Crane Safety: Hazards To Monitor

Posted on: 12 March 2019

Renting a crane is no small undertaking. Especially when you lack the experience and expertise of crane operation, it can be an intimidating process. Before you start your first crane lifting project, you need to understand all of the safety hazards you have to assess. That way, you can be sure that your lift operation will be successful and with as low risk as possible. Here are some of the specific safety risks you should look for in your initial assessments before your lift.

Electrical Problems

Remember that when you lift with a crane, you need to evaluate the airborne threats as well as those on the ground. That's why you need to walk the entire lift route, looking overhead to identify any potential electrical obstructions that could pose a risk. You may overlook electrical lines most of the time because they are so far overhead, but when it comes to a crane lift, those lines are in the perfect position to get in the way. Make sure your lift route is designed so that it is safely away from all of those wires.

Lift Direction

The safest way for a crane to lift is straight up and down. Take time to look closely at the lift angle required for your job. If you cannot position the crane so that it is lifting straight up and down, that means you'll be pulling to the side, which can leave the crane operating unstably. That is a safety risk because the crane could tip with too much weight on one side or the other. If possible, clear the path so that you can access the lift site from the front. Otherwise, look for an anchor point that will keep the crane stable.

Weight Issues

Every crane is rated for a specific weight capacity. If you try to lift a load that is over that capacity, you put the crane at risk of mechanical failure or tipping. Both of these are serious safety risks, not only to your crane operator but your ground crew as well. Take time to make sure that you understand the weight limit on your crane so that you can distribute your lift loads properly. Keep all of your loads below that weight limit to avoid any serious problems.

Talk with your crane rental company about other considerations to ensure that you are safely lifting and maneuvering your crane. You may even want to hire a licensed crane operator to help you through the process.

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