Chapter 2 – Occupational Health and Safety Act
Employee Health and Safety
Enforced by the Ministry of Labour
The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), requires the employer to provide safe equipment and to ensure that it is maintained in good condition so that employees can perform their jobs safely. Supervisors must ensure that their employees work in a safe manner with the protective equipment as required by OHSA. Ultimately, the employer and the supervisor must take every reasonable precaution to protect employees. Once this has been done, the employee is responsible to conduct him/herself in accordance with the training he/she has received. The employee is responsible for his/her own action, provided he/she has the knowledge, training and experience necessary to perform the particular task. (competency) OHSA spells out specific requirements relating to lifting devices, such as hoists, cranes and forklift trucks.
Regulation 51 outlines these requirements
a. Lifting equipment must be checked by a qualified technician at least once a year to ensure safe lifting of loads. A record of inspection but be kept to prove the check was conducted.
b. The maximum rated load of lifting equipment must be clearly displayed to indicate what the equipment is capable of lifting. (capacity)
What exactly does a capacity plate on a crane mean?
It is the most that we will ever knowingly place on the hook.
What does the term “safety factor” mean?
The crane designer, when he is organizing the small components of the crane, he chooses to increase the capacity of these bits and pieces to allow for normal wear and tear. Thereby ensuring the capacity of the crane will be maintained. The purpose of the once a year check is for the technician to verify that components are within their wear tolerance.
c. Operators must be trained and qualified (competent) on the equipment they are to operate.
d. Lifting equipment must be operated in such a manner so that the load being lifted does not pass over any person.
e. When large or bulky loads are lifted rotation or uncontrolled motion must be avoided.
f. Any load in a raised position must not be left unattended or worked on unless the load is properly supported.
Equipment and Material Damage Control
An essential part of any Health & Safety program is to protect the equipment and the material being used to manufacture the finished product that is being shipped to the customer. It is the responsibility of every material-handling operator to operate equipment in accordance with established procedures and adhere to the following safety rules and regulations.
(a) Only qualified and authorized employees are permitted to operate cranes and hoists;
(b) Operating controls must be tested before operation to ensure the equipment is safe and serviceable;
(c) Operating controls must be placed in the “off” position with the brakes applied before leaving the hoist or crane;
(d) Unsafe or defective hoists, crane and below-the-hook devices must not be operated. Any defects shall be reported to the supervisor immediately!
(e) While lifting loads, keep clear from overhead loads. Stand to one side, and if necessary, use a rope to guide the load. If the load is bulky and difficult to handle, request help to guide the load safely;
(f) Standing, walking, or working under a suspended load is NOT permitted at any time. Upon entering a plant environment, scan the area for any moving or stationary lifting equipment before crossing the floor;
(g) Riding on a load or hooks is strictly prohibited;
(h) Before attempting to lift loads, even a few feet off the floor, the operator must ensure that the load is balanced;
(i) The first responsibility of the operator is to ensure that the lift is safe;
(j) Before lifting, the lifting device must be directly over the load to be lifted to avoid swinging of the load during operation. This is extremely important when lifting heavy loads such as moulds or dies!
(k) Side pulls are not permitted at anytime.
(l) Ensure that any loose objects such as tools, parts, blocking or packing materials are removed before attempting the lift;
(m) Cranes and hoists must not be used to raise or lower employees, unless the legal requirements of OHSA are met. (OHSA Regulation 52)
(n) Operators must ensure that chains or wire ropes used to lift a load are not kinked, caught against, or possible to make contact or get snagged by obstructions during travel in any direction;
(o) Slings shall not be left dangling from the load hook. Slings being carried to the load to be lifted should have the hook placed on a bullring.
Hooks should be raised high enough to ensure that they are clear from obstructions and safe from striking any employees.
(p) Hoists and cranes must not be operated if the limit switch is defective or the wire rope or slings show defects.
(q) Never use the primary upper safety limit switch to stop a hoist or crane. The movement of the load must always be under control by the operator. Limit switches are a safety precaution and shall be tested before lifting a load by slowly raising the hook block the required distance to cause the limit switch to open the circuit.
The limit switch is required to be tested every day prior to the crane operators’ shift. There shall never be any load on the hook for this test. We will raise the hook block all the way to the upper limit, engaging the limit switch in slow speed until it automatically stops.
The designer of the crane utilizes mechanical advantage for the efficiency benefit of the crane. Efficiency is achieved by reducing the weight of the crane. We are utilizing a sheave (pulley) system which reduces the size of the wire rope thereby reducing the weight of the wire rope itself. By reducing the size of the wire rope, we are able to reduce the size of the hoist drum and all of the sheaves. Due to the reduction in the size of the wire rope and the fact that we have only one wire rope coming off of the drum, each fall of the wire rope will have only a capacity divisible by the number of falls.
As shown in the picture we have 4 falls of wire rope (one hidden). Each fall will carry 25% of the capacity of the crane.
Only one fall comes off the drum and goes to the first sheave. The hoist motor must have instant torque and therefore generates approximately 150% crane capacity. Therefore the hoist motor has more than enough power to overcome the 25% capacity wire rope coming off the drum.
The upper limit switch is a safety device place for the protection of all workers underneath the hook and must be functioning correctly prior to use.
(r) The operator must ensure that he area is clear and free before lifting. Lifting shall begin slowly and smoothly. A signal or other warning device should be used.
(s) Reverse plugging will not be practiced. Do not move a crane or hoist in reverse until it has come to a full stop. Except to avoid an accident!
(t) Bumping into runway stops or other cranes shall be avoided.
(u) Loads shall not be raised higher than necessary to clear obstruction safely.
(v) Loads should be placed in a safe place to avoid damage. While lowering the load, the operator should proceed carefully to ensure that the load is under full control.
(w) Operators shall constantly be aware of the safety of the load being lifted, their own safety and that of their fellow workers.
The impact of a work related injury can be a major life changing event. In addition to the following one must consider how an injury will affect our day to day activities and how we will interact with our loved ones and friends.
Unfortunately injuries in the field of rigging, load handling with cranes are usually catastrophic. Extreme care and concentration to the work at hand is critical to the operators and load handlers.
Why You Should Be Trained
Injuries resulting from lifting and handling are statistically likely to be major accidents involving cranes, most likely resulting in a loss of fingers, hands, arms, toes, feet, legs etc. People that have had such accidents report that every activity throughout their day reminds them of the terrible effects they have to endure. In particular, they have said, the activities in which they had participated previously, “for the joy of life” is now forever changed, in spite of the advances made in the field of modern prosthetic. We are talking about activities such as golf, car mechanics, woodworking, carving, hockey, tennis, skiing and snowboarding among many other activities.
Understanding the regulations and best practices and evaluating the risks and formulating a safe working plan can keep you from becoming one of these statistics.
Injuries resulting from lifting or handling are statistically likely to be major. They will affect all of your activities, at work, at home, doing all of the things you love to do.
Pay attention, follow all safety precautions to avoid becoming another statistic.
IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE!!
It is very important that you understand the following regulations beginning on the next page
Relevant Section Under OHSA
1(1)
· “competent person” means a person who,
(a) Is qualified because of his/her knowledge, training and experience to organize the work and its performance.
(b) is familiar with this Act and the regulations that apply to the work; and
(c) has knowledge of any potential or actual danger to the operator or safety in the workplace;
· “employer” means a person who employs one or more workers or contracts for the services of one or more workers and includes a contractor or subcontractor who performs work or supplies services and a contractor who undertakes with an owner, constructor, contractor or subcontractor to perform work or supply services;
· “supervisor” means a person who has charge of a workplace or authority over a worker;
· “worker” means a person who performs work or supplies services for a monetary compensation but does not include an inmate at a correctional institution or like institution or facility who participates inside the institution or facility in a work project or rehabilitation program;
· “workplace” means any land, premises, location or thing at, upon or near which a worker works;
· “industrial establishment” means an office building, factory, arena, shop or office, any land, buildings and structures appertaining thereto;
· “shop” means a building, booth or stall or part of such building, booth or stall where goods are handled, exposed or offered for sale or where services are offered for sale.
Duties of Employers
25(1) An employer shall ensure that,
(a) the equipment, materials and protective devices as prescribed are provided;
(b) the equipment, and protective devices provided by the employer are maintained in good condition;
(c) the measures and procedures prescribed are carried out in the workplace;
(d) the equipment, materials and protective devices provided by the employer are used as prescribed; and
(e) a floor, roof, wall, pillar, support or other part of a workplace is capable of supporting all loads to which it may be subjected without causing the materials therein to be stressed beyond the allowable unit stresses established under the Building Code Act.
25(2) Without limiting the strict duty imposed by subsection (1), an employer shall,
(a) provide information, instruction and supervision to a worker to protect the health or safety of the worker;
(b) in a medical emergency for the purpose of diagnosis or treatment, provide, upon request, information in the possession of the employer, including confidential business information, to a legally qualified medical practitioner and to such other person as may be prescribed;
(c) when appointing a supervisor, appoint a competent person;
(d) acquaint a worker or a person in authority of a worker with any hazard in the workplace and in the handling, storage, use, disposal and transport of any article, device, equipment or biological, chemical or physical agent;
(e) afford assistance and co-operation to the committee and a health and safety representative in carrying out by the committee and the health and safety representative of any of their functions;
(f) only employ in or about a workplace a person over such age as may be prescribed;
(g) not knowingly permit a person who is under such age as may be prescribed to be in or about a workplace;
(h) take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker.
Duties of a Supervisor
27(1) A supervisor shall ensure that a worker,
(a) works in the manner and with the protective devices, measures and procedures required by this Act and the regulation; and
(b) uses and wears the equipment, protective devices or clothing that the worker’s employer requires to be used or worn.
27(2) Without limiting the strict duty imposed by subsection (1), a supervisor shall,
(a) advise a worker of the existence of any potential or actual danger to the health or safety of the worker of which the supervisor is aware;
(b) where so prescribed, provide the worker with written instructions as to the measures and procedures to be taken for the protection of the worker; and
(c) take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker.
Duties of Workers
28(1) A worker shall,
(a) work in compliance with the provisions of this Act and the regulations;
(b) use or wear the equipment, protective devices or clothing that the worker’s employer requires to be used or worn;
(c) report to his or her employer or supervisor the absence or defect in any equipment or protective device of which the worker is aware and which may endanger himself, herself or another worker; and
(d) report to his/her employer or supervisor any contravention of this Act or the regulations or the existence of any hazard of which he or she knows.
28(2) No worker shall,
(a) remove or make ineffective any protective device required by the regulations or by the employer, without providing an adequate temporary protective device and when the need for removing or making ineffective the protective device has ceased, the protective device shall be replaced immediately.
(b) use or operate any equipment, machine, device or thing or work in a manner that may endanger himself, herself or another worker; or
(c) engage in any prank, contest, feat of strength, unnecessary running or rough and boisterous conduct.
Offenses and Penalties
Individuals that are found to be negligent in their actions and activities when lifting, rigging or handling loads will be charged and fined or imprisoned. The only defense available is that the worker did everything he could to avoid the accident.
66(1) Every person who contravenes or fails to comply with,
(a) a provision of this Act or the regulation;
(b) an order or requirement of an inspector or a Director; or
(c) an order of the minister,
is guilty of an offense and on conviction is liable to a fine of not more than $100,000 or the imprisonment for a term of not more than twelve months, or both.
66(2) If a corporation is convicted of an offense under subsection (1), the maximum fine that may be imposed upon the corporation is $1,000,000 per offense.
DEFENSE
66(3) it shall be the defense for the accused to prove that every precaution reasonable in the circumstances was taken. (DUE DILIGENCE)
WHAT IS NEGLIGENCE
I knew I should have done it but I didn’t do it.
I knew I shouldn’t have done it but I did it anyway.
The following rules are stipulating what you should or should not be doing.
Not following them constitutes negligence.
DEFINITION OF A LIFTING DEVICE
Means a device that is used to raise or lower any material or object and includes its rails and other supports but does not include to which the Elevating Devices Act applies.
REGULATIONS UNDER OHSA
Material Handling
Regulation 45 materials, articles or things,
(a) required to be lifted, carried or moved, shall be lifted, carried or moved in such a way and with such precautions and safeguards, including protective clothing, guards or other precautions as will ensure that the lifting, carrying or moving of the material, article or thing does not endanger the safety of any worker;
(b) shall be transported, placed or stored so that the material, article or things,
(i) will not tip, collapse or fall; and
(ii) can be removed or withdrawn without endangering the safety of any worker; and
(c) to be removed from a storage area, pile or rack, shall be removed in a manner that will not endanger the safety of any worker.
I. Regulation 46
Machinery, equipment or material that may tip or fall and endanger any worker shall be secured against tipping or falling.
II. Regulation 47
Cylindrical objects stored on their side shall be piled symmetrically with each unit in the bottom row choked or wedged to prevent motion.
III. Regulation 48
Barrels, drums or kegs that are piled on their ends shall have two parallel planks placed on top of each row before another row is added.
Regulation 51 (1), a lifting device shall:
(a) be so constructed, of such strength and be equipped with suitable ropes, chains, slings and other fittings so as to adequately ensure the safety of all
(b) be thoroughly examined by a competent person to determine its capacity of handling the maximum load as rated.
Formal Crane Inspection is Due
(i) prior to being used for the first time, and
(ii) thereafter as often as necessary but not less frequently than recommended by the manufacturer and in any case, at least once a year, and a permanent record shall be kept, signed by a competent person doing the examination.
(c) be plainly marked with sufficient information so as to enable the operator of the device to determine the maximum rated load that the device is capable of lifting under any operating condition;
(d) have a cab, screen, canopy guard or other adequate protection for the operator where the operator may be exposed to the hazard of falling material;
Regulation 51(2) A lifting device shall be operated,
(a) only by,
(i) a competent person, or
(ii) a worker being instructed who is accompanied by a competent person; and
(b) in such a way that,
(i) no part of the load passes over any worker.
(ii) where a worker may be endangered by the rotation or uncontrolled motion of a load, one or more guide ropes is used to prevent rotation or other uncontrolled motion, and
(iii) subject to subsection (3), when its load is in a raised position the controls are attended by an operator.
(5) Where a lifting device is equipped with limit switches, the switches shall,
(a) automatically cut off the power and apply the brake; and
(b) not be used as an operating control unless designed for such use, in which case a second limit switch shall be located behind the control limit switch.
An overhead crane should not be used to lift personnel. (CTC advice)
Elevator and Escalator Act Applies
Regulation 53 Where a traveling crane is operated on a runway, there shall be,
(a) rail stops or bumpers extending at least as high as the center of the wheels at both ends of the runway, and
(b) where applicable, similar rail stops at the ends of the crane bridge.
Regulation 56 Where the operator of a vehicle, mobile equipment crane or similar material handling equipment, or its load, shall only be operated as directed by a signaler who is a competent person and who is stationed,
(a) in full view of the operator;
(b) with a full view of the intended path of travel of the vehicle, mobile equipment, crane or similar material handling equipment and its load; and
(c) clear of the intended path of travel of the vehicle, mobile equipment, crane or similar material handling equipment and its load.
Regulation 59 Except for the purpose of a test of the material handling equipment, no material handling equipment shall be loaded in excess of its maximum rated load
Regulation 60(2) Subject to section 42,2, where a vehicle, crane or similar equipment is operated near a live power line, and its possible for any part of the vehicle, crane or similar equipment or its load to make contact with the live power line,
(a) a worker shall be stationed within the view of the operator to warn the operator when any part of the equipment is approaching the minimum distance from the live power line; and
(b) clearance shall be allowed for any change of boom angle and for any swing of the hoisting cable and load.
WHEN WORKING NEAR ANY ELECTRICAL POWER. EXTREME CAUTION MUST BE EXERCISED. ALL EFFORTS MUST BE MADE TO DISTANCE THE LOAD AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE FROM THE POWER WITHIN THE GUIDELINES AS A MINIMUM. (CTC Advice)