Cranes are one of the most essential pieces of equipment on a construction site. These mighty machines are extremely versatile; they can be used for a variety of purposes, making tasks easier and more efficient. The major benefits of a crane include its ability to decrease the time of a worksite operation, while increasing productivity and decreasing costs.
But while these machines are very useful, the safety hazards they pose shouldn’t be ignored. Statistics show that the average number of crane-related deaths are approximately 44 deaths per year. These fatalities are caused by many different types of accidents that include overturned cranes, dropped loads, boom collapses, electrocutions and more!
But the good news is that these kinds of misfortunate events are very easy to prevent.
If you ever notice any of the following signs on your work site prior to crane operation, make sure you stop your crew from proceeding right away!
1. Strong Winds
Strong winds can cause a crane’s boom to swing and drop the load, which can cause severe damage to the property and put the workers on ground in extreme danger. To ensure that such a horrific accident doesn’t happen, make sure you stop your crane operations immediately if the winds near your construction site become to high.
Cranes have a maximum wind speed they can endure, which is often mentioned on them. You can invest in a wind speed indicator to ensure that you don’t work in an environment where the wind speed is exceeding your crane’s limit. Loads with large surface areas can cause side loading on a crane boom in high winds creating an unstable situation.
2. Unsuitable Lift Area
Before you begin your crane operation, inspecting the work site is an absolute necessity. If the surface has bumps and steep slopes, it could mean a potential crane accident. Moreover, you should also ensure that there aren’t any overhead power lines or trees that pose a safety threat.
1. Damaged Crane Parts
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) states that regular crane inspections should be conducted to ensure the safety of crane operations. During an inspection, should you identify any critical components that are damaged, it’s important to stop your crane operations immediately! You can proceed with your project once you’ve repaired or replaced the damaged parts in your crane.
2. No Trained Personnel
Don’t have a trained professional on site to operate the crane? Halt the crane operation! Continuing with an untrained and inexperienced operator could be a big mistake.
Connect with Crane Warning Systems Atlanta
Get in touch with Crane Warning Systems Atlanta and upgrade your crane with technologically advanced safety devices today!
From crane two block system, wind-speed indicators, safe load indicator systems, two-way-radios and camera systems, we have it all!
Contact us today for more about Rayco Wylie crane systems