Common Overhead Crane Hazards and Their Prevention
Crane Safety | Jun 8 / 17
Some Common Overhead Crane Hazards and Tips On How to Prevent Them
Preventing Overhead Crane Hazards: In any type of industry, the coming together of anticipation and pro-actively handling problems is something, which does result in greater success than just reactively responding to incidents. If an individual works in the world of construction and manufacturing, there are hazards always present at job sites, but with proper training and preparation ahead for them, a lot of issues can be prevented.
In order to keep all those involved safe, all operators and workers need to understand the most basic of all safety hazards of overhead cranes, and how to recognize any of them right away. Learn more about the potential risks that are a part of overhead cranes and the accompanying preventable measures.
Potential Electrical Hazards
About 50% of all overhead crane accidents that happen can be attributed to machinery coming into contact with a power source of some kind during operation. Typically, why this occurs is because, as a crane moves materials close to or beneath energized power lines, the hoist line or boom gets into contact with the electrical source. This is an issue, which is about half of all hazards that are associated with these overhead cranes, and it can be stopped with good safety planning.
Safety planning that is effective can be done before the cranes even get to the worksite. It is important to establish who will be in charge of any and all pre-job safety. Every danger zone should be clearly marked, and this does specifically apply to, the 10-foot radius of all power lines of the entire area. The whole area should be considered to be an unsafe working place from the get go. The 10-foot radius can be marked with barriers, fences, taping, etc. to give clear visual clues for all workers.
In addition to this, make sure to ask electrical companies to de-energize or to ground any existing power lines when there are individuals working in close proximity to them. However, until specifically informed by the electrical company, all operators should assume that all power lines are energized and extremely dangerous. A final preventative measure is to make sure all ladders, tools, and other systems being used on the work site aren’t at all conductive.
Crane Overloading
When a crane exceeds over its operational capacity, it can also prove to be the very thing, which tends to cause about 80% of all crane accidents and structural failures as well. The overloading of the crane’s operational capacity is caused by some of the following:
- The presence of swinging or a sudden dropping of any load
- Any defective components
- The hoisting of a load that is beyond its normal capacity
- The dragging of a load
- Whenever side-loading a boom
A lot of these mistakes are the result of predictable human error. The formal training for crane operators should have a working knowledge of some key points, and any conditions where stated lifting capacities happen to be valid. Some of these key points are crane load charts and lifting capacities. Crane operators shouldn’t just rely on instinct or experience to decide if weight load is correct.
Any Materials Falling
One of the best ways to lessen the chance of any materials falling down from cranes is clear. It is to make sure to perform regular maintenance of crane hoists. An example of this is to do hoist load testing maintenance to ensure that you know how many pounds a hoist can handle exactly. It also will provide an accurate indication of just how well the hoist is functioning currently. Another way to reduce the chance of crane mechanical failure is by performing inspections of the crane each day. If, and when, a potential problem is identified by the operators, they need to make sure to implement the lockout/tag-out procedure.
Though it may be obvious, what should be clearly stated is this, that workers need to always wear the proper head, foot, hand, and eye protection while working on the job site itself. They also need to be constantly aware of what is going on in their surroundings. They don’t want to accidentally go walking beneath a suspended load at any time.
Here at TNT Crane Service, Inc., we always make sure to put safety and prevention first. It is our number one priority. Because of this fact, we ensure that all the machines we have are kept well maintained and up to date. What this does is ensures that you will be getting the most effective, as well as, the most reliable equipment that is available. Please view the cranes that we have on hand for sale or rental today. It may help you to find the crane that you require for your next major project coming up.
Some Common Overhead Crane Hazards and Tips On How to Prevent Them
Preventing Overhead Crane Hazards: In any type of industry, the coming together of anticipation and pro-actively handling problems is something, which does result in greater success than just reactively responding to incidents. If an individual works in the world of construction and manufacturing, there are hazards always present at job sites, but with proper training and preparation ahead for them, a lot of issues can be prevented.
In order to keep all those involved safe, all operators and workers need to understand the most basic of all safety hazards of overhead cranes, and how to recognize any of them right away. Learn more about the potential risks that are a part of overhead cranes and the accompanying preventable measures.
Potential Electrical Hazards
About 50% of all overhead crane accidents that happen can be attributed to machinery coming into contact with a power source of some kind during operation. Typically, why this occurs is because, as a crane moves materials close to or beneath energized power lines, the hoist line or boom gets into contact with the electrical source. This is an issue, which is about half of all hazards that are associated with these overhead cranes, and it can be stopped with good safety planning.
Safety planning that is effective can be done before the cranes even get to the worksite. It is important to establish who will be in charge of any and all pre-job safety. Every danger zone should be clearly marked, and this does specifically apply to, the 10-foot radius of all power lines of the entire area. The whole area should be considered to be an unsafe working place from the get go. The 10-foot radius can be marked with barriers, fences, taping, etc. to give clear visual clues for all workers.
In addition to this, make sure to ask electrical companies to de-energize or to ground any existing power lines when there are individuals working in close proximity to them. However, until specifically informed by the electrical company, all operators should assume that all power lines are energized and extremely dangerous. A final preventative measure is to make sure all ladders, tools, and other systems being used on the work site aren’t at all conductive.
Crane Overloading
When a crane exceeds over its operational capacity, it can also prove to be the very thing, which tends to cause about 80% of all crane accidents and structural failures as well. The overloading of the crane’s operational capacity is caused by some of the following:
- The presence of swinging or a sudden dropping of any load
- Any defective components
- The hoisting of a load that is beyond its normal capacity
- The dragging of a load
- Whenever side-loading a boom
A lot of these mistakes are the result of predictable human error. The formal training for crane operators should have a working knowledge of some key points, and any conditions where stated lifting capacities happen to be valid. Some of these key points are crane load charts and lifting capacities. Crane operators shouldn’t just rely on instinct or experience to decide if weight load is correct.
Any Materials Falling
One of the best ways to lessen the chance of any materials falling down from cranes is clear. It is to make sure to perform regular maintenance of crane hoists. An example of this is to do hoist load testing maintenance to ensure that you know how many pounds a hoist can handle exactly. It also will provide an accurate indication of just how well the hoist is functioning currently. Another way to reduce the chance of crane mechanical failure is by performing inspections of the crane each day. If, and when, a potential problem is identified by the operators, they need to make sure to implement the lockout/tag-out procedure.
Though it may be obvious, what should be clearly stated is this, that workers need to always wear the proper head, foot, hand, and eye protection while working on the job site itself. They also need to be constantly aware of what is going on in their surroundings. They don’t want to accidentally go walking beneath a suspended load at any time.
Here at TNT Crane Service, Inc., we always make sure to put safety and prevention first. It is our number one priority. Because of this fact, we ensure that all the machines we have are kept well maintained and up to date. What this does is ensures that you will be getting the most effective, as well as, the most reliable equipment that is available. Please view the cranes that we have on hand for sale or rental today. It may help you to find the crane that you require for your next major project coming up.
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