The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Crane, Hoist and Monorail (CHM) Partners have renewed their alliance to improve the safety and health of workers who manufacture and use cranes, hoists and monorails. During the five-year agreement, they will develop best practice fact sheets and training resources aimed at preventing worker exposures to electrical shock, electrocution, falls from elevation and being struck-by moving equipment.
The alliance will address new technology used in the crane, hoist and monorail industry; promote cooperative program initiatives including the National Safety Stand-Down and protecting temporary workers; and, encourage a culture of safety within the industry including among small businesses and non- and limited English speaking workers. “Our alliance with CHM has been invaluable in helping to reduce and prevent serious or fatal incidents in the material handling industry,” says Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. “We will continue to focus on efforts and resources that implement best industry practices that help keep crane, hoist, and monorail operators safe and healthy.”
CHM Partners consist of Crane Manufacturers Association of America, Hoist Manufacturers Institute and Monorail Manufacturers Association. They are among 800 members of the Material Handling Institute, which was established in 1945 and is the nation’s largest material handling, logistics and supply chain association.
Through its Alliance Program, OSHA works with unions, consulates, trade and professional organizations, faith- and community-based organizations, businesses and educational institutions to prevent workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses. The purpose of each alliance is to develop compliance assistance tools and resources, and to educate workers and employers about their rights and responsibilities. Alliance Program participants do not receive exemptions from OSHA inspections or any other enforcement benefits.
Among Alliance goals: raising awareness of OSHA’s Rulemaking and Enforcement Initiatives; sharing information on National Emphasis Programs, regulatory agenda, and opportunities to participate in the rulemaking process; disseminating information on occupational safety and health laws and standards; and, presenting, exhibiting or appearing at OSHA or CHM Partner conferences, local meetings, or other events, such as ProMat, Modex, and semi-annual CMAA, HMI and MMA membership meetings.
APP LOGS OPERATOR EXPERIENCE
The SkillRecord mobile app enables skilled tradespeople to log their work experience and share it with peers, mentors and employers. In Canada, the BC Association for Crane Safety (BCACS) sponsored the rollout of the SkillRecord logbook app for trainee and experienced operators.
“Our goal is to create a community of skilled professionals who track workplace activity and share information to promote continued improvement of best practices—even after they are fully qualified,” notes BCACS co-founder Gunnar Mardon. An earlier Web-based logbook has served members since 2011, he adds, while the new app represents a natural progression, extending the tool’s use to smartphones and other mobile devices.
SkillRecord eases and expedites the ability to capture such information as hours worked and equipment used; a checklist of common tasks is available for each type of lifting device or machine. The app also allows photos to be added to logbook entries. Once recorded, the app summarizes information by project, equipment type and date range. The summaries make it easy to review a trainee’s progress or the experience of a potential new hire.
“The industry needs qualified people who are mobile across jurisdictions,” Mardon contends. “We think SkillRecord will help skilled workers demonstrate competence across jurisdictions and countries. An operator might join a large crane company and be required to travel from Edmonton to Houston, or Toronto or Vancouver to run a specific piece of equipment. SkillRecord mobilizes [documentation of] their skills and competence.”
SkillRecord is intended as a standalone logbook service, but can also provide other member functionality and be integrated with existing infrastructure. In the case of BCACS, SkillRecord is also used to help automate the administration of credentials for 10,000-plus crane operators. — SkillRecord Systems Inc., British Columbia, Canada; www.skillrecord.com