Warehouse crane safety rules.

TM 38-400/NAVSUP PUB 572/AFMAN 23-210 MCO 4450.14/DLAM 4145.12

weighted average). Above that level, headaches start,

h. Railroad tracks and unlevel roadways will be

and at higher concentrations, dizziness, fatigue, and

traversed at reduced speed, to reduce jarring of

general weakness are experienced.

Extreme

material, and at an angle.

concentrations of carbon monoxide are fatal.

i. Tractors will not be used to push or pull railcars.

b. Ventilation. When gasoline-driven equipment is

used in confined areas where adequate natural

6-62. Warehouse crane safety rules.

ventilation is not available, artificial ventilation must be

The following safety rules are applicable to warehouse

supplied to prevent the average concentration in any

crane operations (29 CFR 1910.180):

space exceeding 50 parts of carbon monoxide per

million parts of air (time weighted average). Such

a. When entering or leaving a warehouse, the

ventilation may be obtained from ventilating systems, by

crane boom must be lowered to clear doorways and

portable blowers, or both.

other overhead obstructions.

c. Rate of development. The amount of carbon

b. The weight of crane and load must not exceed

monoxide developed by gasoline-driven trucks is

floor load limits.

dependent on the size of the engine, the adjustment of

c. Prior to actual turning of the crane, the operator

the carburetor, the condition of the spark plugs, and

must use extreme caution to swing the crane boom

timing of the distributor. An average engine in normal

sufficiently to avoid posts and stacked materials.

operation will give off 1 cubic foot of carbon monoxide

d. Suspended loads will be carried as high as

per hour per horsepower.

possible on the crane line, without fouling topping gear,

d. Atmosphere tests. Since the value of 1 cubic

in order to reduce swinging of load. The boom will be as

foot of carbon monoxide generated per hour per

near perpendicular as possible.

horsepower is only approximate, decisions on the

e. Before moving or lifting the load, the operator

amount of ventilation required for various operations

will ascertain the approximate weight of load to be

should be determined by tests in working areas with

moved in relation to crane capacity.

appropriate carbon monoxide detectors. Such tests

should be made regularly, since conditions of engines

f: Before moving the load, the operator will

may change, and it is difficult to determine the actual

determine what is to be done, where the load is to go,

amount of ventilation being furnished, particularly where

and the route to be traversed.

natural ventilation is used.

g. When the operator leaves the crane, a crane

e. Safety precautions. Gasoline engines in trucks

load will never be left suspended.

should be turned off when not in use. Gasoline engines

h. Sling lines will be securely attached, spread,

should not be permitted to idle in standby service for

and centered in relation to the load and, if necessary,

longer than 30 seconds. Gasoline engines should be

properly padded at edge crossings to assure safety and

checked at frequent intervals with a motor analyzer and

protection to material.

readjusted for maximum performance and minimum

i. Ditches, railroad tracks, and other recessed or

carbon monoxide generation. Personnel will not be

raised crossings will be crossed at right angles to

permitted to work in buildings where concentration of

prevent undue swing of load.

carbon monoxide is greater than 50 parts per million

parts of air (time weighted average).

6-63. Carbon monoxide.

a. Characteristics. Carbon monoxide, a colorless,

6-64. Auxiliary equipment.

odorless, toxic gas, is contained in varying amounts in

a. Exhaust gas purification devices. Exhaust gas

the exhausts of almost all internal combustion engines.

purification devices of various types, designs, and

An engine with a rich mixture produces far more carbon

effectiveness are available from commercial sources as

monoxide than an engine with a lean mixture. When a

a component of an exhaust pipe or as a muffler for

cold engine is fired, the development of carbon

attachment to petroleum-fueled powered MHE and

monoxide is much greater than when firing an engine

vehicles. These devices are designed, when properly

that is warm. Carbon monoxide replaces the oxygen in

attached and maintained, to prevent accumulation of

the blood stream, in proportion to the amount being

lethal, toxic, and irritating exhaust gases in excess of

breathed; until the concentration has built up to a

the permissible limits established by the American

considerable amount, ill effects are not experienced.

Standards Association Code for Allowable Concentration

Most persons may breathe each working day, without

Car-

harm, air in which the concentration increases to 50

parts of carbon monoxide per million parts of air (time

6-26