with boom elevation capacity and auxiliary hoists. Line pull capacities and boom elevation capability don’t require much weight to test and it seems foolish to leave it undone and risk a devastating law suit.

Another problem has surfaced regarding conventional crane booms. In this case, the 180-foot boom with a 60-foot jib failed and killed a laborer who was eating his lunch. It was determined that boom sections had been inspected prior to erection, but the specific section that failed was not specifically identified so the inspection was challenged and the owner’s insurance paid. I suggest that it is particularly important to identify the boom sections so that your inspection and load test can be substantiated.

Some manufacturers serialize the boom sections. If they don’t, the certifier should stamp an appropriate identification on each section and record the section identifications on the load test documents. I still notice that, from time to time, single pick quadrennial tests are being done. There’s no way this practice can be defended. Also, I notice frequent load tests that don’t even approach 50% of maximum capacity, which is hard to defend. Additionally, if the load tests are not designed to impose maximum line pull on multi-part reeving as well as on single line hoists, the load test is not really defensible. Take a look at CCAA Load Test Procedure for guidance on load testing.

Remember, by the time the attorneys look at an accident, the only thing left is the paper record and the fragile memories of percipient witnesses. Be sure that your certificates and check lists display sufficient information to demonstrate compliance with the regulations of appropriate jurisdiction. If they don’t look good to me, an attorney will attack them relentlessly; it only takes once!

Document is shared with the kind permission of John Davis, a colleague and fellow director at the Crane Certification Association of America (CCAA). The association promotes crane safety, improvement of the certification profession and addresses the subject of crane safety in governmental forums.

For more information visit the association page: http://ccaaweb.net/associations/1297/CCAANL0910.pdf

www.waterweightsinc.com