SC&RA Crane & Rigging Workshop Set for September 21-23 in Philadelphia

(FAIRFAX, Va. June 16, 2011) - More than 350 attendees from around the world are expected at the Crane & Rigging Workshop to be held by the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA), September 21-23 at the Sheraton Philadelphia City Center, in Philadelphia, Pa. Started in 1977, the Workshops have become SC&RA’s most important crane and rigging event of the year.  

Opening session speaker John O’Leary, Rising Above, will use humorous anecdotes to guide attendees in identifying personal and professional goals in his presentation, Ignite Your Life! Discovering Five Keys to Unlock Passion, Potential and Impact. His life is proof of the power of the human spirit. As a nine-year-old, he was burned on 100 percent of his body and given less than a 1 percent chance of survival. After enduring months in the hospital, years of therapy, and dozens of surgical procedures (including amputation of all of his fingers), he has transformed his personal tragedy into a life of successful service to others.

As always, workshop sessions will feature some of the industry’s top professionals, including, in order of appearance:

• Preparing for OSHA’s Recent Climate Change—John Artz and Tressi Cordaro, both of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Steward, P.C., will cover developments at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA):  the people leading this Executive branch agency; OSHA’s enforcement crackdown, including new policies and penalty increases; and regulatory developments, including recordkeeping and recording of musculoskeletal disorders; and OSHA’s proposed rule on injury and illness prevention.
• Engine Emissions and Cranes (breakout session)—Allen Schaefer, Diesel Technology Forum, will highlight what to expect from the new generation of Tier 4 clean diesel technologies and what the opportunities and pressures are for improving existing engines and equipment. Additionally, he will cover Tier 4, diesel retrofit grants and new legislative proposals for Clean Construction.
• Hoist Application and Safety (breakout session)—Peter Cooke, Columbus McKinnon,  will focus on lever hoist and chainfall applications, hoist identification, recognizing which regulations apply to hoisting equipment, OSHA and American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) inspection and testing requirements, and specific hoist safety tips every employee needs to know. He also will present several case studies.
• Developing Lift Plans that Work—David Duerr, P.E., 2DM Associaties, Inc., will lay out what is needed to create a good lift plan and how the rigging contractor can work with the owner/general contractors to be sure that their lift plan requirements can be met in a timely manner. In addition to improving job safety and efficiency, such plans are increasingly required by general contractors and owners.
• The Future of Wind Energy (breakout session)—Jerry Grundtner, Mortenson Construction, who has been in the wind industry since the mid 90s, will address the past and present state of the wind industry as well as current and future wind technology, government involvement and how the future of wind energy will evolve. He will also discuss what companies such as Mortensen look for in their crane suppliers beyond price and how safety plays a key role in every project they undertake.
• Crane Visibility - Sight Matters (breakout session)—Twan Pelders, Orlaco Products, B.V., will explore the new tools available to crane operators that allow visibility of a load at all times. He will demonstrate how a vision system can increase safety, reduce damage and increase efficiency on projects.
• Making Sense of it All: Rating Charts, Overloading, Sideloading and Load Testing— Ron Kohner, P.E., Landmark Engineering Srv. Ltd., will explore how to make optimal use of the wealth of detailed data on electronic capacity displays that newest mobile cranes provide. He will explain what a rating chart does (and does not) tell a knowledgeable user.
• Proper Wire Rope Installation—Justin Brown, Python Wire Rope, and Tony Fastuca, ASC Industries, Inc., will cover several issues concerning cutting wire rope on the jobsite, unreeling wire rope from the spool, and measuring of rope diameter. They will review the most common methods to install ropes using cable grips, as well as wedge socket installation and block rotation.
• Bringing Your Safety Program into the 21st Century—Robert Moore, NBIS, will moderate a panel that includes Alan Barnhart, Barnhart Crane & Rigging; Jeff Hammons, AmQuip Crane Rental LLC; Ted Lekawa, George Young Company; and Bill Smith, NBIS. In addition to essential elements of a safety program, this session will highlight CSA crane load securement program; assembly and disassembly of cranes; OSHA standards and inspections; an update on B30 standards; and, real checklists and examples you can use in building your own company safety program.
• 2011 Rigging Jobs of the Year—Alan Barnhart, Barnhart Crane & Rigging, and Eduardo Ascione, Fagioli USA, Inc., will present details of this year’s winners, which include the removal and replacement of 720,000-pound stators in a nuclear plant in Veracruz, Mexico, the erection of 11 prefabricated coffer dam sections for the San Diego Water Authority, and the removal and replacement of two vessels from an existing structure at a refinery in Southern California.

Additionally, Workshop registration will include meetings of the SC&RA Crane & Rigging Group’s Safety Education & Training Committee, Labor Committee, and Governing Committee; an Exhibit Center that features products and services from more than 60 companies, a complimentary hot buffet lunch, and a Grand Prize Drawing; and receptions, continental breakfasts, and refreshment breaks.

Visit SC&RA's Crane & Rigging Workshop link to review the program, learn more about the hotel, print out a room reservation form, and register as an attendee or exhibitor. Or call SC&RA at (703) 698-0291 for additional information.