Crane Safety Report Highlights Need for Improved Federal Rules

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/06/19/crane-safety-report-highlights-need-for-improved-federal-rules/

by Mike Hall, Jun 19, 2008

A new report recommending improvements in crane safety comes at a timely moment: In recent weeks, several high-profile fatal crane accidents in New York City, Miami and Las Vegas have claimed the lives of 10 workers and a bystander.

The report, Crane-Related Deaths in Construction and Recommendations for Their Prevention, recommends new federal construction crane safety rules, national training and certification standards for crane operators and inspectors and more stringent inspections of cranes. The Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) produced the study.

The AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades Department (BCTD), the Greater New York City Building & Construction Trades Council (NYCBCT) and the Operating Engineers (IUOE) endorsed the report’s findings.

Says IUOE General President Vincent J. Giblin:

We need to hold government accountable for its role in ensuring the lives of America’s workers.

Worker safety advocates for years have been calling on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issues crane safety rules. OSHA estimates between 64 and 82 workers are killed and 263 are injured working around cranes and derricks each year.

In July 2004, a 23-member industry and union advisory committee that OSHA established issued its recommendations and a proposed standard on crane safety. But the safety agency has dragged its feet on crane safety. Just as OSHA has failed to issue so many vital safety standards during the Bush administration—combustible dust, personal protective gear, diacetyl (a cancer-causing chemical) and more.

FULL story at link.