Crane & Rigging Conference Co-Located with CONEXPO-CON/AGG

Day-long event focuses on OSHA's new crane rule, managing crane liability, reading load charts and proper rigging

The Crane & Rigging Conference will welcome registered CONEXPO-CON/AGG attendees who wish to participate in the Crane Operator Rodeo adjacent to the Liebherr booth in the Gold lot at G-370.
The Crane & Rigging Conference will welcome registered CONEXPO-CON/AGG attendees who wish to participate in the Crane Operator Rodeo adjacent to the Liebherr booth in the Gold lot at G-370.

Fort Dodge, Iowa -- In March 2011, the Crane & Rigging Conference (CRC), an independent forum for crane and rigging professionals, will be held in conjunction with CONEXPO-CON/AGG in Las Vegas, Nev. The day's event will be held at the Riviera Convention Center, which is a short walk from CONEXPO's Gold Lot where most cranes at the show will be on display.

Five learning sessions will be held Friday, March 25, 2011, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration costs $275, and attendees must be registered for CONEXPO-CON/AGG to register for the CRC. Produced by Maximum Capacity Media, publisher of Crane Hot Line and Lift and Access magazines, the one day conference provides crane and rigging professionals a unique educational opportunity while they are in attendance at the biggest construction equipment tradeshow in North America. 

"As one of the two largest construction equipment expositions in the world, the show (CONEXPO-CON/AGG) typically hosts thousands of crane owners, operators, and rigging professionals,” said Guy Ramsey, president of Maximum Capacity Media. "Partnering CRC with CONEXPO makes it possible to promote the safe and productive use of cranes to a much larger audience."

"We placed extra focus on lifting equipment at the 2008 CONEXPO-CON/AGG and we want to build on that in 2011 and beyond," said Megan Tanel, vice president exhibitions and events for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), owners of the trade show. "Co-locating the Crane & Rigging Conference will help strengthen the value of our event for the lifting industry and the contractors that use lifting equipment."

CRC topics will be centered on promoting crane safety and improving risk management. The preliminary agenda includes the following sessions.

Managing a Crane Accident—Joe Collins a heavy lift and crane consultant with 25 years experience at Zachry Construction, San Antonio, Texas, will discuss what to do on an initial evaluation of an accident, how to rescue and care for the injured, safe steps for wreckage removal, and tips on rescuing a crane caught in a precarious position.

Limiting Your Exposure in an Accident—Brad Closson, president of CRAFT Forensic Services, Bonita, Calif., acknowledges that today’s crane operations documents can be tomorrow’s litigation nightmare. He will share real life examples demonstrating the impact of good and bad documentation practices; establish what the basics are for good documentation; and provide a list of questions you should ask about your current documentation practices.

Rating Charts and Overloading—Ron Kohner of Landmark Engineering Services Ltd., Roseville, Minn., will dispel myths concerning rating charts for mobile cranes by taking a look at what is involved in producing a rating chart. Understanding the interplay of stability and non-stability limiting factors on a chart can help promote safer crane operation.

Rigging for Success—Mike Gelskey, CEO of Lift-It Manufacturing Co., Los Angeles, Calif., will provide information for both sling users and inspectors about sling designs, angles, tension, center of gravity considerations, load factors, wear protection, environmental considerations, inspection systems, techniques, and removal from service criteria.

The Perfect Pick—How to Navigate OSHA’s New Crane Rules—This panel discussion with industry experts will guide you through the path to compliance. Moderated by Tudor Van Hampton, Engineering News-Record.

As part of its mission to promote crane safety, the CRC will welcome registered CONEXPO-CON/AGG attendees who wish to participate in the Crane Operator Rodeo adjacent to the Liebherr booth in the Gold lot at G-370. The Rodeo will be open during regular show hours March 22 through 26. Operators can try their hand on one of the two simulators provided by Crane Institute of America or on a Liebherr LTF 1045-4.1 crane.

For more information, visit crcconexpo.com

Latest