Our View by Jeff York & Terry McGettigan

Loose training, testing and oversight requirements for the people who work around construction cranes is fostering a false sense of security in our industry. The recent, deadly tower crane collapse at a congested New York City building site underscores the need for us to question our current practices.

Training and testing is king when it comes to safety. But the construction industry is putting unqualified personnel in the seats of construction cranes. In many places, no experience is necessary after passing a standardized test. One week of study will give some people enough knowledge to pass a certification examination, and then they can jump into the cab of a crane.

Imagine for one moment that a commercial airline pilot had the same training as a certified crane operator. How would you feel the next time you decided to fly? In California, it takes some 4,000 hours of training to wield a pair of scissors in a hair salon, but no experience necessary to operate a crane. How can this make sense?

Riggers and signal persons also need standard training and testing. Employers usually allow any craft to signal a crane on a jobsite, despite best practices that require only qualified people do so. How is it then that uncertified and untrained people are allowed to signal and rig under the hook of a licensed or certified crane operator?

Most tower-crane climbing crews are trained in a non-traditional manner, via second-hand knowledge that has been passed down over time. The problem with this type of hand-me-down knowledge is that it changes over the years, leaving out small but important details along the way. This osmosis of knowledge leads crews to develop their own tricks for climbing cranes, often forsaking basic safety in an attempt to save time and energy.

Tower cranes are particularly risky as urban sites become more congested, and the risk of a catastrophic event is very high during climbing operations. There are no safety devices or alarms to alert of a serious problem. Climbing crews are subjected to pressures that affect safety-critical decision-making. It is not uncommon for climbs to continue with damaged or leaking hydraulic systems; out-of adjustment or jammed guide rollers; often working in the dark and for many extended hours. This "MacGyver" method of climbing, where every jump becomes a new adventure, should not be the norm.

Climbing-frame designs vary between manufacturers, but the operational steps are similar in principle. The climbing process is relatively straightforward, with a mixture of physical work and technical procedure. It is not complex; it is more about knowing the proper sequence of what needs to be done and then following the steps, one by one, making sure that each step has been successfully completed before moving onto the next. It is essential that everyone know exactly what is going on and what the dangers are at every stage.

The industry needs standard training, testing and oversight for this work, including a practical assessment of competence. Technicians should have model-specific training directly from the manufacturer, along with a level of practical experience. Inspectors too, should be required to have specific technical training. They should be independent from all aspects of installation and maintenance to allow for objective decisions. Key personnel on erection crews should have standard training and testing.

When these needs are satisfied, crane operations should be carried out in strict accordance with the manufacturers' instructions, engineering principals and governmental laws. But the industry and lawmakers need to step up the lax standards to protect the public. New York City residents, who have seen their homes turned into dust and debris, would be shocked at the way the industry deals with these issues.

Jeff York is a veteran crane operator, expert witness and California licensed crane surveyor. He is founder and president of Hayward, California based Signal-Rite, LLC, at www.signal-rite.org (Keyword Enhanced)

Terry McGettigan is a veteran crane operator, with extensive manufacturer tower-crane technician training. He is a San Diego-based California licensed crane surveyor, at www.towercranetechnician.com