820 Cranes and Derricks Safety I

Crane Operator Responsibilities

Crane operators should be certified before they can operate a crane on their own. There are generally two options for certification:

1. certification by a nationally accredited crane operator testing organization, or
2. certification by an audited employer program.

Crane operators' responsibilities include:

• Follow the manufacturer's procedures for operating the crane and the attachments.
• Keep the operator's manual and all procedures for operating the crane (such as load charts, recommended operating speeds, and hazard warnings) in the cab and readily available.
• Don't do anything distracting, such as texting or talking on a mobile phone, while operating the crane.

• Don't leave the controls while the load is suspended.
• Before starting the engine, verify that all controls are in the proper position and workers are in the clear.
• If crane adjustments or repairs are necessary, inform, in writing, the person responsible for receiving the information and the operator on the next shift.
• Don't operate a crane beyond its rated capacity.
• Don't use a crane to drag or pull loads sideways.
• Don't let the boom and any other parts of a crane contact an obstruction.
• Don't lift loads over the front area of wheel-mounted cranes unless the manufacturer permits it.

• Don't lower the load or the boom below the point where fewer than two full wraps of rope remain on their respective drums.
• Control the crane's rotational speed so that the load doesn't swing out beyond the radius.
• Use a tag line if necessary to prevent a load from turning excessively.
• Refuse to handle potentially hazardous loads. A crane operator concerned about hazards involving a crane can refuse to handle loads until a qualified person determines there isn't a hazard or the hazard has been corrected.
• Stop a multiple-crane lift. The crane operator and the lift director have the authority to stop a multiple-crane lift if either determines the lift can't be done according to the lift plan.

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