The Sacramento, US-based Office of Administrative Law (OAL), which is responsible for reviewing administrative regulations proposed by American state agencies, is expected to accept a proposed change to law on the use of tower crane cranes in California in the next week.
If accepted, the proposal – by the Californian division of the Occupational Safety & Health Standards Board (COSHSB) – will make the use of visual warning devices on tower cranes compulsory. For example, the Board suggested a warning light should be activated when the load reaches up to 95% of its recommended limit. Cranes would also need to be fitted with an automatic stop device that operates when the load exceeds a further percentage of its rated limit.
George Hauptman, a senior engineer within the COSHSB, says that the Board formed an advisory committee of stakeholders including crane manufacturers to assist in the development of the proposal. “We expect they [the OAL] will approve the proposed regulation within the next week or so,” Hauptman said. The regulation will come into effect 30 days after its approval.
The COSHSB is a seven-member body appointed by the State governor to “set standards at least as effective as federal standards.”
