Synergist - April 2011

OSHA Releases Guidance on
Compliance with Cranes and
Derricks Rule

OSHA released guidance in March to help businesses comply with the recently published Cranes and Derricks in Construction rule.

OSHA published the rule in August

2010 to address the number of worker injuries and deaths associated with the use of cranes and derricks in construction. The rule also addresses technological advances in equipment since the old rule was issued in 1971.

“Over the past
four decades, we’ve continued to see a
significant number of worker injuries
and deaths from electrocution, crushed-
by and struck-by hazards while perform-
ing cranes and derricks operations,” said
David Michaels, assistant secretary of
Labor for Occupational Safety and
Health. “This guide will help employers
understand what they must do to protect
their workers from these dangerous,
sometimes fatal incidents.”
The document, “Small Entity Compli-
ance Guide for Cranes and Derricks in
Construction,” is divided into chapters
that correspond to sections of the stan-
dard. To access the document, visit
www.osha.gov/cranes-derricks/small_
entity.html. Other OSHA compliance
materials on crane-related topics are
available at www.osha.gov/cranes-
derricks/ index.html.

suggestions for improvements to the bill’s programming.

An amendment to the Public Health
Service Act, H.R. 847 was signed into
law on Jan. 2, 2011, by President Obama.
The bill established the World Trade Cen-
ter (WTC) Health Program, which pro-
vides medical monitoring for responders,
health evaluations for survivors, and
outreach services. In addition, the WTC
Health Program includes clinical data
collection and analysis, and calls for the
development of a research program on
health conditions resulting from 9/11.

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NIOSH Requests Comments on 9/11 Health and Compensation Act NIOSH is seeking comments on an implementation plan for the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 (H.R. 847), according to the March 7 Federal Register. On March 3, the agency held a public meeting in New York City where dozens of former firefighters, police officers and other stakeholders provided feedback and gave