EH-89-5 Cranes in Transit
                         ENVIRONMENT, SAFETY & HEALTH

                                   BULLETIN

Assistant Secretary for                              U.S. Department of Energy
Environment, Safety, & Health                        Washington, D.C. 20585

DOE/EH-0100                     Issue No. 89-5                  September 1989

Cranes in Transit

Cranes in transit have hit, severed or brought down electrical lines,
telephone cables, suspension traffic lights and bridge spans.  There have been
96 crane incidents/accidents since 1987 reported in the DOE the majority of
which have involved moving cranes and their booms.

The predominant causes for these incidents are:

   1.  The failure of the operator to be familiar with the particular
       specifications and limitations of the piece of equipment in use.

   2.  The failure of the operator(s) to understand the clearance requirements
       for electrical lines, telephone cables, traffic lights and bridge
       spans.

   3.  The failure of the operator to lower the boom during transit.

The standards for mobile cranes in transit as required by OSHA and DOE are:
(OSHA 1926.550)

   In transit with no load and boom lowered, the equipment clearance shall be
   a minimum of 4 feet for voltages less than 50 kV., and 10 feet for voltages
   over 50 kV., up to and including 345 kV., and 16 feet for voltages up to
   and including 750 kV.

   A person shall be designated to observe clearance of the equipment and give
   timely warning for all operations where it is difficult for the operator to
   maintain the desired clearance by visual means.

   ... special hazard warnings, or instructions be conspicuously posted on all
   equipment.  Instructions or warnings shall be visible to the operator while
   he is at his control station.

In light of this type of recurring accident, it is recommended that ongoing
practical training programs be provided to familiarize operation, maintenance
and subcontractor employees with specific equipment specifications and
limitations prior to being assigned the operation of that piece of equipment,
and to assure that operators maintain their familiarity with the equipment.
Instances of failure to observe safety practices should result in prompt
disciplinary action.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This publication is one of several series of bulletins published so that DOE
program managers and contractors can share information about potential
occupational safety problems relevant to DOE operations.  For more information
or additional copies, contact the Performance Evaluation Division, Office of
Safety Compliance, Assistant Secretary for Environment, Safety & Health, U.S.
Department of Energy, Washington, DC 20545: telephone FTS 233-3294, Commercial
(301) 353-3284.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.
.