SC&RA Crane & Rigging Workshop Slated for Louisville in September

June 26, 2012—More than 450 attendees are expected at the Crane & Rigging Workshop, which will be held Sept. 19-21 at the Marriott Louisville Downtown, Louisville, Ky. This year, the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA) will commemorate the 35th anniversary of the workshops, which are the association’s most important crane and rigging events of the year. 

Opening session speaker Jim Maddux, director of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) directorate of construction, will discuss his agency’s Cranes and Derricks in Construction Standard, as well as numerous pending rulings and their direct, long-range impact on the crane and rigging industry.

Other sessions at the Crane & Rigging Workshop will include:

• The Evolution of Safety in the Crane and Rigging Industry—Daniel Erwin, corporate safety director, Turner Bros. Crane & Rigging, will examine factors to consider in determining overall company safety, the role played by ever-changing government and industry regulations in the safe performance of jobs, and the necessity of specific qualifications and knowledge for today’s safety professionals.

• Make Transportation Your Business—Janet Kavinoky, executive director, transportation & infrastructure, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and vice president, Americans for Transportation Mobility Coalition, will describe the changing political and federal budgetary environment and what it means for maintaining, modernizing and expanding infrastructure. She also will address current efforts to pass long-term surface transportation reauthorization legislation.  

• Are You Ready for 11/10/14? What Simply Reading OSHA’s Personnel Qualification Requirements May NOT Tell You)—Graham Brent, executive director, National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators, will cover federal requirements for the qualification of crane operators, signalers, and riggers in light of OSHA’s recently published interpretations. Options for the qualification of other personnel such as inspectors and lift directors will also be reviewed.

• The Four Commitments of a Winning Team—Mark Eaton, a former NBA All Star center for the Utah Jazz,  will deliver a keynote address that demonstrates how safety in the workplace is a lot like playing basketball, with each player having a specific role that is critical to the success of the team.  This session will show attendees how to turn their employees into winners by applying the concepts that create sports superstars in any business.

• Air Caster Technology Makes Loads as Light as Air —Terry Pitsch, engineering manager, AeroGo, will explain how air caster systems, which harness the power of compressed air, can be faster and easier than conventional methods when moving oversize, awkward, uneven or heavy loads up to 5,000 tons through tight spaces by eliminating the need to disassemble the load prior to movement.

• Social Media-It’s Changing the Industry—Jacob Voncannon, business development associate, WHECO Corporation, will demonstrate how a company in the crane or heavy haul industry can use social media to attract the right customers. Additionally, he will explain the value of search engine optimization (SEO) and show how SEO can help potential customers find any company more quickly.

• Understanding the Importance of Proper Equipment Inspections—Jeffrey Hammons, vice president, risk management, AmQuip Crane Rental, will discuss how the promulgation of the federal OSHA Cranes and Derricks Standard in 2010 has made it even more important to properly inspect and maintain equipment to comply with regulations and increase durability.

• The Future of Energy and Its Effects on Construction—Steve Greene, vice president, National Center for Construction Education and Research, will address energy factors and trends influencing the current U.S. economy and its impact on the construction industry,  as well as tactics and strategies that companies can implement to combat economic hardships.

• The Top 10 Crane & Rigging Losses and How to Avoid Them—A panel from NBIS that includes Michelle Lorenz, claims & litigation manager; Clifton Shepherd, senior claims manager; and Bill Smith, executive vice president, claims & risk management, will cover essential elements of a safety program, the CSA crane load securement program, assembly and disassembly of cranes, OSHA standards and inspections; and an update on B30 standards.   

• 2012 Rigging Jobs of the Year—Representatives from Barnhart, Atlas Industrial Contractors, and George Young Company will present details of this year’s winners, which include the replacement of large components at a Wisconsin nuclear plant, the rebuilding of a damaged 835-megawatt generator, and the relocation of a historic 103,000 pound monument.

   
This year’s Crane & Rigging Workshop concludes on Friday, September 21, with a tour of the Link-Belt Cranes plant in Lexington, Ky.  Travel by chartered bus and a barbecue lunch will be provided.

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 77 companies, a complimentary hot buffet lunch, and a grand prize drawing; and receptions, continental breakfasts, and refreshment breaks.