Edited by Rowena Davis
of the The Hazard Information Foundation, Inc.

Acknowledgments

The preparation of this research report involved discussion with many of my peers who have been providing expert testimony in crane and aerial lift litigation. Many thanks go to Ben Lehman, a retired Navy admiral, an engineering officer and licensed engineer who is extremely knowledgeable in metal failure modes. Richard Hughes, PE, with a Bachelors’ of Science in civil engineering and Masters’ degree in engineering science from Pennsylvania State University, has used his twenty years of experience to be exceedingly helpful with his intimate knowledge of the role of cranes and aerial lifts in the erection of 38-story buildings and bridges exceeding 1000-foot spans. Jim Lapping, PE, who has investigated and testified on the practice of stowing jib booms on mobile hydraulic telescoping boomed-cranes, has provided collaborative viewpoints concerning needed safety features. Dr. Lorna Middendorf, PE, a nationally recognized authority on human factors, has validated issued concerning human factors. George Peters, PE, author of the book Human Error: Causes and Control (a CRC Taylor and Francis publication), has for years been a supporter of the need to ensure that design of equipment controls is not error-provocative. Both Bill English, PE, and Nigel Ellis, PE, have over many years been leaders in pedestrian slip resistance and fall prevention. Jack Ainsworth, an electrical engineer, has long been a voluntary contributor of his expertise regarding the science involved in the detection of powerlines by proximity alarms. The observations of Mike McCann, safety director for The Center to Protect Workers’ Rights (CPWR), have provided insight to a number of hazards involving both cranes and aerial lifts. The dedication and work by all these individuals has contributed both to the research presented in this study and to the progress in the field of workplace safety.

The funding provided by The Center to Protect Workers’ Rights (CPWR) for this research paper has provided the opportunity to summarize the experience of safety professionals in construction. With this funding, HIFI was able to assemble many viewpoints for consideration and to select the most effective measures of hazard prevention from the myriad of expert opinions offered by so many talented engineers and safety professionals. Many and continued thanks to this worthy organization.

The observations presented in this study involve long-standing and valid opinions of Dennis Eckstine, a mechanical engineer who has for years been the safety director for Grove Cranes. For a research paper to be valid, differing concepts concerning how crane and aerial lift hazards can be best controlled must be taken into consideration.

The most important contributor to this research paper is Rowena Davis, HIFI’s editor and hazard analyst. It is a truism to say that engineers do not know how to write. Rowena has provided an outstanding and essential contribution to the study by ensuring that “English is written.” I can personally say that in many instances ideas apparent to my mind are confusing to the reader. Research of hazards and their control by the use of appliances or alternate, safer design is a very difficult subject for many reasons, and requires a very thoughtful clarity for all readers. Thanks again to Rowena.

David V. MacCollum PE CSP

May 2007