The hoisting operation appeared to be an everyday event: Lift a decommissioned boiler out of a facility and place it onto a truck. However, the crane was loaded beyond its rated capacity, causing the crane to tip and drop the boiler. After striking the ground, the boiler split open and spread radioactive contamination. As a result, three workers were seriously injured and the decommissioning project was delayed 6 months.
Although the above incident never occurred, it illustrated the potentially serious consequences resulting from hoisting accidents. The DOE Hoisting and Rigging Manual designated as lift as "critical" if a resulting accident could cause death, injury, health impacts, significant property damage, or project delay.
Since all hoisting operations are inherently dangerous, planning is a crucial factor in successfully completing a critical lift. The following steps will help ensure your next critical lift is properly planned and safely completed.
First, the operating organization must appoint a person-in-charge for the entire lifting operation. This person must meet the definitions of "appointed," "designated," and "qualified" as described in the Manual. Also, this person must be present at the lift site during the entire lifting operation.
The person-in-charge ensures that a pre-lift plan is prepared; it defines the operation and includes the following information.
The person-in-charge ensures that experienced operators and signalers assigned to the lift are trained and qualified to operate the specific equipment and give required signals. Next, the person-in-charge ensures that Manual sections addressing the specific equipment used are followed. This includes activities such as inspections and operating practices.
Finally, a pre-lift meeting must be held before actually making the lift. All personnel involved in the lift must attend, including operators, signalers, person-in-charge, and others as required. During the meeting, the critical lift plan is reviewed and questions resolved.
Critical lift plans, when implemented by trained and knowledgeable personnel, are the most effective way to identify potentially unsafe conditions and prevent accidents. For more information or to request a copy of the DOE Hoisting and Rigging Manual, contact Edward Patigalia (EH-313) at (301)903-3972.
[A related article on critical lift plans, "Good Lift Plans Promote Safe Hoisting and Rigging Operations," was published in the February 1994 issue of the Occupational Safety Observer (page 6). For a copy of the Observer, contact John Everett at (206)528-3246.]