OSHA Cranes and Derricks Standard as iPhone App

December 14 - The Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA - http://www.scranet.org/) now offers a free mobile phone application for instantly accessing all necessary crane hand signals. The new application is available in the iTunes App Store (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/crane-operator-hand-signals/id403502739?mt=8) and Blackberry App World (http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/18294?lang=en).

Every signal included is compliant with the new OSHA Cranes and Derricks Standard, Appendix A to Subpart CC of Part 1926-Standard Hand Signals. Each signal is shown graphically so that operators can quickly and easily reference the appropriate signal for each command. All signals are available in English and Spanish.

This new app is intended for use before entering the workplace. SC&RA does not encourage the use of smartphones on jobsites.  The Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA) is an international trade association of more than 1,300 members from 43 nations. Members are involved in specialized transportation, machinery moving and erecting, industrial maintenance, millwrighting, crane and rigging operations, manufacturing and rental.

The U.S. Department of Labor‘s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a historic new standard, addressing the use of cranes and derricks in construction and replacing a decades old standard. The significant number of fatalities associated with the use of cranes and derricks in construction and the considerable technological advances in equipment since the publication of the old rule, issued in 1971, led the Labor Department to undertake this rulemaking.
 
The final rule was published on August 9, 2010 by the Federal Register and became effective 90 days later.  The rule can be found at http://www.osha.gov/FedReg_osha_pdf/FED20100809.pdf.

A copy of the regulatory text is available at: http://www.osha.gov/doc/cranesreg.pdf