of a railroad track or crane truck, or in any position where they would impede or prevent access to fire-fighting equipment.

When materials are being loaded or unloaded from any vehicle by crane, the vehicle operators and all other persons, except the rigging crew, should stand clear.

When materials are placed in work or storage areas, dunnage or shoring must be provided, as necessary, to prevent tipping of the load or shifting of the materials.

All crew members must stand clear of loads that tend to spread out when landed.

When slings are being heaved out from under a load, all crew members must stand clear to avoid a backlash, and also to avoid a toppling or a tip of the load, which might be caused by fouling of a sling.

SHEAR LEGS

The shear legs are formed by crossing two timbers, poles, planks, pipes, or steel bars and lashing or bolting them together near the top. A sling is suspended horn the lashed intersection and is used as a means of supporting the load tackle system (figure 4-39). In addition to the name shear legs, this rig often is referred to simply as a "shears". (It has also been called an A-frame.)

The shear legs are used to lift heavy machinery and other bulky objects. They may also be used as end supports of a cableway and highline. The fact that the shears can be quickly assembled and erected is a major reason why they are used in field work. A shears requires only two guy lines and can be used for working at a forward angle. The forward guy does not have much strain imposed on it during hoisting. This guy is used primarily as an aid in adjusting the drift of the shears and in keeping the top of the rig steady in hoisting or placing a load. The after guy is a very important part of the shears' rigging, as it is under considerable strain when hoisting. It should be designed for a strength equal to one-half the load to be lifted. The same principles for thrust on the spars or poles apply; that is, the thrust increases drastically as the shear legs go off the perpendicular.

In rigging the shears, place your two spars on the ground parallel to each other and with their butt ends even. Next, put a large block of wood under the tops of the legs just below the point of lashing, and place a small block of wood between the tops at the same point to facilitate handling of the lashing. Now, separate the poles a distance equal to about one-third the diameter of one pole.

As lashing material, use 18- or 21-thread small stuff. In applying the lashing, first make a clove hitch around one of the legs. Then, take about eight or nine turns around both legs above the hitch, working towards the top of the legs. Remember to wrap the turns tightly so that the finished lashing will be smooth and free of kinks. To apply the frapping (tight lashings), make two or three turns around the lashing between the legs; then, with a clove hitch, secure the end of the line to the other leg just below the lashing (figure 4-39).

Now, cross the legs of the shears at the top, and separate the butt ends of the two legs so that the spread between them is equal to one-half the height of the shears. Dig shallow holes, about 1 foot (30 cm) deep, at the butt end of each leg. The butts of the legs should be placed in these holes in erecting the shears. Placing the legs in the holes will keep them from kicking out in operations where the shears are at an angle other than vertical.

Figure 4-39. - Shear legs.