Crane Components That Can Help Keep Your Worksite Safe
The leading causes of injury and death during crane operations are electrocution or blunt force trauma from being hit or crushed with loads. The third direct cause is cranes tipping over.
So, let’s take a look today at some of the components you can use to help improve safety and mitigate some of the leading risks around crane operations.
1. Auditory And Visual Warning Devices
Worksites can get hectic and loud at the height of a project. Proper communication can help ensure smooth sailing and minimize the risk of errors and injuries.
Warning and crane lights can help keep the immediate working area fully illuminated during loading and lift operations and visibly indicate that the crane is or will soon be in operation. Audible warning devices like horns or radios can help communicate in congested areas where lights may not be visible to all personnel. Horns specifically are required by OSHA for cranes utilizing radio controls.
While air horns, radios, and lights can help with communication, we also recommend getting workers trained on standard OSHA hand signals. This will enable your entire crew to communicate across the worksite; cranes aren’t the only large pieces of machinery that require spotters. Proper communication can help prevent site workers from being struck by objects or caught in between.
2. Load Read-Out Devices
Overloading and improperly secured loads are some of the leading causes of significant injury from falling materials, damaged cranes under strain, or stability issues. It is essential to measure every load's weight and check the crane's load chart. You never want to exceed the crane's specified load capacity.
While you can calculate all the individual weights and rigging to find the lift weight, it is also worth investing in a dynamometer to allow you to measure each load before and throughout each lift. These devices can be attached directly to the rigging to give you an accurate measure.
3. Monitors For Active Working Periods
All types of construction equipment see heavy use and a lot of wear over the course of a project. It can be easy to be complacent around machines that have been reliable. But the lack of prior safety concerns shouldn’t result in skipping routine inspections or repairs, especially on cranes.
Working period monitors can help easily track the exact amount of time that a crane has been in use to provide better estimates on potential needed maintenance and inspections.
Ensure the crane is still operating well with daily machinery inspections. If an operator speaks up about mechanical issues, have the crane inspected and serviced before putting a load or lives at risk of injury and damage. Regular maintenance can help keep workers safe, reduce downtime of machines on site, and let you know when you may be reaching the end of life for a piece of equipment.
4. Load Moment Indicators
As dangerous as side pulls can be, there are times when there is no way around performing one to complete a job. If such action is authorized, a load moment indicator (LMI) should be installed on the crane.
This device will alert the crane operator if load conditions begin to exceed the capabilities of the equipment being used. They measure the load weight and multiply it by a measured radius of the side pull.
LMIs have the capability to take into account not only the angle of the side pull but also incorporate movements made by the crane. When these movements get close to the maximum safe allowance, they warn the crane operator. In some installations, they can immediately halt the crane to prevent the threshold from being passed.
Comprehensive, Safe Crane Rental Year Round
You must know you can rely on the on-site equipment. Poorly maintained equipment can put project deadlines and personnel safety at risk. If you are in the market for a crane rental company for a residential, commercial, or telecommunications project in the southeast, pick a company you can trust.
The best tools for operating a crane safely are experience, communication, and proper training. With over 40 years of moving and using cranes, Parker’s Crane Service has the expertise for safe, reliable operations, regardless of the job site or weather.
We pride ourselves on safety and our Zero Accident Philosophy and conduct many detailed safety measures when performing a job to ensure that no project carries unnecessary risk. We perform the following for every single job we take:
- Pre-Lift Job Assessments
- Daily Risk Assessments
- On-site Hazard Analysis
- Routine Management Audits
With a fleet of well-maintained hydraulic truck cranes, we offer not only the best equipment but can also help with site installation, maintenance, and operation. Our crew is OSHA and MSHA-compliant to ensure your site and crew safety.
Parker's Crane provides quality crane rental, rigging, and heavy hauling services throughout the Carolinas and the East Coast. Contact us if you would like to discuss your needs and whether or not our services and equipment will work for your construction project. We provide free on-site quotes and evaluations.