Ensuring overhead crane safety is critical for maintaining a compliant and efficient facility. Organizations like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) help create industry regulations that prioritize safety and operational excellence.
When your facility is audited, the auditor will evaluate your facility based on these regulations, with the ultimate goals of revealing potential risks, highlighting areas of improvement, and determining whether your operations meet industry standards.
Trying to see your facility through an auditor’s eyes can help you proactively address potential safety concerns, so you can stay ahead of compliance requirements and maintain an optimal working environment.
Here’s what an auditor might focus on or highlight during an evaluation.
OSHA: The Non-Negotiable Baseline
An auditor would likely begin with OSHA’s 29 CFR 1910.179, which serves as the legal backbone for overhead crane safety. Noncompliance with this ordinance can lead to serious safety hazards, fines, and even operational shutdowns. Here are the primary areas of scrutiny:
- Inspection Records: An auditor will likely ask to see your logs, including daily checks on hooks and hoists and monthly structural reviews. No documentation would constitute a violation, since OSHA requires thorough, up-to-date records to demonstrate ongoing safety diligence.
- Operator Training: Auditors will inquire about whether or not your operators are fully trained. They will want to see proof that they understand load limits and emergency protocols. Since untrained operators are a serious liability, competency is non-negotiable.
- Equipment Condition: OSHA enforces strict standards on equipment integrity to prevent catastrophic failures. No shortcuts are tolerated. Frayed cables or overloaded cranes will result in an immediate stop.
Remember that small oversights can lead to citations. Even something that seems to be minor, like a faded load rating sticker, could result in a violation; “minor” details like these can have major consequences.
ANSI/ASME: The Benchmark of Excellence
Beyond OSHA compliance, an auditor will turn to ANSI and ASME’s B30.2 standards. While these standards are technically not legally binding, they are considered best practices in the industry. These standards enhance safety and operational efficiency by focusing on:
- Design Standards: Cranes must withstand their loads with proper safety margins. Poor design or substandard equipment will not hold up to an auditor’s scrutiny.
- Operational Practices: Proper load handling and clear communication are critical. Auditors know that precision matters. They will check for sloppy rigging or unclear signals—both of which are not in accordance with ANSI standards.
- Signage and Labeling: ANSI demands clarity in signage; this ensures that workers have the information they need at a glance. If warnings or load ratings are not visible, auditors will take note.
Facilities that proactively follow ANSI standards are often recognized for fostering a strong safety culture rather than just meeting minimum compliance requirements.
How to Meet an Auditor’s Standards
Auditors don’t just point out flaws—they also explore and validate solutions.
MMI Hoist Systems offers auditor approved solutions like:
- Quality Equipment: Cranes that are built right, with solid components and clear ratings that make them audit-ready.
- Rigorous Inspections: Our technicians deliver through reports that meet OSHA detail requirements.
- Effective Training: MMI’s operator programs help build skilled, confident teams that are inspection-worthy.
- Proactive Maintenance: Cranes are kept in top shape with minimal issues and reduced downtime.
The Auditor’s Takeaway
In an auditor’s book, safety isn’t an optional bonus—it’s the very foundation that solid companies are built on. OSHA sets the rules, ANSI raises the bar, and companies like MMI Hoist Systems find ways to maintain compliance at every level.
Other facilities may cut corners, fail inspections, and face penalties, but MMI helps our partners excel under scrutiny.
Ready to build safer, more efficient, audit-ready facilities? With MMI’s solutions, thorough training, and a commitment to diligent maintenance, your facility can capture an auditor’s attention for all the right reasons. Contact MMI today—because when the auditor arrives, being prepared is the only way to truly succeed.