OSHA to Speak at MCM Crane Conference in New Orleans

MCM Events will welcome an OSHA representative to address delegates at its jointly-held Crane & Rigging Conference and Industrial Crane & Hoist Conference (CRC/ICHC), at the Hampton Inn Hotel & Suites New Orleans—Convention Center, New Orleans, La., 23-24 May, 2012.

The OSHA representative will speak to ICHC delegates about, 'What to expect during an OSHA inspection', followed by a question and answer session. The presentation will follow an overview of OSHA 1910.179, delivered by Tom Reardon, training manager, hoists and cranes, at Event Partner, Columbus McKinnon Corp. He will ask, 'Does OSHA 1910.179 apply?', and explore crane configurations, regulations and standards.

"Many of us have experienced the concern prompted by crane inspection reports listing discrepancies as OSHA violations. Not all of these reports are accurate," says Reardon. "Some confusion exists among crane and hoist owners, users, and service providers regarding crane configurations and the application of OSHA 1910.179 regulations."

Reardon is inviting industry stakeholders to submit questions regarding standards and regulation, to which he will source answers from ASME/ANSI, OSHA, CMAA, etc, and share them with delegates at the end of his presentation.

Additional breakout sessions are designed for the interests of users of mobile and tower cranes used in construction. Safe operation in high winds is of special concern to tower crane users in the Gulf Coast region. Brian Silbernagel, corporate safety director, and Mike Quinn, engineering manager, for Morrow Equipment Co., Salem, Ore., will address high wind and hurricane preparedness for tower cranes. The session will cover pre-erection precautions as well as what to do in the face of imminent natural disaster.

Other sessions on accident investigation, lift planning, and rigging have universal appeal. Mike Parnell, president and CEO of Industrial Training International (ITI), Woodland, Wash., will share several rigging accidents, and will delve into the resulting investigation. Al Abel, a lifting specialist and safety manager since 1995 for Mazzella Lifting Technologies, Cleveland, Ohio, will review applicable ANSI standards to help attendees prepare a lift plan that considers proper equipment selection, inspection, and connection. Mike Riggs, president of The Rigging Institute, Knoxville, Tenn., will provide insight into the most commonly overlooked defects found on both wire rope and synthetic slings.

Finally, attendees won’t want to miss the closing session with Brent Darnell, author of The People-Profit Connection. Darnell will present a session titled “Primal Safety: A gut-level approach using emotional intelligence to enhance your safety program.” Brent will demonstrate how a simple focus on emotional competencies along with practical knowledge about how people learn, retain, and apply information, can turn your safety program around.

Event Partners are Crane Institute Certification and Columbus McKinnon Corp.

Register prior to March 31, 2012, to receive the early bird rate of $550. Rates will increase to $695 on April 1, 2012.

MCM Events is managed by Maximum Capacity Media, publisher of Crane & Rigging Hot Line; Industrial Lift & Hoist; Lift and Access; and Lift & Hoist International magazines.