This month, we’ve taken a little step back in time to revisit one of our classic articles, In defence of the operator, writtten by James Headley of the Crane Institute of America.
Headley knows the pressure placed on the operator’s shoulders: he started in this industry as an apprentice, and operated crawler cranes on projects like the Tombigbee Bridge in Alabama.
At the time when he wrote it, Headley’s piece challenged the industry to consider the weight that carried by a crane operator every time they lift a load. He stresses that, while the operator is responsible for every lift he directs, crane owners and their clients should be clear that they don’t absolve themselves of liability just because someone is sat in the cab. For the operator to be able to accept this responsibility, his employer should make sure that he is both properly trained, and familiar with the crane he is working with.
Manufacturers have, over recent years, done more and more to help crane owners with this. Around the world, manufacturers are building training centres at their facilities, that allow owners to get their staff inducted on a new crane by experts, before it is delivered.
That has the incidental effect of meaning that the next time the owner is looking for a new crane, they might return to the one their staff are familiar with.
It’s not just end clients, crane owners and manufacturers who have a role to play in making sure that operators can work safely. It’s also down to the other trades and supervisors working alongside them on the job site.
Headley cites ANSI B30.5, which makes clear that an operator’s responsibilities only extend to those times when they are directing the lift. Just being the one holding the lever doesn’t mean that you’re directing the lift.
For example, in a blind lift, the operator will be wholly dependent on whoever is signalling him. Similarly, the operators’ responsibility only extends as far down as the hook. Below the- hook, responsibility will fall on whoever has attached the load.
This is an area that has often been overlooked on site. In many cases, signallers aren’t picked because they’re an experienced worker most capable of directing the operator, but because they’re an unskilled beginner who is less useful elsewhere. Fortunately, since Headley wrote his piece, ANSI B30.5 has been amended to properly define the role and responsibilities of everyone on site. At the same time, more training organisations around the world are coming up with programmes to certify staff for these roles.
