Ensuring Safe Operations: Industrial Crane Safety Training
By James Headley, CEO of the Crane Institute of America (CIA) and the Crane Institute Certification (CIC) Overhead cranes are essential to efficiency and production in light to heavy industrial operations. They enable workers to lift and move all types, shapes and sizes of material, fabrications and machinery safely, quickly and precisely from place to […]
Avoiding Crane Accidents: Proper Training and Awareness Can Reduce Risk
By James Headley Statistics gathered by the US federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) show that the most common type of accident involving overhead cranes is someone being hit by a suspended load. A Crane Institute of America (CIA) analysis of OSHA statistics agrees. The analysis determined that 46% of the serious injuries and […]
Signal Savvy: Why Proper Training for Crane Signalpersons Is Crucial
By James Headley, Founder & CEO of Crane Institute of America (CIA) and Crane Institute Certification (CIC) Rail-mounted overhead cranes are a backbone of many factories, mills, and industrial plants. While these cranes are often operated from the floor using wired or wireless remotes, certain situations demand an extra layer of safety and precision—enter the […]
OSHA Requires Operator Evaluation
OSHA understood that an operator certification doesn’t indicate that an operator is qualified to operate a particular crane performing a specific job.
Misunderstanding Crane Operator Certification
Guest Perspective By James Headley Crane operator certification is the second of OSHA’S three steps to operator qualification. By now, most people who use cranes are aware that crane operator certification is firmly established as federal law. That officially occurred on December 10, 2018, but it took more than thirty years to happen. I remember […]
Would Your Training Stand Up in Court?
High-Quality Training High-quality training should be a priority for every company, but especially for those whose employees work at height. Proper training reduces the likelihood of accidents and their high costs. Well-designed, properly administered training also sets a solid foundation for a strong defense if litigation occurs. Generally, the industry sees the value of safety, […]
OSHA Takes Training to a Higher Level
It finally happened. After almost 10 years, on December 10, 2018, OSHA implemented the Crane Operator Certification law and licensing for those states requiring an operator license. But that’s not all they did! In addition to implementing this law, OSHA upped the ante for training and raised the stakes even higher by inundating an Employer […]
What’s All the Fuss About? OSHA’s Type and Capacity Requirement
By: James Headley | Director, Crane Institute of America, Inc. Lately there’s been a lot of chatter in the industry about OSHA requiring operators to be certified by type and capacity. This particular requirement was included in the new Cranes and Derricks in Construction rule when it was issued in 2010. It shouldn’t be a […]
A Question of Duty
An article by Jim Headley analyzes the question, “Are crane operators responsible for the actions of others?”
Certifcation Needed More Than Ever
Jim Headley analyzes the attitudes towards regulations and certifications in the crane and rigging industry, calling for a radical rethink.
Load Chart Illiteracy
Policies, practices and attitudes promote universal ignorance
Mobile Crane Accidents Prevented with Trained, Qualified Operators
Operator error is usually only a “symptom” of the cause of crane accidents.
Rigging: An Overlooked Area
Jim Headley examines why the art of rigging is so underrated and overlooked in construction projects, and gives a personal testimony on the fatal consequences of overlooking the role.
Spreading the Burden
In Defence of the Operator — Part III There is much confusion existing today amongst those involved in the various aspects of a crane operation. The role each person plays and the duties to be fulfilled are often unclear. Most personnel do not fully understand their responsibilities, with regard to the crane, until an accident […]
The Employers Duty
In Defence of the Operator — Part II America has recently experienced several serious plane crashes resulting in numerous fatalities. In particular is the one occurring at Denver’s Stapleton Airport killing 28 people. An interesting point concerning this crash as opposed to others, is that instead of concentrating on mechanical problems as the possible cause […]
In Defence of the Operator
OPERATOR ERROR FOUND TO BE THE CAUSE OF CRANE ACCIDENT! These headlines are not uncommon where crane accidents are involved. Perhaps the age old phrase ‘the buck stops here’ has more application to the operator than its original intention. Dealing with this is something I learned early in my operating career. While serving a crane […]
Mobile Cranes Harbor High Accident Potential
Jim Headley writes about the new technology surrounding cranes, and how it could lead to harsh consequences if handled improperly.
Ask the Expert: How and When to Inspect Your Crane
Proper inspection is vital to compliance, performance, and safety. Here to tell us more is James Headley, CEO of the Crane Institute of America (CIA) and the Crane Institute Certification (CIC), both headquartered near Orlando, Florida.