The recommendations in the 2016 Crane Technical Working Group Report identify “…a unique opportunity to fundamentally improve crane safety in New York City.” Further, the report highlights the continuous evolution of technological advances and best practices, enabling cranes to expand in reach and increase in specialization. The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) “…ability to regulate the crane industry, and the industry’s ability to mitigate hazards, will be improved by embracing the latest technological innovations.”
To improve crane safety and prevent future accidents, the Crane Technical Working Group makes 23 recommendations, divided into four topical areas of technology, standards, accountability, training, and licensing. “Using the latest technology” is the first topical area. The working group highlights how the crane industry operations and oversight are paper dependent, “…creating missed opportunities for recording and reviewing crane activities,” and lagging in adoption of new technology.
Seven recommendations in the topical area of “using the latest technology” include:
- Data loggers
- GPS tracking
- Electronic record keeping
- Anemometers
- Pinpoint forecasting
- Age limit
- Self-erecting tower cranes
5. Pinpoint forecasting: the Crane Technical Working Group states the importance of forecasting as a planning tool. When weather events and weather forecasts indicate that wind conditions will exceed the operating threshold for the crane, the contractor needs to secure the crane in advance. Generic weather forecasts, such as National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts, address wind conditions at a regional level, whereas wind conditions vary by local topology and by city block.
In summary, to fundamentally improve crane safety in New York City, the Crane Technical Working Group recommends that the New York City Department of Buildings “…mandate that contractors at large jobsites, or where utilizing a crane with a long boom / jib combination, engage a private service to provide pinpoint forecasting…” to project stakeholders, as opposed to generic weather forecasts, such as National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts.
(Source: 2016 Crane Technical Working Group Report)
More in the next blog about crane safety, weather events, weather risk, and the New York City Crane Safety Technical Working Group…