Embracing Safety and Efficiency: The Case for a Hands-Free Policy

The purpose of this policy is to prevent employees from directly contacting crane loads during lifting, positioning, rigging up or landing of suspended loads where possible therefore keeping hands, feet and body out of harm’s way. The most hazardous parts of a lifting operation are hoisting and landing of the load. Therefore, at these critical stages, personnel must be as far away from the load as possible in case the load shifts or drops. Once a load is connected to a mechanical lifting device, personnel should not handle or touch a load with any part of their body as the load is being lifted or before the load is properly set down and all potential energy is released. There will always be certain jobs which will require “hands-on” for final positioning. MOSTLY, but these may be times when due to restricted workspace, working from elevated work platforms, awkward angles and body posture, that hands will need to be used.