NEWS
9
JULY 2013
ACT
TNT Crane and Rigging
Inc. has designed a new Safe
Climb Ladder that aims to
provide a safer, more balanced
and comfortable way for
operators to access the cab
and deck of cranes.
“Unfortunately, transitioning
into the operators cab is
difficult and dangerous
with current ladder
configurations,” said Randy
Dobbs, executive vice
president of TNT. “The
operator is susceptible to
falls while opening the door
or entering the cab. His full
weight is borne on one of
the hand holds at a time
when he is generally off
balance transitioning into
the operators cab or leaning
TNT debuts crane
Safe Climb Ladder
against the door to open it.
It is very easy to slip while
opening the cab door and fall
backwards.”
TNT started by researching
current crane ladder systems,
which Dobbs said are
normally vertical and either
built into the side of the
crane or are small aluminum
ladders that hinge.
“We initially were road-
blocked by all the different
configurations and sizes,” he
said. “Mike [Appling, chief
executive officer of TNT] and
I met with Bobby Frederick,
a scaffold manufacturer, and
began to pull together various
pieces to start to implement a
design.”
TNT eventually came up
with a portable staircase
that includes handrails and
attaches to the mobile crane
by means of a mounting
system. The mounting system
allows the staircase to be
moved to various positions
along the deck to provide
access to other areas on the
crane.
“We designed an attachment
bar that is simple, but we
believe, completely unique,”
Dobbs said. “The handrail
allows the operator or rigger
to have at least one hand hold
at all times and, for the most
part, maintain three points
of contact. We placed casters
TNT invited a number of
customers to check out its new
Safe Climb Ladder system and
provide feedback on the unit.
An up-close look at TNT’s new
Safe Climb Ladder system.
on the staircase and attached
them to the bottom. This
allows for movement as the
elevation of the crane may
change while outriggers are
raised/lowered and during
normal movement of the
crane when swinging with
counterweights or loads.”
TNT’s goal is to install the
system on all of its equipment
and then market the product
to crane manufacturers.
“Our goal is to create a safer
environment for everyone in
our industry,” Dobbs said.
■
HIGHLIGHT
■
ALL Erection & Crane
Rental has purchased 30 new
Manitowoc and Grove cranes
to add to its national fleet
spread across 34 branches.
Michael L. Liptak, president
of ALL, said crane use is at
the highest level he’s seen
in years, which prompted
the purchasing decision. The
30-crane deal includes 10
Manitowoc 2250 crawler
cranes with five luffing jibs,
10 Grove RT650E rough-
terrain cranes and 10 Grove
RT540E rough-terrain cranes.
The majority of the new units
will be sent to the company’s
headquarters in Cleveland.
CRAC members
meet in Toronto
More than 250 members of
the Crane Rental Association
of Canada got together May
29-June 1 for the group’s
annual conference at the Ritz Carlton in downtown Toronto.
Business sessions included an address by Lisa Raitt, minister
of Labour for the Canada Federal Labour Ministry; an economic
forecast by Manitowoc Cranes’ president Eric Etchart; an
introduction to the Canadian Hoisting & Rigging Safety Council
by Fraser Cocks; a presentation about WrightPlan software by
Michael Cox; a review of crane block concepts by Brett Woodland;
and an overview of the attributes of Tadano Mantis telecrawlers
by Bill Cox.
New officers and board members were also elected at the
meeting. President is Corey Mitchell of Myshak Crane & Rigging;
vice president is Jean-Louis Lapointe of Guay Inc. and secretary-
treasurer is Ron Osterman of Sterling Crane. Board members
are Sheena Baker of Canadian Crane Rentals; Valerie Brennan of
Amherst Crane Rentals, Pierre Desgagnes of Tessier Limited; Ted
Redmond of Northern Crane Services; Larry MacDonald of A.W.
Leil Cranes & Equipment; Frank McLachlan of LSI Robway Load
Systems; Drew Paton of Equipment Sales & Service; Tim Sitter of
Mammoet Canada Eastern; and Alan Swagerman of Entrec Corp.
