Operating a construction business involves having a well-trained lift team that is capable of mitigating, and possibly eliminating, some of the considerable risks involved with using cranes. `An efficient lift team is made up of a number of people filling crucial roles, including riggers, operators, supervisors, lift directors, and last but not least, crane spotters.
The role of a crane spotter is as old as the industrial crane itself, and its importance hasn’t waned at all over the years. Although they don’t actually get inside the crane and maneuver it, they play a vital part in a lift operation. Let’s find out what it is.
What Crane Spotters Do
A crane spotter performs a number of important jobs, the first of which is assessing a crane and its different components to see if there could be any problems before the lift. Then, the crane spotter will analyze if the crane is equipped to lift a specific load. This is a crucial job as lifting a load that is too large for the crane can have disastrous consequences.
Once the lift has commenced, the crane spotter will watch over the operation closely and try to identify issues like a twisted chain or the load coming too close to a nearby obstacle. If there is an issue, they will notify the operator immediately. Of course, crane operators are trained to look out for signs of dangers and can rely on advanced crane safety instruments, such as crane camera system, load indicators, and crane wind speed indicators. However, there’s still a chance of human error, and this is where crane spotters come in. They provide an additional layer of protection.
During the entire course of a lift operation, the crane spotter is constantly communicating with the crane operator, both through verbal commands and hand signals. They notify the operator immediately if an issue arises, so the lift is stopped immediately. This ensures the safety of both the operator and the other workers present on the worksite and ensures that the lift operation is completed without a hitch.
As you’ve probably gauged by now, a crane spotter plays a vital role in ensuring the safety and efficiency of lift operations. In addition to expertise and technical knowledge, it’s a job that requires presence of mind and excellent communication skills.
Here at Crane Warning Systems Atlanta, we sell technologically advanced crane safety instruments, including crane LMI systems, crane load monitoring systems, and wireless anemometers, that enhance the safety and efficiency of loft operations. Get in touch with us today to learn more.