Be Safe And Sound, Some Talks On Overhead Crane Safety

No place in the world is perfectly safe enough for us. Even in the comfort of our homes, accidents may strike. Well, so much more in the workplace where we meet and deal with people of all sorts and work with machines and technology much bigger and more complicated than us. There’s such a thing as occupational health and safety and such measures should be properly observed especially in high-risk jobs like construction sites and factories.

In construction, especially where workers and operators work hand-in-hand with such big machineries like cranes and scaffoldings, crane safety guidelines are more than just a necessity-they are a priority.

What are the risks associated with crane operations? The Queensland Tower Crane Code of Practice 2006 identifies some of these risks. Injuries and accidents on tower crane operations may result from structural failures where a part of a component of the crane malfunctions. Crane collapse may also be another reason, which may happen because of overloading, the incorrect use of counterweights or an unstable tower crane base. The crane’s collision with other structures in the workplace may present another risk. Likewise, falling objects from the crane or an actual fall of a person from the crane when setting up or dismantling structures may also be a cause for injury or worse, death.

Here are some crane safety guidelines and measures every crane operator and construction company should employ:

.In setting-up portable cranes, care must be ensured such that it’s built on solid ground, the concrete pad is heavy and stable enough to support the crane, without shifting or settling. Improper set-up of mobile tower cranes is usually the cause of more than 50% of crane accidents. A sudden or slight shift in the ground/foundation may displace the position of the crane, thus, leading to crane fatalities.

.Someone should be designated with checking the alignment of crane equipment regularly. He must make sure that the manufacturer’s guidelines are properly followed. At the same time, the company must first and foremost ensure that all equipment are in good working condition. Check incidences of sparks and battery failure.

.The company should also consider additional anchorage. Consider simple guy wires which could give additional lateral stability to the cranes.

.Crane operation is not a one-man job. Besides the crane operator, there’s also the dogger, the maintenance man, the inspector, among others who should be doing their jobs of ensuring that the crane is in good condition and working properly.

.Companies should provide sufficient training on crane safety and use especially on their workers who will be using these cranes. These trainings should further be done regularly and with its corresponding upgrades on the use of the technology. If your company does not provide you with such trainings (which they actually should), there are online sites offering crane safety trainings. Likewise, crane operators should also be regulated and accredited as knowledgeable on crane operations.

The Queensland’s Department of Industrial Relations has a comprehensive work safety guide on tower cranes. For more information, check out their PDF copy available on the web.

In essence, safety in the workplace should be the primary consideration of many employers. Safety guidelines should be properly implemented and monitored. In the end, it’s better to be safe and sound…because lives are at stake.

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