Crane work can be successful when following the proper protocols. But without the correct safety procedures, it can lead to severe hazards and outcomes. To help you ensure your work environment is safe and projects are completed efficiently, we’ve compiled a list of essential crane safety tips and best practices.
What Is Crane Safety?
Crane safety involves rules for safely operating cranes on job sites. It includes practices that minimise accidents and keep labourers and the public safe.
Common Crane Hazards
Cranes can cause minor and severe accidents when safety practices aren’t followed. Here are some common safety hazards:
-
Electrical: Cranes operate at high altitudes and sometimes come into contact with power lines. These collisions can lead to severe injuries and fatal accidents.
-
Falling debris: Operators lift concrete, sand, brick and other hazardous materials. Poor visibility, structural failure, and improper lifting methods can increase the risks of material spills. Falling objects can cause infrastructure damage and severe injuries.
-
Overloading: Carnes have specific load limits, and ignoring them can lead to fatal accidents. Excess load can put cranes under pressure, causing them to tip over. They might collapse onto surrounding infrastructure and site workers, causing severe harm.
Crane Safety Best Practices
Industries must follow the correct safety procedures to ensure a safe environment for labourers and the public. Safety tips include the following:
-
Use Qualified Operators
Operating a crane is a significant task and responsibility. It must be done by trained and experienced personnel. Businesses must ensure their operators have the required licences and certifications before allowing them to work on-site. These operators must know everything there is to know about cranes. They must also understand and follow all safety procedures.
-
Choose the Right Crane for the Job
Cranes are not all built the same. Each piece of equipment is made to perform specific tasks. For example, crawler cranes have tracks instead of wheels and are best for operating on soft terrains.
On the other hand, rough terrain cranes are designed to travel on uneven surfaces. Using them in improper environments can lead to hazards. Understanding different cranes and choosing the right one for your project is important.
-
Clear Obstructions
Objects or obstructions in the way of moving cranes cause numerous accidents. To avoid collisions and accidents, pathways should be inspected before crane travel, and obstructions removed.
-
Regularly Inspect Equipment
Before starting up a crane, each component should be inspected. Operators must check mechanical, structural and electrical parts for faults. If there is damage or wear, equipment must be serviced or decommissioned.
-
Be Alert on Work Environments
There are many moving parts on a job site, and it’s important to be aware of them. Operators must be mindful of their surroundings at all times. With the help of a spotter, they must check and communicate any obstructions that impede their visibility. Workers on site must also keep a safe perimeter from cranes and stay alert to avoid accidents.
-
Inspect Ground Conditions
Cranes must be operated on stable ground to prevent tip-overs and collapsing. Weather like ice and rain can impact ground conditions and make jobs more challenging. Operators must always inspect surface conditions before starting a task to prevent hazards.
-
Communicate Effectively
Project sites are often noisy, and it can be difficult to hear instructions through the sounds of machinery. Operators might not hear important signals, which can lead to accidents. To avoid these situations, worksites must have a qualified signal person. They communicate instructions to the operator and other labourers using a set of hand signals. Every worker on site must learn and use these hand signals to ensure effective communication.
-
Plan and Manage Lifts
Crane lifting is a complex task involving working in high and narrow areas. It requires planning and preparation to prevent safety hazards. Accidents often happen when lift plans are ignored and processes are rushed. That’s why operators and other staff must prepare and follow a lift plan. During lifts, personnel must look out for environmental and equipment changes and adjust lifts accordingly.
-
Safety Checks
An operator must complete a daily inspection to ensure a crane is functional and safe. This inspection includes pre-start checks, engine start-up checks, and safety system checks. Operators must perform these inspections before starting the equipment and after shutting it down. They must check off and note any damages, faults, and potential safety hazards.
-
Follow Operator Manuals
Cranes have unique functionalities, controls, and systems. Operators must understand how to use different models to ensure safe processes. Before operating a crane, personnel must read manufacturer manuals and understand the equipment’s ins and outs. If operators are unfamiliar with new models, they must study the manuals and receive adequate training before using them.
-
Comply With Load Limits
While modern cranes have advanced features for identifying and understanding load limits, operators must still know how to read load charts — a set of graphs and tables that help operators determine different load limits and whether a lift is safe. These charts are vital for ensuring safe lifts and preventing hazards like tip-overs.
-
Monitor Wind Speeds
High winds can cause crane tipovers and other severe indents. To mitigate this, operators must monitor wind speed and use load charts to identify wind speed capacities. If wind notes exceed a crane’s maximum capacity, lifts should be abandoned or postponed to prevent safety risks.
-
Check for Power Lines
Electrical hazards are one of the leading causes of crane fatalities. To avoid this hazard, operators and personnel must inspect the site for power lines and plan lifts to avoid colliding with them.
Contact Us for Your Next Crane Hire
Now that you know the practices required for safely operating a crane, you can confidently book your next hire.
We offer reputable crane hire services, including site inspection, traffic control plans, equipment with approved safety management systems and comprehensive lift studies and plans to ensure safe and successful projects.
Rent a crane for all your applications today.