OSHA Hazard Information Bulletins
July 13, 1992
| MEMORANDUM FOR: |
REGIONAL ADMINISTRATORS |
| THROUGH: |
LEO CAREY
Director
Office of Field Programs |
| FROM: |
THOMAS J. SHEPICH
Director
Directorate of Technical Support |
| SUBJECT: |
Hazard Information Bulletin - Use of Improperly Sized
Wedges and Sockets in Boom Anchor Systems |
The Directorate of Technical Support issues Hazard Information Bulletins
(HIBs) in accordance with OSHA Instruction CPL 2.65 to provide relevant
information regarding potentially unrecognized safety and health hazards; and
inadequacies of materials, devices, techniques, or engineering controls. HIBs are initiated based on information provided by the field staff, studies,
reports and concerns expressed by safety and health professionals, employers,
and the public. Information is compiled based on a comprehensive evaluation
of available facts and latest literature. HIBs are normally prepared in
coordination with affected parties.
The Hartford Area Office investigated an accident involving a Link-Belt
crawler crane. The accident occurred when a wire rope was released as a
result of using a wrong wedge in the wire rope socket. The dead end of the
wire rope was equipped with wire rope clips but did not prevent the wedge and
wire rope from pulling through. The crane was lifting at or near its rated
capacity at the time of the accident.
Link-Belt Construction Equipment Company manufactures both fractional
(English) and metric dimensioned wire rope sockets and wedges for use with
all sizes of wire rope as provided on their product lines. Fractional size,
wedges and sockets are made in the United States and the metric dimensioned
wedges and sockets are made in Japan.
The key factor in the accident was that the size of the wedge was not
compatible to the wire rope that was in use. The wedge was physically
smaller than the appropriate size for the wire rope, thereby allowing the
wedge and the wire rope to pull through the back of the socket.
Link-Belt has issued to its known customers a technical bulletin in March,
1992 on affected models, tabulating the proper wedge part numbers, socket
part numbers and the corresponding wire ropes of metric sizes. Link-Belt
stated that the affected model cranes must be checked to ensure that the
correct size wedges and sockets are installed.
As conversion to metric is rapidly increasing, compliance and consultation
personnel should be aware of the potentially serious hazard of using metric
components which are not equivalent to the original English sized ones. The
manufacturer must be consulted regarding the proper metric replacement parts.
Please distribute this bulletin to all Area Offices, State Plan States and
Consultation Projects.
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