49
NEWS
NOVEMBER 2013
ACT
success
INSPIRING PRESENTERS
AL ABEL
, a Lifting Specialist with Mazzella
Companies, followed up on day two with
his popular presentation: Rig it Right and
You Won’t Go Wrong.
Abel has been a Lifting Specialist, as
well as Safety Manager for Mazzella
Companies, headquartered in Cleveland,
Ohio, for almost 20 years. He travels
throughout the country promoting safe
lifting practices for companies of all sizes.
He also currently holds the certification
from ITI as a Certified Inspector; OSHA
Safety and Health Compliance; Crane
Training USA–Inspector Certification; and
is a certified Crosby trainer.
Abel’s presentation emphasized the
stance that no matter how many cranes
or hoists you have, or even if you don’t
have any, safe lifting concepts can be
applied to any workplace. He discussed
the applicability of ASME’s B30 standard
to cranes, hardware, slings and below-the-
hook lifting devices. Abel also highlighted
examples of “what you never want to hear
anyone say regarding rigging and lifting.”
Following Abel on the second day of
presentations,
KLAUS MEISSNER,
Director,
Product Integrity, Terex Cranes Germany
GmbH, educated the audience on: Mobile
Crane Safety When Working in the Wind.
Meissner began working in the crane
industry at Demag in Zweibruecken,
Germany, in 1988, now known as Terex
Cranes Germany GmbH. Since 2002, he’s
been leading R&D for all telescopic and
crawler cranes at Zweibruecken and, as
Director, is responsible for product safety
coordination and intellectual property
management. Meissner is an expert for
mobile crane approval, appointed by the
German Health and Safety Authority, and
works with different European standards
committees on crane and safety standards.
His presentation stressed the reality that
working with wind turbines isn’t the only
application where mobile cranes encounter
wind. He raised the question: “What about
lifting loads with large sail areas and
when traveling partially erected onsite?”
Meissner’s session underscored the
effects of wind on crane parts and loads,
precautions when lifting and standard
assumptions for load chart calculations.
jobsite to the front office.
Additionally, the Labor Committee
meeting enjoyed a significant distinction
this year, as General President James
Callahan, International Union of
Operating Engineers, was in attendance.
Callahan addressed questions and
concerns from the audience covering
a range of topics including hours of
service, new initiatives, uniformity on
standards, and OSHA compliance. The
Labor Committee meeting was one of
three
committee meetings to kick-
off the conference on the morning of day
one – setting the tone for what emerged as
one of the more uplifting and educational
SC&RA events of the year.
Now, let’s take a look at those numbers.
Over
500
attendees landed at this
year’s Workshop. In addition to first-rate
accommodations, each guest enjoyed
the numerous occasions to meet and
greet from within a balanced number
of receptions and related networking
opportunities.
Representing
nine
different countries,
Industry professionals traveled in from
nine different countries this year and
filled a variety of educational sessions,
committee meetings and presentations.
The top issues of the day in Crane and
Rigging were addressed to enthusiastic
audiences all week.
David Cowley,
with TNT Crane &
Rigging, presided
over most of
the week’s
presentations.
24
international attendees made their
way stateside for this year’s event, and were
greeted with the type of hospitality that
reinforces one’s pride in the industry and
this association.
A record
80
booths lined the
spirited exhibit center. Both exhibitors and
attendees alike had a chance to interact
during the largest-ever exhibit floor for
this event. Products and services geared to
the needs of the industry were on display
within a setting intimate enough for
professionals on both sides of the booth to
exchange valuable questions and answers.
The First-Timers’ Briefing brought day
one to a close, and was supported by
66
attendees. Participants had a chance to put
a name to a face, and become acquainted
with SC&RA officers and staff.
The “Exhibit Center Only” pass created
by SC&RA had
nine
members
participating. This system allows
exhibitors to invite up to
three
attendees or clients of their choice.
SC&RA expects this feature to grow in
popularity and believes it will serve to
increase a wide variety of member support
and participation at future events.
■
Having so many quality exhibitors in one
room allows fellow SC&RA members to
easily find one another, thus enabling a more
efficient platform for the growth of ideas and
any resulting opportunities.
THE AUTHOR
MIKE CHALMERS
serves
as editor-in-chief for Thrive
Creative Services LLC, a
creative copywriting agency
based in Chicago.
