September 15, 2016 – WorkSafeBC has updated its mobile crane safety checklist, developed as a tool to help inspectors and operators ensure they are following all of the applicable Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) regulations.
The crane inspection checklist “serves as a compliance checklist and a reminder to operators and employers to go through the checklist each and every time they use a crane in order to capture all the required and important pieces to ensure the safety of setting up, maintaining and operating a crane,” said Al Johnson, vice-president of prevention services with WorkSafeBC.
The latest version of the checklist, updated in June, provides specific OHS references for each aspect of safe crane set up and operation. For example, there are provisions in the checklist to confirm if the operator is certified in B.C. and that the crane inspection is current. There is also a crane lift capacity analysis section, where descriptions and weights for load information can be added.
The checklist was initially developed for internal use by WorkSafeBC crane officers as a cheat sheet when they go out an inspect cranes. However, crane owners and operators said they also wanted to use the checklist as a safety tool. Johnson said the idea with the checklist is that each and every time they operate the crane or use the crane at a specific location they would complete the checklist. “If they are still unclear what the regulations mean when they do a deep dive, then they should give us a call and our people will assist them,” he said.
The checklist can be downloaded from the WorkSafeBC website by searching for the mobile crane inspection checklist in the search function.
