ANSI/ASSE A10.4-2016 – Safety Requirements for Personnel Hoists and Employee Elevators on Construction and Demolition Sites has been released, revising and updating the past version of the standard.
This standard applies to hoists and elevators that “(1) are not an integral part of buildings, (2) are installed inside or outside buildings or structures during construction, alteration, or demolition operations and (3) are used to raise and lower workers and other personnel connected with or related to the structure.”
ANSI/ASSE A10.4-2016 works to make these systems safe by setting specifications for the hoist structure, hoist enclosure, materials, machine used for driving, and landings and landing zones that make these components reliable over time. In addition, the standard gives recommendations on proper installation and personnel training, the two primary precautions, other than its construction, that assure the hoist’s safe use.
These recommendations should be used in cohesion with OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1431, which addresses the requirements for personnel hoists in the United States.
ANSI/ASSE A10.4-2016 and the corresponding OSHA requirements are very much necessary for the proper installation and use of personnel hoists and employee elevators, since these systems introduce new variables in what is already an otherwise hazardous environment. There is always some level of danger in any kind of construction site, and, by elevating workers onto different building levels that might be incomplete or unstable, hoists can increase imminent and potential threats.
And, the dangers deriving from misuse of hoists and elevators are not just idle fears, but have been seen in recent years, occasionally to fatal results. Back in 2002, on 42 Street and Madison in New York City, two construction workers were killed when a temporary elevator plummeted 19 stories.
Similarly, during the summer of 2015, in Somerville, Massachusetts, a temporary hoist fell off the side of the building where it was operating, killing one worker and leaving the other in serious condition. The misuse of these lift systems is not a historical practice, and it is still prevalent today.
However, through compliance with ANSI/ASSE A10.4-2016 and governmental regulations, supervisors at construction and demolition sites are able to guarantee that their hoists can to increase the efficiency of their workplace through the transport of personnel and materials without compromising the safety of their workers. By following these guidelines, the hoists and elevators simply go up and down, without any unwanted consequences.
ANSI/ASSE A10.4-2016 – Safety Requirements for Personnel Hoists and Employee Elevators on Construction and Demolition Sites is now available on the ANSI Webstore.
