Hiring Cranes: General Guides for Managing Risks in the Workplace
Cranes are large derricks or towers equipped with a system of pulleys and cables. The combination of pulleys and cables enables cranes to lower and lift heavy materials that people cannot carry from one place to another. Cranes are popular in the construction and transport industry. In construction, cranes are temporary structures installed on the ground or mounted on a special vehicle. You can control them in various ways using a cabin travelling together with the crane from a separate control station, or by using special radios. If you have just hired a crane for your construction site, here are some general guidelines you can use to manage the risk of injury and accidents:
Do You Know What Can Cause Harm?
The first step in managing the risks that come with using crane is identifying the potential causes of harm. Start with a thorough examination of the places where the crane will operate. You need to look at how the crane interacts with pedestrians, other vehicles and permanent structures such as overhead power lines. For instance, if you are hiring an overhead crane, it is safer to install and use it in areas far away from overhead electric lines.
You also need to check maintenance records kept by the lessor as well as records of accidents and injuries, including any near misses. This will give you an overview of the crane's condition.
Have You Assessed the Risk?
Most risks are incidental and specific to a construction site. After identifying the possible causes of harm, you need to assess the risks and design control measures. For example, overhead cranes towering several feet high are at risk of overturning and falling over workers and other equipment. Therefore, you need to pour a concrete pad several weeks before your crane arrives on the site. Typically, concrete pads measuring 10 metres by 10 metres by 1.3 metres with large anchor bolts suffice for most standard cranes. If there is a risk of falling objects, use suitable and visible barriers to restrict pedestrian access to the area to minimise the risk of injury.
Did You Review Your Risk Mitigation Measures?
When using cranes, successful management of risk requires you to review your control measures regularly. For example, an operator's cabin with a restricted line of vision will not be ideal when you need to hoist loads in an arc. You should change the operating cabin and replace it with one that has a clear field of view. In short, your risk control measures should evolve according to the specific use of the crane during the project.
To learn more, contact a company that offers equipment like 24-hour cranes for hire.