You must request approval for crane access on campus at least 72 hours or 3 days prior to lift.  This request must be made in writing to jrfields@tamu.edu and burbanczyk@tamu.edu.  The request should include the following:

1. Date of the lift
2. Time of the lift
3. Description of the area to be cleared (including buildings as needed)
4. What is being lifted and the approximate weight
5. Emergency contact information

You must receive approval prior to bringing cranes on campus.  Additionally, the Mobile Crane Safety Procedures must be followed.

Mobile Crane Safety Procedures

In the initial survey of crane operations, look for crane stability, physical obstructions to movement or operations, and proximity of electrical power lines, as well as the following:

Leveling

Has the crane operator set the crane up level and in a position for safe rotation and operation?

Outriggers

Are the outriggers, where applicable, extended and being used in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations?

Stability

The relationship of the load weight, angle and boom, and its radius (the distance from the cranes center of rotation to the center of load) to the center of gravity of the load.  Also, the condition of crane loading where the load movement acting to overturn the crane is less than the moment of the crane available to resist overturning.

Structural Integrity

The crane’s main frame, crawler, track and outrigger supports, boom sections, and attachments are all considered part of the structural components of lifting. In addition, all wires ropes, including stationary supports, help determine lifting capacity and are part of the structural elements of crane operations.

Access to Job Site

The site must be secured by barricades (caution tape or fencing) to prevent unauthorized entry to the area by: faculty, staff, students, visitors, and unauthorized construction personnel. The barricades must encompass the length the boom is extended plus 10% and the area the boom will swing if the crane was to encounter a critical failure.

Occupied Buildings

Occupied buildings that fall within the lift area must be evacuated to cover the lift areas.

Crane operators and personnel working with cranes must be knowledgeable of basic crane capacities, limitations, and specific job site restrictions, such as access restrictions to job site, location of overhead electric power lines, high wind, and inclement weather conditions. Personnel working around crane operations also need to be aware of hoisting activities or any job restrictions imposed by crane operations, and ensure job site coordination of cranes.  Crane operators should be aware of these issues and, prior to starting crane activity, take time to observe the overall crane operations with respect to load capacity, site coordination, and any job site restrictions in effect.

Accidents can be avoided by careful job planning. The person in charge must have a clear understanding of the work to be performed and consider all potential dangers at the job site.  A safety plan must be developed for the job and must be explained to all personnel involved in the lift.