Section 296-78-770. Operators.

(1) Cranes shall be operated only by regular crane operators, authorized substitutes who have had adequate experience and training under the supervision of a competent operator, or by crane repair person or inspectors.

(2) No person under the age of eighteen years shall be permitted to operate a crane.

(3) Operators shall be required to pass a practical examination limited to the specific type of equipment to be operated. Operators shall meet the following physical qualifications:

(a) Have vision of at least 20/30 Snellen in one eye, and 20/50 in the other, with or without corrective lenses.

(b) Be able to distinguish red, green, and yellow, regardless of position of colors, if color differentiation is required for operation.

(c) Hearing, with or without hearing aid, must be adequate for the specific operation.

(d) A history of epilepsy or an uncorrected disabling heart condition shall be cause for a doctor decision to determine qualifications to operate a crane.

(4) Hands shall be kept free when going up and down ladders. Articles which are too large to go into pockets or belts shall be lifted to or lowered from the crane by hand line. (Except where stairways are provided.)

(5) Cages shall be kept free of clothing and other personal belongings. Tools, extra fuses, oil cans, waste and other articles necessary in the crane cage shall be stored in a tool box and not left loose on or about the crane.

(6) The operator shall familiarize himself fully with all crane rules and with the crane mechanism and its proper care. If adjustments or repairs are necessary, he shall report the same at once to the proper authority.

(7) The operator shall not eat, smoke or read while actually engaged in the operation of the crane.

(8) The operator or someone especially designated shall lubricate all working parts of the crane.

(9) Cranes shall be examined for loose parts or defects each day on which they are in use.

(10) Sawdust, oil or other debris shall not be allowed to accumulate to create a fire, health or slipping hazard.

(11) Operators shall avoid, as far as possible, carrying loads over workers. Loads shall not be carried over employees without sounding an audible warning alarm.

(12) Whenever the operator finds the main or emergency switch open, he shall not close it, even when starting on regular duty, until he has made sure that no one is on or about the crane. He shall not oil or repair the crane unless the main switch is open.

(13) If the power goes off, the operator shall immediately throw all controllers to "off" position until the power is again available.

(14) Before closing the main switch the operator shall make sure that all controllers are in "off" position until the power is again available.

(15) The operator shall pay special attention to the block, when long hitches are made, to avoid tripping the limit switch.

(16) The operator shall recognize signals only from the person who is supervising the lift except for emergency stop signals. Operating signals shall follow established standard crane signals as illustrated in WAC 296-78-830 of this chapter. Whistle signals may be used where one crane only is in operation. Cranes shall have audible warning device which shall be sounded in event of emergency.

(17) Before starting to hoist, the operator shall place the trolley directly over the load to avoid swinging it when being hoisted.

(18) The operator shall not make side pulls with the crane except when especially instructed to do so by the proper authority.

(19) When handling maximum loads, the operator shall test the hoist brakes after the load has been lifted a few inches. If the brakes do not hold, the load shall be lowered at once and the brakes adjusted or repaired.

(20) Bumping into runway stops or other cranes shall be avoided. When the operator is ordered to engage with or push other cranes, he shall do so with special care for the safety of persons on or below cranes.

(21) When lowering a load, the operator shall proceed carefully and make sure that he has the load under safe control.

(22) When leaving the cage the operator shall throw all controllers to "off" position and open the main switch.

(23) If the crane is located out of doors the operator shall lock the crane in a secure position to prevent it from being blown along or off the track by a severe wind.

(24) Railroad cars shall not be pulled along the tracks with sidepulls on an overhead crane.

(25) Operators shall not move the crane or a load unless floor signals are clearly understood.

(26) The rated lifting capacity of a crane shall not be exceeded. If any doubt exists about the weight of a load which might exceed the rated capacity, the foreman in charge must be contacted before any attempt is made to lift the load. The foreman shall determine that the load is within the rated capacity of the crane or the load shall not be lifted.

(27) Crane operators and floorpersons shall coordinate their activities on every lift or movement of the crane. Both the operator and signalperson shall clearly understand any problem a movement might create with regard to surrounding materials, structures, equipment or personnel.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, 49.17.050 and 49.17.240. WSR 81-18-029 (Order 81-21), § 296-78-770, filed 8/27/81.]

RCW 49.17.040, 49.17.050 and 49.17.240. WSR 81-18-029 (Order 81-21), § 296-78-770, filed 8/27/81.

Rules

296-78-830,