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RT-434

Improving Safety in Crane Operations: Aligning Roles and Responsibilities of Stakeholders

Opportunity/Problem Statement

Misalignment and lack of clarity in the roles and responsibilities of owners, contractors, and crane operators during lifts contribute to increased risks and accidents. This misalignment often leads to communication breakdowns and non-compliance with safety protocols, resulting in unsafe working conditions. There is an urgent need to establish a clear framework and awareness across the industry that defines each stakeholder's specific duties and responsibilities – particularly personnel not directly involved with crane planning and operation - to improve safety and reduce risks.
 

Research Questions

This research project focuses on aligning the roles and responsibilities of owners, contractors, and crane operators during lifts. The goal is to reduce risks and improve safety by fostering clear communication and understanding among all parties involved.

The main research question for the team is: How can the roles and responsibilities of owners, contractors, and crane operators be effectively aligned to enhance safety and reduce risks during crane operations?

The project will develop a framework that outlines the specific duties and responsibilities of each stakeholder, ensuring a cohesive and effective approach to crane operations. This alignment will help in preventing accidents by ensuring that all safety protocols are followed and that each party is aware of their role in maintaining a safe working environment.

Specific objectives:
  • Create a tool where responsibilities, timing, and control processes are identified, leveraging current standards and guidelines. The tool will also include data management responsibilities related to crane operation and maintenance.
  • Identify gaps in the current standards and guidelines with respect to roles and responsibilities.
  • Identify current barriers to the application of the standards and guidelines.

Expected Outcomes

  • A tool that identifies roles and responsibilities, as well as their timing and control.
  • A dissemination plan that includes means to disseminate findings and a plan for Research Team members to perform dissemination to some extent.
  • Dissemination events including a CII event.

Notes on Scope

  • The RT will include non-CII members to be identified by Jim Wiethorn (crane operators)
  • The Research Team is expected to work for 18 months and present its findings in the CII Annual Conference in 2025.

Preferred Member Background

  • Background on crane/lifting management
  • Background on crane operations
  • Background on project safety / CII Accident Techniques

Roster

Chair

Todd Harding, Bechtel Global Corporation

Sponsor

Jim Wiethorn, Crane Risk Logic

Members

Mohd Naz Khanaz Abd Rahman, Petronas

Thomas C. Byrd, Day & Zimmermann

Mike Fipps, The Dow Chemical Company

Bradley Gibson, Hatch

Ray King, Crane Risk Logic

Kristopher Lankford, Black & Veatch

Codie Lonsberry, Ontario Power Generation

Umesh Mandi, Fluor Corporation

Lee McKee, ExxonMobil Corporation

Greg Metchikian, Accenture

Esau Perez, Chevron

Forrest Ropp, Zurich

Glenn Vandenlangenberg, The Procter & Gamble Company

Joel Vazquez, Air Products

Academic

Carlos Caldas, The University of Texas at Austin

Guest

Derek Baumgartner, ALL Erection & Crane Rental Corp

Chuck Cooke, W.O. Grubb Steel Erection Inc.

Hank Dutton, Travelers Insurance Company

Eric Fidler, Manitowoc

Peter Juhren, Morrow

J.R. Moran, Brasfield & Gorrie LLC

Craig Stanford, Southern Lifting and Hoisting LLC

Stephanie Wood, Terex Corporation

Student

Jaekwan Kim, The University of Texas at Austin