SC&RA, once again publisher, is selling the book on its website, scranet.org, asking $99 for members and $199 for non-members.

The authors, engineers Ronald M. Kohner, P.E., and Robert M. Hontz, both worked on the Exxon Crane Guide and have been involved in industry standards and certification groups. The idea behind the new book was to start with a clean sheet, rather than trying to update the older work.

Because of changing regulations and standards, the Exxon Crane Guide “was removed from publication in 2010,” says Beth O’Quinn, vice president of SC&RA. “Since there was no interest to update that guide, SC&RA worked with Rob Hontz and Ron Kohner to develop and write a completely separate, independent” guide.

The book outlines the roles and responsibilities of lifting personnel and addresses modern risks, such as wind-turbine lifting, in which “the unpredictability of weather can wreak havoc on both safety and schedule,” as the guide explains. “This has prompted constructors to pressure crane manufacturers for increased guidance concerning the operational limits for their cranes due to high wind speed.”

In terms of lift planning, the book makes no mention of ASME P30.1- 2014, a newer standard, but amply references traditional resources.