Journal of Commerce | OH&S | by RICHARD GILBERT | Sep 7, 2016
WorkSafeBC recently updated its mobile crane safety checklist that was developed as a tool to help inspectors and operators ensure they are following all of the applicable Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) regulations.
“The crane inspection checklist is really an extension of the regulation and it is an attempt by us to simplify the regulation, to highlight the requirements and add all the additional guidelines and reference material that someone might have at hand in a checklist form,” said Al Johnson, vice-president of prevention services with WorkSafeBC. “It serves as a compliance checklist and a reminder to operators and employers to go through the checklist each and every time they use a crane in order to capture all the required and important pieces to ensure the safety of setting up, maintaining and operating a crane.”
The latest version of the mobile crane safety checklist on the WorkSafeBC website was updated in June of this year. It provides specific OHS references for each aspect of safe crane set up and operation.
For example, there are provisions in the checklist to confirm important information such as if the operator is certified in B.C. and that the crane inspection is current.
There is also a crane lift capacity analysis section where descriptions and weights for load information can be added.
The checklist was initially developed for internal use by WorkSafeBC crane officers as a cheat sheet when they go out an inspect cranes. However, crane owners and operators said they also wanted to use the checklist as a safety tool.
“Instead of our officers using the checklist, things have kind of morphed a bit to our officers asking to see if the employers are using it,” said Johnson. “The idea with the checklist is that each and every time they operate the crane or use the crane at a specific location they would complete the checklist. If they are still unclear what the regulations mean when they do a deep dive, then they should give us a call and our people will assist them.”
The BC Association for Crane Safety (BCACS) agrees the mobile crane safety checklist is an important tool for employers because it helps make sure people are prepared and know what is expected of them.
“Mostly everyone is pretty much on top of this, but it is just nice to see everything together in one document and to know this is actually what WorkSafeBC is going to be using as a tool,” said Fraser Cocks, president, BCACS. “It simplifies things. Instead of weeding through the whole list of regulatory requirements there is a concise list for people to reference.”
The checklist can be downloaded from the WorkSafeBC website by searching for the mobile crane inspection checklist in the search function.