New hazard alert from Washington L&I: tower cranes

Tumwater, WA — A new hazard alert from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries outlines the roles, responsibilities and procedures of erecting and dismantling tower cranes.

Published in June, the alert is intended for tower crane owners, as well as contractors and their employees who use, erect and dismantle tower cranes. The two-page publication goes over planning and communication, as well as who can serve as an assembly/disassembly director – defined in the alert as “one who is competent and a qualified person, or a competent person assisted by one or more qualified people.”

According to OSHA standard 1926.32(m), a “qualified” person is “one who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or who by extensive knowledge, training, and experience, has successfully demonstrated his ability to solve or resolve problems relating to the subject matter, the work, or the project.”