Many misconceptions are in the workforce when it comes to crane safety and rental, be it overload, side pull, limit switches, and even daily inspections. As a leading crane hire company in Sydney, we wanted to address these issues and clarify any misconceptions relating to your coming crane rental, which could not only save the hired equipment but may save lives.
1. It’s OK to Overload
Definitely, NOT. It is a common misconception among workers and crane operators, where they believe it’s fine to overload a crane. Unfortunately, some crane rental companies also believe that since they buy the cranes from reliable manufacturers, there is a big safety factor into the design. In fact, this is very dangerous, as the safety factor is not designed to backup intentional human overload, and while some parts on the crane are designed with a built-in safety factor, the entire crane system is usually not, which is especially true in case the crane is attached to a building.
2. Side Pulling
Another dangerous practice and a common misconception, believing that if the hoist has enough rope, a small piece of steel can be pulled from an adjoining bay without safety concerns. This can get worse if the piece being moved is below capacity.
It is to be noted that hoists and cranes are designed to lift straight up and lower straight down only, otherwise catastrophes can be expected, whether for equipment or lives involved.
3. Upper Limit Switch
The upper limit switch is designed to prevent the hook assembly from colliding with the drum, which is a safety feature rather than an operational device. Many operators believe that lifting until they hit the limit switch is the right thing to do in order to get as much height as possible to move materials.
Unfortunately, this only leads to switch fails and consequently the hook block and the drum will collide, which could cause the rope to fail and the entire load to fall.
4. Daily Inspections Are Not Mandatory
Add this to the list of misconceptions, as daily inspections are definitely necessary. If the crane is working normally, this should not imply it will continue to do so. Daily inspections are simply an essential part of responsible and safe crane operation, and it actually doesn’t require a qualified inspector or maintenance worker, since it is made of a checklist that has to be followed and should not take over than few minutes.
At St George Cranes, we are not just another crane hire company in Sydney, as we understand our responsibilities as owner and operators of the cranes available for rent. Contact us today if you are looking to rent a crane anywhere in Sydney.
