November 12, 2008—The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) recently announced the availability of the ASSE/ANSI A10 Crane Safety Standards Package to help safety professionals conduct safe crane operations in construction and demolition operations. Together these standards cover many important aspects of crane safety in construction and demolition operations.
A10.8 “Safety Requirements for Scaffolding,” which aims to help workers who use scaffolding to stay safe on the job, deals with the establishment of safety requirements for the construction, operation, maintenance, and use of scaffolds used in the construction, alteration, demolition, and maintenance of buildings and structures. The standard does not cover permanently installed suspended scaffold systems or aerial platforms.
A10.28 “Safety Requirements for Work Platforms Suspended from Cranes or Derricks” covers platforms suspended from the load lines of cranes or derricks (machines used for lifting and moving heavy objects, usually by suspending them from a movable projecting arm) in order to perform work at elevations that cannot normally be reached by other kinds of scaffolds, or to transport personnel to heights where other means of transport are unsafe or impractical because of work conditions or design.
A10.31 “Safety Requirements, Definitions & Specifications for Digger Derricks” applies to digger derricks, which are multipurpose vehicle-mounted machines primarily designed to accommodate components that dig holes, set poles, and position materials and apparatus. The standard excludes general-purpose cranes designed only for lifting service and machines primarily designed for digging holes. This standard establishes requirements for specifications and dimensions and defines the individual responsibilities of the manufacturer, distributor, installer, owner, user, and operator of the digger-derrick.
A10.33 “Safety & Health Program Requirements for Multi-Employer Projects” refers to the protection of employees and the public from hazards arising out of, or associated with, construction and demolition operations, and addresses project safety and health requirements; disciplinary procedures; senior project supervisor responsibilities; construction process, pre-work, and emergency plans; permit systems; notifications; and training.
A10.42 “Safety Requirements for Rigging Qualifications & Responsibilities” also refers to the protection of employees and the public from hazards arising out of, or associated with, construction and demolition operations. It establishes minimum criteria of knowledge and performance requirements for a qualified rigger in the construction industry. It is designed to assist in achieving reasonable safety of all persons and materials during the process of or as the result of rigging, lifting, or movement of loads.
For more information or to order the A10 standards package, visit the ASSE Web site.
