In his role at Local 14, Gordon was recently invited
to participate in the NYC DOB Crane Rule Advisory Committee. As a result of the committee’s work, several new regulations were approved and enacted, which among others required a site safety plan for severe weather involving crane operations, as well as a new licensing requirement for operation of cranes with more than 300-feet of boom. Gordon also represented Local 14 on the Severe Weather
Guidelines Task Force, created by the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA). Along with other qualified and dedicated representatives from the industry, Gordon met to develop uniform guidelines.
“SC&RA again was a leader in the industry when it comes to safe practices,” he emphasized. “Some of the highlights include: anchor or secure anything that’s loose or can reasonably become loose; elevate or sandbag as much as possible (equipment, records, etc.) to minimize risk of flooding; have an emergency plan and emergency supplies; and send people home so that they can prepare their homes.”
GUIDELINES AND REGULATIONS MAY, AT TIMES, SEEM CONFINING... (BUT) THE CONSEQUENCES FOR TAKING SHORTCUTS FAR OUTWEIGH THE EFFORTS ASSOCIATED WITH ADHERENCE TO PROTOCOL.
In the spirit of “never being too prepared,” Gordon pointed to additional best practices for jobsite prep that a company’s entire workforce should remain aware of as a storm looms. Properly securing objects that could become projectiles during high winds. Brace all building components and secure larger materials (e.g. metal sheeting or plywood). Cover loose materials such as sand or topsoil. Airborne materials can cause serious injuries, and also damage the jobsite and drive up repair costs. Confirm that tie-downs, sandbags, and any sort of anchor are readily available and organized. Understand and remain adherent to equipment regulations. Closely follow crane manufacturers’ guidelines and city regulations for when operations should cease. Create a checklist. Identify at-risk areas on the jobsite and pieces of equipment susceptible to water damage, such as generators. Protect your paperwork. If a job site is largely paper based within the on-site office, consider if important paperwork can be securely saved in a cloud-based, digital platform.
ADHERE TO PROTOCOL Guidelines and regulations may, at times, seem confining— and may even impact budgets. But regulations exist for a reason. Te consequences for taking shortcuts far outweigh the efforts associated with adherence to protocol.
Gordon noted, “I was working at the World Trade Center and my crane was on the side of Tower 1 when Superstorm Sandy hit New York. Mine was one of perhaps a dozen cranes on site that day.” Following the storm warning, Gordon’s team worked
to properly secure all the cranes on the site according to manufacturer, the DOB, and Port Authority guidelines. “Safety protocols do work,” he confirmed. As we now know, the storm resulted in some incredible flooding, but according to Gordon, not one of the cranes was damaged. y
WIRE ROPE EXCHANGE NOVEMBER–DECEMBER 2018 25
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84
