It may be hard to believe, but no industry standard or regulation exists for how to plan a lift. Whether crews are using a 10-ton crane to pick up pipe or a 1,000-ton rig to hoist a pressure vessel, contractors mainly figure out how to do it safely with no industry input. An ASME P30 document could change all that.
The mechanical engineering group's P30 standard document aims to improve safety. "The better a job is planned, the better you are in executing that job," says James Yates, senior vice president of engineering at Barnhart Crane & Rigging, Memphis, Tenn., and a P30 member. "We've seen so many high-level accidents over the last 10 years. Anything that we can do to raise national awareness in how to do these things better is warranted."