OSHA’s New Policy on Monorail Hoists in Construction

OSHA announced a new enforcement policy that excludes monorail hoists from the requirements of Subpart CC – Cranes and Derricks in Construction, as long as employers meet other OSHA requirements.

The policy change was made in response to comments from stakeholders and in recognition that a monorail hoist – which is attached to a fixed monorail mounted on equipment such as trucks, trailers, or scaffolding systems – is significantly different from other cranes and derricks in construction.

Some monorail hoists can be extended and contracted in only a fixed horizontal direction. They do not rotate, swing on a hinge, or boom out much farther than the equipment on which they are mounted. They are often used in construction to hoist precast concrete components, storage tanks, and mechanical equipment.

Under the new policy, the agency will not cite employers for failing to meet the requirements of Subpart CC if they meet the requirements of the overhead hoists and general training standards.

The general industry requirements for monorail hoists remain intact.

“This enforcement policy is a commonsense approach to addressing industry concerns while also ensuring workers are protected,” said Dean McKenzie, director of OSHA’s Directorate of Construction.

Electronic submission of injury and illness records to OSHA

Available August 1st

 

 

 

The Injury Tracking Application (ITA), will be accessible from the ITA webpage on August 1, 2017, where employers will be able to electronically submit required injury and illness data from their completed 2016 OSHA form 300A. The deadline for submitting the 2016 data is December 1, 2017.

The data submission process involves four steps:
(1) Creating an establishment;
(2) Adding 300A summary data;
(3) Submitting data to OSHA; and
(4) Reviewing the confirmation email.

The secure website offers three options for data submission manual entry, file upload and electronic data transmission.

The new rule (proposed for delay) requires certain employers (250+ Employees or 20+ Employees for certain high risk industries) to electronically submit injury and illness data that they are already required to record on their onsite OSHA Injury and Illness forms.

The ITA webpage also includes information on reporting requirements, a list of frequently asked questions and a link to request assistance with completing the form.