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Policies Part 14

Policies Part 14 Contents

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

  R14.5-1 RE: Cranes and Hoists - General Requirements - Rated Capacity Indication (Bridge Cranes)
  R14.11-1 RE: Cranes and Hoists - General Requirements - Support Structure (Hoist Load Capacity Not to Exceed Hoist Support Structure)

TOWER CRANES

  R14.81-1 RE: Cranes and Hoists - Tower Cranes - Limit Devices

Policies Part 14 - General Requirements

Policy Item R14.5-1
RE: Cranes and Hoists - General Requirements - Rated Capacity Indication (Bridge Cranes)

BACKGROUND

1. Explanatory Notes
Section 14.5 sets out the requirements for indicating the rated capacity of cranes and hoists on certain parts of the equipment.

2. The Regulation
Section 14.5:

(1) The rated capacity of a crane or hoist must be permanently indicated on the superstructure, hoist and load block of the equipment except as provided by subsection (3), and must on a crane or hoist manufactured after January 1, 1999, be indicated in SI (metric) units.

(2) The rated capacity of a monorail crane must be permanently marked on the hoist and at 10 m (33 ft) intervals on the monorail beam.

(3) Rated capacity indication is not required on a crane or hoist if the rated capacity is affected by

    (a) the vertical or horizontal angle of a boom or jib,
    (b) the length of a boom or jib,
    (c) the position of a load supporting trolley, or
    (d) the use or position of outriggers to increase the stability of the structure.
POLICY

With respect to bridge cranes, the "superstructure" referred to in section 14.5 means the bridge girder.

Marking of the safe working load on the crane runways and their supporting structure is not mandatory or necessary for bridge cranes.

PRACTICE

For any relevant PRACTICE information, readers should consult the Prevention Division's Guidelines available on the WCB website.


EFFECTIVE DATE: April 1, 2001
AUTHORITY: s.14.5, Occupational Health and Safety Regulation
CROSS REFERENCES:  
HISTORY: Replaces Policy No. 56.04(2) of the Prevention Division Policy and Procedure Manual. A housekeeping change was made on December 14, 2001.
APPLICATION: This Item results from the 2000/2001 "editorial" consolidation of all prevention policies into the Prevention Manual. The POLICY in this Item merely continues the substantive requirements of Policy No. 56.04(2), as they existed prior to the Effective Date, with any wording changes necessary to reflect legislative and regulatory changes since Policy No. 56.04(2) was issued.

Policy Item R14.11-1
RE: Cranes and Hoists - General Requirements - Support Structure (Hoist Load Capacity Not to Exceed Hoist Support Structure)

BACKGROUND

1. Explanatory Notes
Section 14.11(1) requires that the rated capacity of a hoist must not exceed the capacity of the support structure.

2. The Regulation
Section 14.11(1):

The rated capacity of a hoist must not exceed the capacity of the structure supporting the hoist.

Section 14.4:

The rated capacity of a crane or hoist must not be exceeded.

Section 14.5(1):

The rated capacity of a crane or hoist must be permanently indicated on the superstructure, hoist and load block of the equipment, except as provided by subsection (3), and must on a crane or hoist manufactured after January 1, 1999, be indicated in SI (metric) units.

POLICY

Officers will order out of service any hoist installation where the rated load capacity marked on the hoist is greater than the safe working load marked on its supporting structure.

The hoist installation shall not come back into use until section 14.11(1) has been complied with. Among the methods of complying are:

  • replacing the hoist with one having a rated capacity equal to or less than the safe working load of the support structure; and
  • obtaining a certificate from a professional engineer that the support structure has a safe working load equal to or greater than the hoist capacity, and marking the support structure accordingly.

It is not permissible to downgrade the capacity of a hoist simply by posting on the hoist a rated capacity equal to the safe working load of the support structure.

PRACTICE

For any relevant PRACTICE information, readers should consult the Guidelines available on the WCB website.


EFFECTIVE DATE: August 1, 2001
AUTHORITY: s. 14.11(1), Occupational Health and Safety Regulation
CROSS REFERENCES: ss. 14.4 and 14.5(1), Occupational Health and Safety Regulation
HISTORY: Housekeeping changes were made on March 1, 2005 to reflect the October 29, 2003 changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation ("OHSR"). This Item originally replaced Policy No. 56.04 of the former Prevention Division Policy and Procedure Manual.
Effective October 29, 2003, the reproduction of section 14.4 of the OHSR in this Item was revised to reflect its amendment.
This Item results from the 2000/2001 "editorial" consolidation of all prevention policies into the Prevention Manual. The POLICY in this Item merely continues the substantive requirements of Policy No. 56.04, as they existed prior to the Effective Date, with any wording changes necessary to reflect legislative and regulatory changes since Policy No. 56.04 was issued.
APPLICATION: This policy applies to all hoists where the hoist's load capacity exceeds the load capacity of the support structure on and after August 1, 2001.

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Policies Part 14 - Tower Cranes

Policy Item R14.81-1
RE: Cranes and Hoists - Tower Cranes - Limit Devices
BACKGROUND

1. Explanatory Notes
Section 14.81 sets out the requirements for load limiting devices on tower cranes.

2. The Regulation
Section 14.81:

(1) A tower crane must have automatic travel limit switches and automatic overload protection devices that prevent overloading at any trolley position, the load block from travelling beyond the highest allowable position specified by the manufacturer and the trolley from travelling beyond the allowable limit specified by the manufacturer.

(2) Limit devices on a tower crane must be tested at the beginning of each work shift or more frequently if specified by the crane manufacturer.

(3) Any malfunction of an automatic limit or safety device on a tower crane must be remedied before the crane is used.

POLICY

Unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer, load-limiting devices must be tested in the following manner:

  • connect test blocks #1 and #2 by a wire rope of sufficient length to permit block #1 to be raised clear of the ground without lifting block #2;
  • attach the crane load hook to the lifting eye of block #1 and lift the block clear of the ground; and
  • continue the lift until the load limiting switch is activated, or block #2 is clear of the ground.

The load limit switch is correctly adjusted if the crane will lift and hold test block #1, but will not lift the combined weight of test block #1 and #2.

Inability to lift test block #1, or ability to lift both blocks #1 and #2, indicates the need for adjustment of the load limit switch.

If the crane is able to lift both test blocks #1 and #2, the crane must not be used until the load limit switch is correctly adjusted and a satisfactory test has been made.

PRACTICE

For any relevant PRACTICE information, readers should consult the Prevention Division's Guidelines available on the WCB website.


EFFECTIVE DATE: August 1, 2001
AUTHORITY: s. 14.81, Occupational Health and Safety Regulation
CROSS REFERENCES:  
HISTORY: Replaces Policy No. 56.42(5) of the Prevention Division Policy and Procedure Manual
APPLICATION: This Item results from the 2000/2001 "editorial" consolidation of all prevention policies into the Prevention Manual. The POLICY in this Item merely continues the substantive requirements of Policy No. 56.42(5), as they existed prior to the Effective Date, with any wording changes necessary to reflect legislative and regulatory changes since Policy No. 56.42(5) was issued.



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