Cranes do a lot of the heavy lifting on construction sites. However, when not used properly, they can lead to some pretty bad accidents. That’s why proper crane safety is so important to practice. That way, you’ll know how to keep everyone safe while managing those harder lifts…
Crane Safety: What To Know
Make sure the right people use them
Complex, heavy machinery requires specially trained operators to use them. Of course, cranes definitely fall into this category. That’s why a major part of crane safety is ensuring that the operators are properly trained. If not, then it could put everyone on the site at a serious risk.
Crane operators should know the crane practically inside and out. It’s important for them to know how they operate, what their limits are, and anything else which might impact their performance. However, operators also will need to know the safety procedures as well. These can include what to do when something goes wrong, as well as how to follow the hand signals given to them by guiders.
Inspect the crane beforehand
Another important aspect of crane safety is doing a pre-use inspection. A lot of crane accidents occur because of problems with the crane themselves. Many of these accidents could have been avoided if a proper, in-depth inspect was preformed beforehand.
Always try and look for any noticeable signs of wear and damage on the crane. This is especially important for the crane arm and any supporting cables. If there are signs of damage, like cracks, breaks, or bends, you should alert your supervisor. It’s always safer to use equipment that’s 100% safe, and cranes are no exception.
Make sure not to rush
One of the most common causes of any accident is carelessness. When someone gets a bit to reckless, or tries to rush through their work, then accidents are much more likely to occur. This is true for cranes as well. If someone tries to rush their crane work, then the chance of an accident significantly increases.
It’s important for proper crane safety to ensure that crane operators have plenty of time to do their work. This means planning properly before any work starts to give them the time they need. Make sure to take weather into account as well. Poor weather could cause someone to rush, which, combined with the weather itself, is very risky.