The DOE Hoisting and Rigging (H&R) Safety Advisory Committee Spring Meeting met on April 19-21, 1994, in Knoxville, TN. DOE personnel and contractors attended the meeting hosted by MMES for DOE's Oak Ridge Operations Office (OR).
The Committee, which is comprised of representatives from DOE Headquarters, operations, and area offices, recommends policy and provides comments on regulatory criteria to guide Headquarters development of the DOE-wide H&R program. This helps ensure that H&R activities are performed safely and efficiently. Since committee formation in 1990, the controlled distribution of the DOE Hoisting and Rigging Manual has grown from 950 to 1,600 copies.
One topic of major discussion included the complete revision of the Manual section that defines requirements for personnel qualification and training. Other topics included requirements for lifting personnel, load testing of cranes, and suspect fasteners.
A Crane and Rigging Workshop, developed by Wire Rope and Rigging Consultants (WRRC), allowed Committee members to participate in performance-based training activities to help evaluate their potential use at home site H&R training programs. WRRC led participants through a suggested training exercise to familiarize operators with inspection points which should be checked prior to operation. WRRC also demonstrated a crane simulator which may be used during crane operator training to emphasize safe operating parameters and the effect of a crane's configuration on its capacity.
For more information on the DOE H&R Safety Advisory Committee, contact Edward Patigalia, Committee Chairperson (EH-313), at (301)903-3972.