Commonly used in the construction of tall buildings and structures where materials need to be lifted to great heights, tower cranes are known for their unparalleled ability to lift heavy loads to the highest heights.
These cranes are unique in that they typically require the use of an additional crane, usually a mobile crane, to set them up. Then, once the initial phase of crane construction is complete, a climbing frame is added to the base of the tower and raised to add new mast sections. This process allows the crane to grow with the construction. Every type of crane is unique, but even tower cranes stand out.
A tower crane is a tall, vertical tower that is fixed to the ground and has a horizontal jib, or boom, extending from the top. A weight on the opposite side of the jib acts as a counterbalance, which helps maintain stability. Imagine the tall, slender crane structures you see working on skyscrapers in major cities; that’s a tower crane.
Cranes are complicated, highly technical pieces of equipment that take a great deal of maintenance, site preparation, and training to operate safely. Accidents during operation can cause property damage that impacts your project's schedule and cost and can easily cause severe injury or death.
Whether you operate your own crane or rent for a specific part of the project, it is essential that you understand the personnel necessary for safe lift operations.
Cranes are incredibly useful pieces of machinery, allowing for the transportation of weighty materials to heights and levels, which would be impossible for workers to ever perform by hand.
However, when operating a crane, one of the most important things to remember is that your personnel are controlling a very large piece of equipment that can cause great damage if used irresponsibly and incorrectly. Engineering and technology advancements make work zones safer, but crane accidents are still one of the leading causes of injuries and fatalities.
Contact with objects and equipment consistently ranks as one of the top causes of injuries and death in the workplace. These risks are even more increased on job sites that require the use of cranes or other equipment to lift or move equipment and personnel.
For this reason, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has specific recommendations to help increase safety around suspended loads.