To help overhead lifting equipment owners, operators, maintenance, and safety personnel ensure the safest workplace, the fourth annual Overhead Lifting Safety Webinar Series (www.mhi.org/overheadsafety) will be held this October through November, 2021. Previously presented in conjunction with MHI’s ProMat and MODEX shows, the Safety Series will be held this year in a weekly webinar format on Thursdays from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern time, starting October 28. Registration is now open for each of the 1-hour-long webinars via www.mhi.org/overheadsafety. The first 50 registrants will receive a special discount of $50, reducing the full $300 cost for the sessions to $250.

The four sessions are presented by MHI’s Overhead Alliance, which includes the Crane Manufacturers Association of America (CMAA), the Hoist Manufacturers Institute (HMI), and the Monorail Manufacturers Association (MMA). Designed for safety, plant operations and plant maintenance personnel responsible for overhead lifting cranes and hoists, the series will include presentations and Q&A from several industry experts and a representative from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Participants will gain practical information about crane, hoist, and monorail inspections; safety maintenance; and best practices for the safe operation and maintenance of equipment. The four-part series is scheduled as follows:

• October 28 – Dangers From Above: Integrating Overhead Lifting into a Resilient Safety Strategy | Your safety program’s goal is to ensure employees know how to perform their jobs safely and without injury so they can go home to their families each night. Panelists will share their company’s safety strategy and best practices for integrating with overhead lifting. Our safety program session will include presentations on safety program examples including overhead lifting from top-performing companies, followed by a roundtable discussion on topics related to implementing and fine-tuning a safety program with special considerations for addressing overhead lifting.
• November 4: OSHA Overhead Lifting Safety Review and Presentation of Upcoming Initiatives | Using crane, hoist and monorail systems for overhead lifting in general industry is not only crucial, but also can be the heartbeat of an operation! Even with prevention programs in place, hazards are going to always be present in any industry. Assessing past performance has long been a way of identifying potential hazards and mitigating risk. With that said, what are the most cited OSHA standards for overhead lifting operation in general industry? What is the total overhead lift injuries reported to OSHA each year? How many families were affected by a workplace fatality involving overhead lifting operations? What resources does OSHA have to assist employers and employees in preventing workplace injuries and illnesses? Prevention saves lives, prevents injuries, and even helps businesses save money. That’s why prevention has to be everyone’s goal.
• November 11: Overhead Lifting Safety Innovations and Panel Discussion | Technology is available to help overhead crane and hoist operators, maintenance personnel, owners, safety professionals, purchasers and specifiers address the challenges inherent to overhead lifting. These challenges include avoiding obstacles in the path of crane and/or hoist movement, safely operating multiple cranes on a common runway, preventing load sway, and ensuring the load is positioned properly beneath the hoist for safe lifting. Solutions are available at the time of equipment purchase or as an aftermarket modernization to protect the people, product and property associated with these overhead lifting challenges. Our panel of solutions experts will introduce “no-fly” zones (restricted area access), off-center pick detection and prevention, auto-centering above the load, sway control, automated positioning, auto-dispatch, collision avoidance, and crane/hoist monitoring and answer the most frequently asked questions about this technology.
• November 18: Best Practices for Safe Operation of Below-the-Hook Lifting Equipment | Below the Hook Lifting Equipment is designed to improve the safety and efficiency of material handling, however, user training on the proper operation and care of this equipment is often overlooked. This session will provide an in-depth review of best practices for the proper use of Below the Hook Lifting Equipment and will also include discussion on topics related to maintenance and inspection of this equipment to ensure maximum safety and service life. Attendees will gain insight on how to address areas of concern related to equipment owner/operator skills and knowledge and will gain awareness on the resources that are available to assist them.

In addition, registrants who complete all four sessions will receive a certificate of completion and the following product specifications (a $260 value):

• CMAA Specification 70 – Specifications for Top Running Bridge & Gantry Type Multiple Girder Electric Overhead Traveling Cranes
• CMAA Specification 74 – Specifications for Top Running & Under Running Single Girder Electric Traveling Cranes Utilizing Under Running Trolley Hoist
• CMAA Specification 78 – Standards and Guidelines for Professional Services Performed On Overhead and Traveling Cranes and Associated Hoisting Equipment
• CMAA Specification 79 – Crane Operator’s Manual
• HMI 100.74 – Lever Hoist Inspection and Maintenance Manual
• HMI 100.75 – Lever Hoist Operator’s Manual
• HMI 100.24 – Hoist Inspection and Maintenance Manual
• HMI 100.23 – Hoist Operator’s Manual
• MMA MH27.1 – Specifications for Patented Track Underhung Cranes and Monorail Systems
• MMA MH27.2 – Specifications for Enclosed Track Underhung Cranes and Monorail Systems

To register for the Overhead Alliance’s Overhead Lifting Safety Webinar Series, visit www.mhi.org/overheadsafety.