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provided a firm and properly graded area for crane set-up.

Just like the Steel Erection Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee (SENRAC), C-DAC recognized that there are several key problems regarding ground conditions. First, cranes are commonly brought to the site by a subcontractor, who typically has no control over ground conditions or any knowledge of hidden hazards. As a result, when ground conditions are inadequate, the subcontractor is typically unable to correct those conditions. And, attempts to get other entities at the site to correct the conditions are often unsuccessful. The result is that cranes get set up on improperly prepared ground, often with disastrous consequences. Section 1926.1402 was created to address this major problem, and to afford all workers, not just those covered by Subpart R, the necessary protection from this danger.

Under Paragraph 1926.1402(c), the controlling entity must ensure that ground preparations necessary to properly support the equipment are provided, which means the ground must be turned over to the employer in a firm, drained and graded condition suitable for crane operations. You will note that the new regulation introduces the term “controlling entity” in lieu of “controlling contractor” (as was used in Subpart R). The continued use of the term “controlling contractor” could lead to the mistaken belief that the requirement to ensure proper ground conditions only applies to general contractors, when in many cases there are entities other than a general contractor that have overall supervisory control of a worksite.

OPERATIONAL ISSUES

Power line safety (Section 1926.1407-1411)

Joe Collins

Joe Collins is president of Joe Collins Crane, a heavy lift and crane consulting firm in San Antonio, Texas. He previously worked for Zachry Construction, where he managed their crane and rigging department and he served on the C-DAC committee.

The C-DAC committee worked hours on the power line safety section because it’s been such a problem plaguing our industry. Power line owners told us they use “layers” to protect their employees. The idea is, if you have several “layers of protection” built into your safety program, if one fails, there are many more available to protect the employee. A proximity device, to warn the operator when he is approaching a power line, is one example. Another would be barricades placed 20 feet away from power lines. There are many things one can do to establish more layers, and you can’t have too many.

The new OSHA rule sets power line clearance at 20 feet, simply because the previous rule has never worked. Power line incidents are still the No. 1 cause of crane accidents worldwide. The previous rule included a limit of 10 feet away up to 50,000 volts, and 0.4 inch further for every additional 1,000 volts. It was never effective in preventing power line contacts and the injuries that resulted. Although not the total solution, the new rule is easy to understand, easy to implement, and will save lives.

Crane users must read, learn, and train to the actual text in the regulation, but an unofficial summary of it is this: There are three zones of operation. In the green zone, if you’re back as far away as the length of boom plus 20 feet, you can’t touch the power line. There isn’t much to do in this situation, exc