Crane Rental And Operation: 4 Tips To Ensure Your Work Site Is Safe

Posted on: 20 July 2015

Cranes are an integral component to the construction industry. Unfortunately, they also cause a large number of injuries and deaths. In fact, according to the CDC, roughly 25 to 33 percent of fatal injuries that occurred in the construction and maintenance industry in 1993 involved cranes. Therefore, it is absolutely crucial that safety be a top concern by corporations and on-site managers at construction sites. Here are four tips to reduce the guesswork and increase job-site safety when cranes are in use:

1. Avoid Overloading

Although cranes are big pieces of equipment, they can be loaded with too many materials. Each crane is built different, which means that they can handle different load limits. While the crane at the job site next to yours may be able to handle 26 tons, your crane may only be able to handle 20 tons safely. Become familiar with the load limit for the particular crane you have rented and ensure that it is never overloaded. Otherwise, it could tip over and result in a major accident and serious injury. You may want to consider investing in a device that checks the weight of a load to ensure that overloading is never an issue.

2. Prevent Side Pulls

Overhead cranes are designed to lift and lower loads vertically. They are not designed to lift and lower loads horizontally, or from side to side. If you attempt to do this, you may cause stress or damage on the wire rope of the crane. In addition, you are compromising the overall safety of the piece of equipment itself.

3. Avoid Working in High Winds

Because most rental cranes are extremely tall, there is the chance that days with high wind can cause the loads to fall. This increases the chance of a major injury or even death. Therefore, it is advised that you avoid operating a crane on extremely windy days, unless it is just 100 percent necessary.

4. Perform Inspections Daily

If a crane is going to be used, it must be inspected. According to 1926.1412(d) in the Crane Inspections document provided by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), visual inspections are required by a competent person at the beginning of each shift. This inspection should include, but is not limited to, checking for proper fluid levels in the hydraulic system, checking for maladjustments of control mechanisms and wear, deformation or any type of damage to hooks and latches. If the crane needs maintenance, it is crucial that the issues be addressed immediately to avoid unnecessary injury.

Keep in mind that the operator of the crane is responsible for the safe and secure operation of the machinery. If there is a concern regarding the safety of the equipment, the crane should be stopped immediately and no more loads should be handled until it is possible to restore safe conditions. For more information, contact a local crane rental company (such as A C Jones Trucking Inc).

Share