The February Atlanta construction crane accident displaced residents, closed streets and shut businesses. Thankfully, there were no fatalities or injuries. Since antiquity cranes have been important in construction, transportation, manufacturing, mining and quarrying, agriculture, and forestry. Limited capacity chain hoists and engine hoists are found all over. The Port of Savannah has an array of mammoth cranes for unloading ships and handling containers. Of course the self-erecting construction cranes are a regular part of the Atlanta skyline. Any suspension of heavy weights has inherent dangers, and requires diligent disciplined competent planning and execution. Unfortunately, accidents are all too common.

Mr. Albert Weaver, III, president of L.A Weaver Co., Inc. will address the April 12th live online monthly meeting of the Georgia Society of Professional Engineers Atlanta Metro Chapter. He will present on Hazardous Crane Practices and Alternatives via the GSPE video Channel, www.youtube.com/GSPEng, starting at 7:00 PM. He will cover the basics of the lifting technologies, common dangerous practices, and the required qualifications of authorized decision makers. He will be touching on side pulls and load stealing and alternatives; overloads and the usefulness of load moment indicators; and the role of spotters to avoid contacting electrical lines and obstructions. Participants will be able to use the chat feature to pose questions during the live presentation. The meeting presentation will be recorded and available for later viewing at no cost. This presentation, like the previous presentations, will qualify for a required engineering professional development hour (PDH). Currently registered professional engineers, those engineers aspiring to become PEs, and others engaged in engineering would benefit from the presentation. Mr. Weaver often says “If you are blind to recklessness or having good supports and anchors for your pull, a surprising dropped load and pulled down building may be the least of the concerns for you and others.” Anyone involved with cranes, hoists, or derricks and members of the general public are welcomed to learn about technology, engineering and public welfare. This is a FREE event.

Albert Weaver III, CSP, is president of L.A. Weaver Co. Inc., an occupational and environmental consultancy. He holds an undergraduate degree from Western Carolina University and an M.S. in Industrial Engineering from North Carolina State University (NCSU), where he was a NIOSH fellowship recipient. Weaver was an adjunct faculty member for 2 years and a lecturer for the engineering extension for 20 years. He is a professional member of the North Carolina Chapter of The American Society of Safety Professionals North Carolina Chapter, which he served twice as president. He is also a member of the Society’s Environmental Practice Specialty, of which he was a founding member and past administrator and is a past administrator of the Consultants Practice Specialty. He often lectures and has written literally hundreds of articles related to lifting and other safety issues.