From a cup of coffee to large machines and equipment, everything today comes with warning labels. Unfortunately, these warnings are often ignored because there are too many for the concerned persons. The sheer number of warnings causes them to get overwhelmed.
However, this ignorance can turn out to be really dangerous, especially when it is something as complex and technical as operating cranes.
Knowing the dos and don’ts of crane operation is critical to crane safety. There are 3 things about cranes that are commonly misunderstood. Let’s clear out the air before it’s too late!
1. Overload
The first misconception about cranes is that you don’t need to pay attention to the load and crane load indicator because the manufacturers incorporate extra crane safety into the design.
This is certainly a dangerous misconception about overhead cranes. Indeed, there are parts that are designed with built-in safety factors but the whole crane is not really covered and this is the reason we have crane warning systems.
One thing that is important to highlight here is that only some hoists are equipped with overload protection. Reasonable but efficient crane load indicating devices can be added to almost all brands and types of hoists.
2. Side Pull
Another common misconception about crane safety is that you can tug a bit of steel out of the attached inlet without any issues, given that the hoist has adequate rope. This misconception continues to exist simply because the bit that you think of pulling out is far below capacity.
Factually, this misconception is far more common than the rest. As per the Crane Manufacturers Association of America and Hoist Manufacturers Institute, hoists and cranes are meant to only pull straight up and lower straight down. Side pull can expose you to several risks such as the risk of the wire falling out of its channel. This can result in impaired rope.
3. Upper Limit Switch
What people misunderstand about the upper limit switch is that they need all the height to lift. Therefore, they must lift until the upper limit switch point is met.
This crane safety misconception might appear like common sense but it is totally wrong. Limit switches play a very important role in ensuring crane safety. The upper limit switch keeps the hook assembly and boom tip from colliding. If the switch breaks down, there will be a collision between the two and the rope wire will fail, ultimately dropping the load.
This is why anti-two-block switches are so important and the minimum safety feature all cranes should have.
The above-discussed misconceptions about crane safety might seem like simple ones but they result in the majority of crane accidents and failures. To ensure that you and those around you are following proper crane safety, remember these misconceptions and the facts countering them. You can increase the odds of having safe and productive days at work by doing this.
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