Crane Inspection and Safety Compliance Technology

N4 Systems Listed as "Top 25 Up and Comer"

Last update: 9:37 a.m. EDT April 2, 2009
TORONTO, ONTARIO, Apr 02, 2009 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- N4 Systems, today announced that it has been selected as a top 25 up and coming technology company by the 2009 Branham300. The Top 25 Up and Comers category recognizes the leaders of tomorrow within the Canadian information and communication technology industry. The companies are selected for their innovation, uniqueness and long-term potential.

"We are excited to be listed as a 2009 Branham300 Top 25 Up and Comer. Our flagship Inspection and Safety Compliance (ISCM) product suite, Field ID, has made huge leaps both in technology and customer base. Organizations, both small and large, are now using Field ID to stay safe. Field ID truly is making safety simple for users around the world", noted Somen Mondal, CEO of N4 Systems.

N4 Systems' COO Shaun Ricci added, "Our recent enhancements to Field ID are a testament to our commitment to making safety simple. With all the recent crane accidents, our crane inspection enhancements are revolutionizing the way crane safety is managed. We are thrilled that Branham300 has recognized our innovation and potential."

About the Field ID Safety Network:
The Field ID Safety Network provides the first complete safety traceability service for organizations of all sizes. The Field ID Safety Network provides never before seen safety traceability by connecting each party involved in the safety compliance process including manufacturers, distributors, inspectors and end users. The Field ID Safety Network allows users to eliminate compliance paperwork and greatly reduce errors, guesswork and liability inherent with paper-based compliance and inspection management. Most importantly, the Field ID Safety Network creates safer workplaces and prevents accidents.
About N4 Systems:

N4 Systems Inc. is the market leader in Inspection and Safety Compliance Management (ISCM) for companies of all sizes. For more information http://www.n4systems.com.

Jargon on the Job: A Potential Safety Barrie

Jargon on the Job: A Potential Safety Barrier
By Lucy Perry, Publisher's Perspective, Lift and Access.com

February 10, 2009 – Purdue University researchers have found that specialized language used in safety training for construction workers may not be understood by newbies or non-English-speaking workers. It’s a situation that could put these workers in danger. The studies looked at mandatory 10-hour OSHA training, where words such as “PTO,” “bird caging,” “lockout/tagout,” and “lanyard,” are commonly used. I was interested in learning about the safety challenges presented by jargon used in training and on the job.

First the study looked at safety training issues for employees new to construction, examining the causes behind the high number of work-related deaths and injuries in construction. Previous studies indicated they are more likely to occur at the beginning of a construction worker’s career. The team conducted surveys with construction industry student interns before OSHA training, after training and before working on a construction site, and after working at their first internship. Results indicated the training is successful in creating awareness of safety issues, but many interns, mostly college construction engineering management students, didn’t understand terminology and acronyms presented. Yet safety instructors believed students understood the meanings of unfamiliar words before working on the construction site.

The second study looked specifically at Hispanic construction workers in Louisiana who were helping to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina. The survey looked at this sector because it was prone to a high number of fatalities. They studied Hispanics’ perceptions of safety, their levels of safety training, and their familiarity with construction terms. The study offered the same list of words as in the student study and found that less than 20 percent of Hispanic workers understood any of the terms used in OSHA training, and some terms were understood by only 3 percent.

“Safety trainers must cover a lot of material in a short amount of time and, therefore, use a lot of jargon and acronyms,” the Purdue researchers reported. “These terms are familiar to them and those in the industry, but this lingo isn’t understood by everyone on the construction site. Not understanding any part of it puts workers at risk.”

Curious as to how critical an issue this really is, I turned to the American Society of Safety Engineers, which is working on the issue of literacy among workers. ASSE has found that workers who may be considered illiterate in English may also have never learned to read or write in their native language.

“This is an issue our members have been addressing for years, especially our Latino safety professionals group,” emailed an ASSE public relations staffer. Dwight Henson, an instructor for Industrial Training International, says he runs into two barriers to successful crane training: the individual who has not adequately learned to read and write, and the individual who cannot read and write in the language used in the workplace. “It’s not possible for an individual to safely operate a crane when he or she cannot read a load chart or the many pages of notes that crane manufacturers require operators to use,” says Henson.

Yet safety trainer Jeff York of Signal-Rite says in doing signalperson and rigger training, his staff has found that if Spanish-speaking students are taught how to deliver the signal, they can do just as well as English-speaking workers.

The researchers make a good point when they suggest that visuals—illustrating construction-specific words—would improve understanding. “We shouldn’t eliminate the acronyms and jargon from the training because these are terms workers will need to know, but what we can do is associate visual elements with these words so they are familiar with the terms and what they mean,” researchers said.

Fact Sheet No. 2: Hoists, Cranes and Pullers – Safety & Warning Labels and Test Certification

This is the second in a series of Fact Sheets developed by the Crane, Hoist and Monorail Alliance concerning safe application and operation of overhead material handling equipment.

Why are Safety & Warning Labels and Load Test Certification important?

Hoist, crane and puller equipment have specific application instructions. Operators and inspectors need to know how to safely apply each device and they need to understand their limitations.

What safety and warning information should be considered when purchasing, installing or using Hoists, Cranes and Pullers?

Some of the items that should be noted when purchasing, installing or using Hoists, Cranes and Pullers are:
1) Load test certification
2) Rated capacity clearly marked on the product
3) Specific warning information
4) Product model number, serial number and date of manufacture
5) Manufacturer’s name and contact information
6) Manufacturer’s Operations Manual
7) Applicable standards or codes with which the product complies

How can you protect your workers?
You can protect your workers by:

• Ensuring that all new products purchased comply with all applicable OSHA, National, State and local requirements.
• Ensure that all operators have been trained for each type of equipment.
• Use a preventative maintenance and inspection procedure for each type of equipment.
• Maintain proper inspection and maintenance records.

What do Employees/Operators needs to know?

• Employees and Operators need to know:
• Proper equipment operator instructions.
• Load limits and capacities of each payload.
• Safe Rigging practices.
• Operator inspection requirement at the start of each shift.
• Equipment inspection and maintenance cycle requirements.

Where can I get more information?
Please refer to the Crane, Hoist and Monorail Alliance for additional information. If there is any question as to which standards or requirements apply please contact your local OSHA office.

Fact Sheet No. 1: Proper Inspection and Maintenance of Overhead Cranes and Hoists

This is the first in a series of Fact Sheets developed by the Crane, Hoist and Monorail Alliance concerning safe application and operation of overhead material handling equipment.

Why is overhead crane and hoist inspection important?

Crane inspection and maintenance are essential to safe equipment operation. Operator safety can be improved and operator injury can be avoided if the equipment is properly inspected and maintained. In addition, manufacturing productivity can also be improved with scheduled maintenance to maintain proper equipment functionality and to help avert breakdown repairs. Failure to complete overhead crane and hoist inspections and proper equipment maintenance could lead to serious injury, death or destruction of property.

What are the standards for overhead hoist and crane inspection and maintenance?

The standards and reference manuals for the required proper inspection of overhead cranes and hoists are:

1. Occupational Safety & Health Administration – 29 CFR Part 1910.179 Overhead and Gantry Cranes
2. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers – B30.2 - 2005 Overhead and Gantry Cranes (Top Running Bridge, Single or Multiple Girder, Top Running Trolley Hoist); B30.16 - 2003 Overhead Hoists (Underhung); B30.17 - 2003 Overhead and Gantry Cranes (Top Running Bridge, Single Girder, Underhung Hoist)
3. Canadian Standards Association – CAN/CSA B167-96 (R2002) Safety Standard for Maintenance and Inspection of Overhead Cranes, Gantry Cranes, Monorails, Hoists and Trolleys.
   
4. Crane Manufacturers Association of America – CMAA Specification 78 - Standards and Guidelines for Professional Services Performed on Overhead Traveling Cranes and Associated Hoisting Equipment
5. State and local codes.
6. Manufacturers’ Operations Manual.
   

These standards and reference manuals outline the frequency of inspection, the items that shall be inspected, who shall conduct the inspection, and how to document the inspection.

How can you protect your workers?

You can protect your workers by:

• Implementing a written and documented crane and hoist inspection and maintenance program.
• Training the operator to perform the required pre-shift inspection of the equipment.
  
• Training the operator to properly use the equipment.
• Ensuring that the operator has read the manufacturers’ operation manuals.
• What do employees/operators needs to know?
• Proper pre-shift inspection techniques and items to be inspected.
• Proper use of the equipment.
• Contents of manufacturers’ operations manual.
• Lock out/Tag out procedure.
• How to document the inspections.
• Who to contact in the event that a product requires service or repair.
  

Incident Prevention Web Site geared for Utility Safety

Here is a very good resource for Utility Safety issues:

Incident Prevention is on a mission to be a major force in the reduction of job-related incidents within utilities, communication providers and related contractors.

Incident Prevention is proud to announce the co-location of iP Safety Conference at ICUEE in 2009. ICUEE 2009 is the premier international demonstration exposition and education resource for the construction and utility industries.

Network with utility safety, training and operations professionals. Expand your job safety knowledge by attending your choice of 20+ seminars.

new crane operator certification program accredited by ANSI

A new crane operator certification program is now accredited by the American National Standards Institute. First introduced in late 2006, the certification is a collaboration of The National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), North American Crane Bureau (NACB), and Prov.

"I would like to extend our congratulations on this significant achievement," said Vijay Krishna, program manager for ANSI Personnel Certification Accreditation. "ANSI looks forward to a continued partnership and is thrilled to have NCCER as an ANSI Accredited Personnel Certification Program."
" Having our crane operator program receive ANSI accreditation is a remarkable achievement for our organization," said Don Whyte, NCCER president. "It further validates that our program meets the highest professional certification standards for crane operators across the industry."

More information is available at NACB, Inc. at 1-800-654-5640 - www.cranesafe.com or NCCER at 888.622.3720 - www.nccer.org/crane

Altec acquires Lift-All

Written by Alex Dahm - 13 Jan 2009

Boom truck and utility lift manufacturer Altec, Inc. in the US has acquired Lift-All, a Fort Wayne, Indiana-based competitor. Altec, which said the acquisition included Lift-All's products, manufacturing facilities and other assets, did not disclose the purchase price.

Lift-All manufactures utility vehicles, including material handlers, digger derricks, tree trimmers, insulated lifts and elevator units.

Around 100 people are employed at Fort Wayne and there are nearly 40 distributors in the US, Canada and Mexico. Altec said in early January it was undecided whether more people would be hired or if some would be let go. Further details of how it will integrate the two businesses are awaited but it is intended that all products will be brought under the Altec brand name.

"This acquisition provides Altec with a unique opportunity to broaden our product line and offer additional choice and value to our customers," said Lee Styslinger, Altec president and chief executive officer. "Lift-All has had a well-established reputation for producing reliable, quality products for nearly 30 years. Their equipment will be an excellent complement to Altec's products and services."

Altec, in Birmingham, Alabama, said it is the world's largest manufacturer of utility lifts, including boom trucks, and that it sells its equipment in more than 100 countries.

What does it mean to be Intrinsically Safe?

The term "intrinsically safe" refers to equipment and wiring which is incapable of releasing sufficient electrical or thermal energy under normal or abnormal conditions to cause ignition of a specific hazardous atmospheric mixture in its most easily ignited concentration. This is achieved by limiting the amount of power available to the electrical equipment in the hazardous area to a level below that which will ignite the gases present. To be certified "intrinsically safe," a device or circuit must be so designed that no two simultaneous failures can cause an explosion.

In order to have a fire or explosion, fuel, oxygen and a source of ignition must be present. An intrinsically safe system assumes that fuel and oxygen are present in the atmosphere, but the system is designed such that the electrical energy or thermal energy of a particular instrument loop can never be great enough to cause ignition. Traditionally, protection from an explosion in hazardous environments has been accomplished either through the use of explosion proof conduits and enclosures (intended to contain an explosion), or via pressurization or purging (intended to isolate the explosive gas from the electrical equipment). Intrinsically safe apparatus cannot replace these methods in all applications, but in many cases can provide significant cost savings in installation and maintenance of the equipment in a hazardous area. The basic design of an intrinsic safety barrier uses diodes to limit voltage, resistors to limit current and a fuse.

See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intrinsic_safety
Example of CSA Certified Intrinsically Safe Inclinometer

A powerful lift truck is essential to your business's productivity.

A safe lift truck is essential to your people's productivity.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) provides requirements for the safe operation of powered industrial trucks. OSHA is intended to make sure that every business in the United States has a safe and healthful working environment. It is recommended that you read and understand OSHA's Safety and Health Standards, Subpart N, Section 1910.178 - Powered Industrial Trucks. Individual states may have broader occupational, safety and health guidelines. You must also review your state directives and regulations.

In addition to the state and federal standards, there are industry standards, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) B56 publications which apply to material handling. This standard is denoted, ASME B56.1, "Safety Standard for Low lift and High Lift Trucks."

Various provisions of ASME B56.1 are restated and amplified in the National Safety Council's Accident Prevention Manual for Industrial Operation. This manual is highly recommended for study and ready reference by managers of companies using industrial trucks.