83
COMMENT
Who’s who at the
Specialized Carriers
& Rigging Association
CHAIRMAN
Michael Battaini
Sheedy Drayage
San Francisco, CA
PRESIDENT
Ron Montgomery
Intermountain Rigging & Heavy Haul
Salt Lake City, UT
VICE PRESIDENT
Alan Barnhart
Barnhart Crane and Rigging
Memphis, TN
TREASURER
Delynn Burkhalter
Burkhalter
Columbus, MS
ASSISTANT TREASURER
Bruce Forster
Rigging Gear Sales
Dixon, IL
ALLIED INDUSTRIES GROUP CHAIRMAN
David Wittwer,
Hays Companies
Salt Lake City, UT
CRANE & RIGGING GROUP CHAIRMAN
David Cowley,
TNT Crane & Rigging
Longview, TX
LADIES GROUP CHAIRWOMAN
Cathy Moore,
NBIS
Atlanta, GA
TRANSPORTATION GROUP CHAIRMAN
Geary Buchanan,
Buchanan Hauling &
Rigging
Fort Wayne, IN
SC&R FOUNDATION OFFICERS
President:
Robert Moore,
NBIS
Atlanta, GA
Vice President:
Stephanie Bragg,
Bragg Companies
Long Beach, CA
Treasurer:
Jim Sever
PSC Crane & Rigging,
Piqua, OH
O
n December 10, 2013, the
New York City Council
introduced legislation
proposing that the allowable age of
any crane in use in the city shall be
no greater than 25 years from the
manufacture date. Certain section
provisions notwithstanding, the
certificate of operation for a crane that
exceeds 25 years from the manufacture
date will be deemed to have expired.
Our position on this legislation at
SC&RA underscores our continuing
belief that arbitrary and emotional
rules, regulations and requirements
imposed on any industry can lead to
unwarranted and questionable precedent
in other jurisdictions. SC&RA is taking
the issue very seriously and will not
react or advocate this position without
first properly vetting the issue with
our members and industry partners –
manufacturers, buyers and operators
alike. SC&RA has formed a task force to
thoroughly research the issue and will
ensure our voice is heard and backed up
with sound, credible information.
Whereas we applaud the New York
City Council’s commitment to safety,
we believe there needs to be an effort to
work cooperatively with the industry and
focus combined efforts more efficiently
on the core causes of accidents and
losses: human error.
Confronting legislation
SC&RA is also determined to confront
legislation that stands to obstruct
operational success and business growth
for our many valued members across the
industry. While many companies buy,
operate and sell equipment within the
25-year cycle, there are numerous cranes
operating safely within the industry that
exceed this age limit. Legislation like
this limits what an operating company
can accomplish on the jobsite, beneath
the banner of standardized regulation,
and ultimately weakens the industry by
restricting a company’s access to capable,
functional equipment. It also sets in
place a practice whereby legislative
decisions are achieved and implemented
without the consent of the industry, or
the proper analysis of proven data and
evidence.
All options should be addressed before
laws are put into place on an issue that
currently sits shrouded in questions
and potential solutions. One of those
potential solutions highlights the long-
term value of continuous operator
training and qualifications, proper
equipment inspections and maintenance
– all of which can help ensure that cranes
and other jobsite equipment is safe
and job-worthy. This could boost the
operational age of a piece of equipment
well beyond what a regulatory board
decides is suitable. And does New
York, and the many other jurisdictions
around the country, have equipment in
operation that would be found subject to
these rules? Of course they do. Are these
jurisdictions prepared to eliminate this
equipment, and do they have the funds
to replace this machinery – or will such
replacement become a taxpayer issue?
And how will companies be evaluated
as their cranes near the 25-year limit
of use? Will a company’s standing in
various jurisdictions become negatively
impacted by the age of their cranes and
other operational equipment? Will banks
and related institutions, even investors,
find themselves as willing to support
a project if a company’s equipment
has been deemed near its operational
end, or altogether defunct? Will crane
manufacturers begin to produce a piece
of machinery built to last only 25 years
– which puts at risk every single person
involved? Is a 25-year-old steel bridge
or building frame now also at risk of
finding itself expired?
Needless to say, this projected ruling
has been hastily brought to the front of a
conversation still in its infancy – encased
in more questions than answers – with
scarcely enough evidence to base a
conclusive ruling upon. We’ll continue
to do our utmost in representing
the success and integrity of SC&RA
members, and the industry overall, in
response to this proposed legislation.
■
MARCH 2014
ACT
The 25-year limit on
cranes is a pressure
point in New York City.
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
Joel Dandrea
5870 Trinity Centre
Parkway,
Suite 200
Centreville, VA
20120
Ph: 703-698-0291
Fax: 703-698-0297
Age at issue
