Crane Operation: 3 Central Tips For Promoting Safety During Construction
Cranes, like other heavy construction equipment, can present significant safety hazards on a site. Therefore, if you are planning on using this machinery for lifting during your project, take the appropriate precautions to prevent danger. The most critical issue to address in safety planning is the selection of a crane for the building work. In simple terms, you must choose the most suitable crane for your specific project to minimise the risk of accidents and injuries. The best approach to leasing or hiring the equipment involves evaluating the central performance factors, including lifting height, weight capacity rating, transportation requirements and construction site conditions. Here are additional guidelines for using a crane safely during your construction undertaking.
Inspect The Site
Proper crane setup on the site is crucial because instability will increase accidents. Therefore, you should inspect the site and establish the best plan for installing, rigging, lifting and moving. Begin the process by identifying the potential ground and aerial risks associated with cranes. In an ideal situation, a crane should be on level ground with high stability. Avoid areas with holes and trenches since a tilt will compromise the lifting capacity. Unfortunately, you cannot guarantee the flatness of your construction site. If you are concerned about the slope or other issues, consider grading the area using an excavator before setting up the rig. Alternatively, use additional support elements, like outrigger pads, stabilisers and cribbing, to keep the equipment stable, regardless of ground conditions. Additionally, plan to avoid overhead dangers, such as power lines and tree branches.
Assess The Crane
Construction sites are hostile environments and can be harsh on heavy equipment, including cranes. Therefore, it is advisable to assess the condition of the crane components regularly for safety. Inspections will help you identify damaged or compromised parts as early as possible. This precaution will prevent the use of faulty cranes and subsequent accidents. Instruct the operators to conduct visual inspections of the equipment before lifting loads, and plan for immediate maintenance and repair for all problems.
Operate With Care
Finally, promote construction safety by operating the cranes with care. This objective can be achieved by hiring a qualified contractor or operator for the rigging work. Cranes are complex machines designed to handle heavy weights, but improper use by overloading, incorrect rigging or poor manoeuvring will cause disasters. Therefore, choose experienced experts and restrict other individuals from using the equipment. Where possible, provide basic safety training to onsite personnel on working around cranes with minimal safety risks.