Tired, stressed, or distracted crane operators contribute to a significantly higher risk of on-site accidents. Sometimes, all it takes is one distracting thought, one phone call, one sleepy yawn, and one momentary distraction to cause a permanently life-altering accident.
Although advanced crane safety systems have made construction sites considerably safer, crane operators always have to be on their game to ensure overconfidence or complacency doesn’t cause significant property damage or harm the construction company’s reputation.
One way to mitigate the risks associated with using cranes on the job site is to ensure that the team of supervisors, operators, lift directors, and other personnel involved during the project are highly-trained and certified.
Crane safety specialists have outlined a few ways of avoiding distractions and enhancing safety inside the cab.
Distraction # 1: Mental/Emotional Instability
Let’s say Benjamin Lucas is a crane operator who has been given the task of completing today's project. He knows he can't use his cellphone inside the cab, but he's distracted due to some personal mental, or emotional stressor that might be negatively affecting his loved ones.
He has experience and expertise in the field and was assigned various projects that he completed successfully, including the ones he finished yesterday and the day before yesterday.
Today, the site supervisor thinks he is off his game, although he passed the physical exam with flying colors. Benjamin Lucas and the supervisor should mutually agree that he needs to step down, and the lift should be assigned to someone else before a temporary distraction leads to significant damages.
Safety Standards to Promote Overall Wellness
ASME B30 safety standards allude to mental distractions as an essential factor that affects a crane operator's qualifications.
According to their criteria, physical defects and emotional instability can render a hazard to the crane operator or others present on the site.
Sometimes, operators pass the physical exam, but it's vital to ensure their mental and emotional health is also optimal.
Distraction # 2: Cellphone
Although cellphones were invented to make communications convenient, using them while operating heavy machinery, such as cranes, can have dangerous consequences as it makes on-site communication inefficient.
Since cellphones are like minicomputers that allow the user to stay plugged in and connected to the whole world 24/7 via emails, text, and social media, don't ever take your eyes off the load or bump into a lever while reaching the phone to skip a song or reply to a text.
Safety Standards to Avert Serious Accidents
A safety law instated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) forbids cellphone use while operating cranes. A clause states that the derrick or crane operators shouldn't engage in any activity that diverts their mind or attention, even for a moment, while they're operating the equipment.
OSHA standard 1926.1420(c) further states that even if the cellphone is being used instead of the designated two-way radios, the ‘reception system used for signals must be handsfree.’
As the leading distributor of Ryco-Wiley products, Crane Warning Systems Atlanta offers a broad range of supplies to make job sites efficient and safer in the United States.
We offer operational aids, such as crane RCI indicators, crane load monitors, crane overload systems, crane LMI systems, crane anemometer, portable cameras, load moment indicator and more parts and products to enhance the crane safety systems.
Contact us at 770-888-8083 for inquiries and estimates or to learn more about their exceptional after-sales customer services!