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Steel Erection Page

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Steel Erection
Purpose
This section is intended to supplement, but not replace, the requirements of OSHA 29 CFR
1926.750-761 (Subpart R). This Section, along with OSHA CFR 1926.750-761, establish the
requirements to protect all project employees from the hazards associated with steel erection
activities. The stricter of either this Section or OSHA CFR 1926.750-761 must be followed.

Scope
The requirements of this section apply to all Oliver Construction Co. projects and employees
engaged in steel erection activities, as defined in the scope of 29 CFR 1926.750.

Policies
It is Oliver Construction Co.’s policy that key project personnel engaged in steel erection
thoroughly review shop drawings and be actively engaged with the steel erector to develop a
written site-specific erection safety plan consistent with this section. The site-specific plan must
address all information and documentation as required by this policy and according to 29 CFR
1926.752, and must include all guideline components found in Subpart R, Appendix A. The
operating group director of operations may determine that a third-party structural engineer
needs to review the erection plan, overall sequence of erection, and stability of the structure.
Any changes to an approved erection plan require resubmittal for approval.

Training Requirements
The following table defines the types of training needed for steel erector crew.

Steel Erector
Specialty
OSHA OSHA OSHA Aerial Fork
Rigging Tools
10 30 Subpart R Lift Lift
(Hilti)
Crew X X X X
X X
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Standards, Instructions, and Examples

Site-Specific Erection Plan
• Conduct pre-construction conferences and site inspections with the structural engineer,
fabricator, erector, and project engineer before the start of steel erection. The purpose of
such conferences is to review shop drawings to determine the sequence of tasks and
special considerations such as the guying and bracing plan, and to assist the
erector/fabricator in developing a viable site-specific erection plan.

• The erector is required to submit to Oliver Construction Co. a detailed erection plan
outlining the methods and procedures for safe and efficient erection of structural steel.
This plan must meet or exceed the guidelines established in 29 CFR 1926 Subpart R,
Appendix A.

Concrete Testing and Anchor Bolt Placement

Requirements for concrete testing and anchor bolt placement are found in 29 CFR, Subpart R.
As the controlling contractor Oliver Construction Co. is responsible to:
• provide the steel erector with written notification that the concrete in the footings, piers,
and walls and the mortar in the masonry piers and walls has attained sufficient strength
in accordance with 29 CFR 1926.752(a)(1)

• provide the steel erector with written notification of any repairs, replacements, and
modifications to column anchorage in accordance with 29 CFR 1926.755(b)(1)

Site Conditions
The project superintendent must plan to ensure:
• that there are adequate access roads into and through the site for the safe delivery and
movement of equipment (i.e., derricks, cranes, trucks, forklifts, aerial lifts) and the
material to be erected

• that means and methods of pedestrian and vehicular control are provided and
maintained. This requirement does not apply to roads outside of the construction site.

The project superintendent must also ensure that a firm, properly graded, well-drained laydown
area is provided and maintained prior to the erector mobilizing and delivering material. This area
must be readily accessible to the work, with adequate space for the safe storage of materials
and the safe operation of the erector's equipment.

Mobile Crane, Rigging, and Signal Procedures

Follow all procedures established in the Oliver Construction Crane Signal & Rigging section.
Crane procedures must be in accordance with 29 CFR 1926.750 series and 1400 series OSHA
regulations.
All rigging hardware components (shackles, hooks, links, clips, etc.) must be drop-forged and
have markings indicating the name of the manufacturer, nominal size, and working load limits.
Hardware components lacking specific manufacturer name or trademarks, or hardware stamped
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with the word China are not to be used even if they are marked with a safe working load
capacity. All rigging must meet the ANSI requirements as found in ANSI B30.9, Slings, and
ANSI B30.20, Below-the-Hook Lifting Devices.

Deactivating safety latches on hooks is strictly prohibited.

When landing and placing joists the potential for a greater fall hazard may exist when personnel
go out on the joist to release the load line. The erector must address this unique hazard in their
site-specific erection safety plan, outlining the means and methods for eliminating this hazard.
Those methods must not include deactivating or bypassing the normal function of the safety
latches on hooks (for instance disconnecting rigging from aerial lifts, using below-the-hook lifting
devices with remote load disengaging means, etc.)

Working under Loads

Routes for suspended loads shall be pre-planned by the erector and coordinated with the
project superintendent to ensure that no employee of the steel erector or another trade is
required to work directly below a suspended load except for:
• employees engaged in the initial connection of the steel (connectors)
• employees necessary for the hooking or unhooking of the load (qualified riggers)

Workers not engaged in steel erection activities are not permitted to work under loads unless
adequate overhead protection is provided. Adequate protection for multi-story buildings are
considered a minimum of two fully-decked or planked floors, or one fully- decked floor and one
fully-poured concrete deck. If constructability or sequencing do not allow for this or when
specific loads being lifted would require additional precaution, then an alternate plan ensuring
the protection of workers must be reviewed and approved by the operating group safety
director, field operations manager, and director of operations.

Multiple Lift Rigging (Christmas Treeing)

Christmas treeing is allowed on Oliver Construction Co. project sites when all requirements
listed below are met. The Multiple Lift Rigging Plan must be reviewed and accepted by the
operating group safety director, field operations manager, and Operating Group director of
operations. Approval of these plans is based on current site activities and the erector’s ability to
meet the requirements of 29 CFR 1926.753(e), and the criteria listed below:
• All personnel must be trained in the OSHA regulations and this policy related to multiple
lift rigging.

• Qualified riggers must hook the loads.

• Connectors experienced in multiple lift rigging operations must make initial connection.

• The total weight of the multiple piece lift must not exceed 75 percent of the crane’s
configured working capacity at the maximum height and boom angle (best case) of the
lift.
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• Cease multiple lifts in inclement weather that hinders visibility or with winds in excess of
20 mph

• Ensure that all members to be lifted in a multiple rig assembly are clearly marked and
• rigged with the center of gravity.

• Ensure that loads consist of fill-in iron. No main framing members or short pieces are
allowable in any multiple lift.

• Pieces that require double connections may not be in any multiple lift or Christmas-
treed.

• Ensure that all pieces have taglines of an appropriate length so that they do not create a
greater hazard than not using a tag-line, and they provide the connector the means to
control the load.

• Do not include more than five pieces in any multiple lift.

• Verify that the crane manufacturer’s requirements allow for multi-lift operations.

• Conduct a daily pre-lift meeting with the crew and operator.

Structural Steel Assembly

General Requirements for Structural Steel
The erection plan must include a guying, bracing, and plumbing plan that has been reviewed by
the structural engineer.

• If the erection plan calls for landing loads on joists before they are fully bridged the plan
must be reviewed by the structural engineer.

• Maintain structural stability at all times during the erection process.

• A fully-planked or decked floor, or nets, shall be maintained within two stories or 30 feet
(9.1 m.),

• whichever is less, directly under any erection work being performed.

• During the placing of structural members, the crane must not be released until the
member has at least two bolts per connection or equivalent, or the site-specific erection
plan and structural engineer state otherwise.
• Employees are not permitted to ride loads.

• Tag lines must be used on all loads.

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Walking/Working Surfaces and Tripping Hazards

Shop-installed pour stop angles and shear connectors to the top of beams are prohibited. The
project manager and field engineer must review the shop drawings with the fabricator and
erector to determine the proper fabrication details in order to attach the pour stop angle and
shear connectors after all of the decking is in place.

Pour stop with shear

connector

Do not allow layout of other construction materials (welded wire mesh, screed chairs, etc.) until
the erector has completely finished and turned the floor or area over and released the controlled
access zone to other trades.
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Plumbing-up
• The erector foreman or competent person determines if plumb cables are needed.

• The erector foreman/competent person ensures that all cables are properly connected to
prevent unwinding under stress.

• Only drop-forged wire rope clips are to be used for securing plumbing cables. No
malleable or China clips are permitted.

• Plumb procedures must be completed before construction loads are placed on the
structure.

• Plumb cables must be clearly marked with flagging to increase visibility.

• Notice must be given to the project superintendent when plumbing-up the steel.

• Plumbing-up equipment shall be removed only by, and with the approval of, the
competent person responsible for installing it.

Metal Decking
Sequencing of the installation of metal deck plays a critical role in the ability for the erector to
progress through the steel erection process productively and safely, in particular to the bridging
and detailing of joists of a multi-tiered building. The steel erection plan with respect to decking
must include:
• access and egress
• fall protection means and methods
• rescue
• means and methods for detailing the next level
• landing and placing of bridging and decking materials before all bridging is installed

Following are requirements for landing and placing of bridging and decking materials:
o A qualified person must review and determine that the portion of the structure is
capable of holding the load;
o Place the bundle of decking on a minimum of three steel joists
o Attach the joists supporting the bundle of decking at both ends
o Install and anchor at least one row of bridging
o Ensure that placement of the decking is within one foot of the bearing surface of the
joist end
o During initial placement, metal decking panels must be placed to ensure full support
by structural members.

• At the end of the shift or when environmental or project site conditions require, metal
decking shall be secured against displacement.
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• Framed metal deck openings shall have structural members turned down to allow
continuous deck installation except where not allowed by structural design constraints or
constructability.

• Roof and floor holes and openings shall be decked over and openings shall not be cut
until immediately prior to being permanently filled with the equipment or structure
needed or intended to fulfill its specific use.

• The procedures, means, and methods for covering large-sized configurations such as
elevator shafts or stairwells must be determined with the erector prior to commencement
of steel erection activities. These openings must be protected as soon as they are
created.

• Covers for roof and floor openings shall be capable of supporting, without failure, twice
the weight of the employees, equipment, and materials that may be imposed on the
cover at any one time.

• All covers shall be secured when installed to prevent accidental displacement by the
wind, equipment, or employees.

• All covers shall be painted with high-visibility paint or shall be marked with the word hole,
or cover, to provide warning of the hazard.

• Smoke dome or skylight fixtures are not considered covers for the purpose of this
section unless they meet the strength requirements of this section.

• Wire mesh, exterior plywood, or equivalent shall be installed around columns where
planks or metal decking do not fit tightly. The materials used must be of sufficient
strength to provide fall protection for personnel and prevent objects from falling through.

• A derrick floor shall be fully decked or planked and the steel member connections
completed to support the intended floor loading. Temporary loads placed on a derrick
floor shall be distributed over the underlying support members to prevent local
overloading of the deck material.
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Column Anchorage
Any modification to either the anchor bolt setting or the base plate must be approved by the
structural engineer.

Beams and Columns

• During the final placing of solid web structural members, the load shall not be released
from the hoisting line until the members are secured with at least two bolts drawn up
wrench-tight, or by the bolting methods specified by the structural engineer of record.

• A qualified person shall determine if more than two bolts are necessary to ensure the
stability of cantilevered members, and such determination needs to be addressed
specifically in the erection plan.

• In multi-story structures, when holes in the column web are used for perimeter safety
cables, the column splice must be placed sufficiently high such that it does not interfere
with any attachments to the column necessary for the column splice. It is recommended
that column splices be placed at every other or every fourth level, as design allows.
Column splices at third levels are detrimental to the erection process and should be
avoided if possible.

• The installation of perimeter safety cables and guardrails must be coordinated and offset
so as not to create a conflict with the installation of the building enclosure, interior walls,
or curtain wall.

Open Web Steel Joists

• As part of the shop drawing review and preconstruction meeting with the erector the
sequencing of erecting and bridging of the joists must be thoroughly reviewed. The
review must include the terminus and anchoring point for the type of bridging installed.

• The proper procedures for erection, attaching, and bridging of the joists are determined
by the length and bridging requirements as outlined in Joist Table A and Joist Table B
(see Related Documents).

• All joists, regardless of size, length, or bridging requirements, must not be set on any
part of the structure that is not fully bolted or welded.

• Where steel joists are used, and columns are not framed in at least two directions with
solid web structural steel members (tie joists):
o A steel joist shall be field-bolted at the column to provide lateral stability to the
column during erection; and;
o For the installation of this joist, a vertical stabilizer plate shall be provided on each
column for steel joists.
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Example of the bottom chord of a steel joist, stabilized

o Hoisting cables shall not be released until the seat at each end of the steel joist is
field-bolted and the column stabilizer plate restrains each end of the bottom chord.
o Where constructability does not allow a steel joist to be installed at the column, an
alternate means of stabilizing joists must be installed on both sides near the column
and must;
 be designed by a qualified person
 be shop-installed; and
 be included in the erection drawings

• When steel joists at or near columns span 60 feet or less, the joist must be designed for
sufficient strength to allow one employee to release the hoisting cable without the need
for erection bridging to be installed.

• Hoisting cables shall not be released until the seat at each end of the steel joist is field-
bolted and the joist is stabilized.

• A steel joist or steel joist girder shall not be placed on any support structure unless such
structure is stabilized.

• Care must be taken to prevent unintentional displacement prior to installation. Joists that
cannot be attached during the shift must not be hoisted in to place.

• No construction loads are allowed on the joists until all bridging is installed
and anchored, unless an alternate plan is established by a qualified person and
indicated in the erection plan and the following criteria are met:
o At least one row of bridging must be installed.
o The weight of a bundle if bridging must not exceed 1000 lbs.
o The weight of a bundle of decking must not exceed 4000 lbs.
o The load must bear on a minimum of three joists.
o The joists supporting the load must be attached at both ends.
o The loads must be placed within one foot of the bearing surface.
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• During the construction period the employer placing a load on steel joists shall ensure
that the load is distributed so as not to exceed the carrying capacity of any steel joist.

• Steel joists and steel joist girders shall not be used as anchorage points for a fall arrest
system unless written approval to do so is obtained from a qualified person.

• No modification that affects the strength of a steel joist or steel joist girder shall be made
without the approval of the project structural engineer of record.

Erection Bridging
When bolted diagonal erection bridging is required, the bridging shall be indicated on the
erection drawing.

• The engineer-stamped erection drawing shall be the exclusive indicator of the proper
placement of this bridging.

• If the span of the joist is equal to or greater than the span shown in Joist Table A and
Joist Table B
o A row of bolted diagonal bridging must be installed at the midspan of the joist;
and
o Load lines must not be released until the bridging is bolted; and
o No more than one employee is allowed on these joists until all bridging is
installed.
• For joist spans over 60 feet through 100 feet
o The joists must be set in tandem with the bridging installed unless an alternate
method of erection is designed by a qualified person, is included in the erection
plan, and provides equivalent stability.
o Two rows of diagonal bridging must be installed at the third points of the joist.
o Both ends of the joist must be attached with the bridging installed and
anchored before the load line is released.

• For joist spans over 100 feet through 144 feet;

o All rows of bridging must be bolted diagonal bridging.
o The load lines must not be released until both ends of the joist are attached and
all of the bridging is installed and anchored.

• For steel members spanning over 144 feet the erection methods used shall be in
accordance with the Beams and Columns paragraph of this section.
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Systems-Engineered Metal Buildings

Below are requirements for system-engineered metal buildings:
• Each column shall be anchored by a minimum of four anchor bolts.
• Rigid frames shall have 50 percent of their bolts or the number of bolts specified by the
manufacturer (whichever is greater) installed and tightened on both sides of the web
adjacent to each flange, before the hoisting equipment is released.
• Both ends of all steel joists or cold formed joists shall be fully bolted to the support
structure before
o releasing the hoisting cables
o allowing any employee on the joist
o allowing any construction loads on the joist
• Construction loads may be placed only within a zone that is within eight feet of the
center line of the primary support member and as depicted in the erection plan.

Falling Object Protection

• The erector must provide containers for storing or carrying rivets, bolts, and drift pins.
The containers must be secured against accidental displacement.
• Airline hoses must be tied together using whip-checks or another secure method.
• There must be a way to keep bolts, rivets, and drift pins from falling when they are
knocked out.
• Impact wrenches must have a locking device for retaining the socket.
• All materials, equipment, and tools that are not in use while aloft shall be secured
against accidental displacement by use of devices such as tethers or catch-alls.

The project superintendent must sequence other construction activities in order to avoid
exposure to overhead steel erection activities, unless adequate overhead protection for the
employees below is provided.

Fall Protection
• Oliver Construction Co.’s 100 percent fall protection policy supersedes the fall protection
requirements outlined in Subpart R (29 CFR 1926.760). The erector’s fall protection plan
must describe their chosen means and methods for each erection activity (connecting,
detailing, decking, etc.) to ensure protection of each employee who is exposed to a fall
hazard of six feet or more. The sequence of protection shall be: elimination, prevention,
control.
o Elimination: Change procedures and pre-plan to remove fall hazards.
o Prevention: Use guardrails or barriers to keep the work force away from
exposure.
o Control: Use fall arrest systems.

• Oliver Construction Co. does not recognize the controlled decking zone listed in 29 CFR
1926.760(c) as a viable means of fall protection; therefore, 100 percent fall protection
above six feet shall be provided and utilized during all decking operations.
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• Oliver Construction Co. requires that fall protection while traveling the steel (walking the
top flange) be provided at waist level or higher. If tying off to the top flange or steel
beam, the worker must travel the lower flange of the beam or straddle the beam unless
an engineered system and fall protection plan is submitted and accepted.

• The erector’s plan must outline provisions to ensure effectiveness of leading edge fall
protection to prevent excessive swing falls, prevent contacting a lower level, and ensure
the ability of lifelines to sustain binding on the leading edge of the deck without failure.
Refer to Fall Protection, in the Safety and Health Manual and 29 CFR 1926.502(b) – (e)
for other fall protection general requirements.

Guardrail Systems
• A safety railing of ½-inch wire rope or equivalent (3/8-inch, high-tensile cable)
must be installed approximately 42 inches high off of the finished floor. This requires
coordination of floor elevations with the steel fabricator to ensure
that column splices and punched holes are properly prepared to accept the cable
guardrail system
o around the periphery of all temporary floors of tier buildings; and
o around other multi-floored structures during structural steel assembly. Take into
consideration the finish floor height.
• Wire rope clips shall be drop-forged steel of the single saddle (U-bolt) or double saddle-
type clip. Malleable cast iron clips or anything marked with the words, "Made in China"
shall not be used.

• The top rail of all cable guardrail systems must be flagged every six feet to ensure
visibility.

• Make provisions for a landing area. Provide extra stanchion supports for terminations
complete with a turnbuckle or similar device to facilitate replacement of the guardrail
following temporary removal for floor loading.

• Prior to floor turnover to other trades, the project superintendent must walk each floor
with the steel erection foreman or competent person and inspect the guardrail system for
conformance to standards pertaining to height, tension, vertical support spacing, splices,
eye terminations, wire rope clips, and flagging.

• All deficiencies must be corrected by the erector installing the guardrail prior to Oliver
Construction Co.’s acceptance of responsibility for the installation and maintenance.
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Related Documents

References
Following is a non-exhaustive list of references used in the preparation of this section:
• 29 CFR 1926.500 OSHA Fall Protection Standard
• 29 CFR 1926.1400 OSHA Crane Standard
• 29 CFR 1926.750-761 OSHA Steel Erection Standard (Subpart R)
• ANSI A 10.13 Steel Erection
• ANSI Crane Standards
• ANSI Z359.1 Personal Fall Arrest Systems/Subsystems
• ASSE A10.32 Fall Protection
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