OSHA estimates that the number of crane accidents that involve injury is between 900-1100 every year.
Of these injuries, 89 are fatal on average. In other words, one of every ten people involved in an industrial crane accident die.
That is way too many lives lost. Read on for ten crane safety tips to prevent injury on your work site.
1. Proper Planning
The first step you can take to ensure crane safety is to get accurate building heights and dimensions.
Ensure that the drawings are up to date and accurate. Make sure that the crane has clear access to the site away from power lines and other obstructions.
Proper planning ahead of time is essential for industrial safety later on in the project.
2. Schedule Timely Delivery
Coordinate delivery and placement of the industrial crane for the best time possible. Try to avoid having a crane on site before it is needed.
This also minimizes clutter on the work site.
3. Check Crane Inspection Records
Always review the cranes’ inspection records. Also, make sure that inspections are happening daily and are recorded in the log.
Preventative maintenance has many benefits. It will pay off in the long run.
4. Document Lift Plan
For every project, you should have a well-documented lift plan. This includes timelines, lists personnel who will operate the crane and the scope of the job.
This lift plan will help the crew avoid confusion and keep the project running smoothly.
5. Perform Pre-Lift Safety Meeting
Before you begin using a crane, gather everyone for a pre-lift safety meeting. Even if they have had this meeting before. A safety meeting is one way that you can ensure that everyone understands the risks and dangers and understands his or her safety responsibilities.
6 Beware of Overloading
A significant cause of crane accidents is due to overloading.
Many employees believe that the crane’s labeled load capacity is far below the true load capacity. This is untrue.
Always adhere to the labeled load capacity.
7. Keep Away From Loads
Working under or too close to loads puts employees at risk. If a load falls on a worker, it is often fatal.
You can avoid serious injuries and worksite deaths by keeping a safe distance from loads.
8. Electrical Hazards
Electrical hazards are another source of common injuries. Always adhere to the minimum distance requirements for proximity to power lines.
Indoor cranes could come in contact with exposed wires. Be aware of the dangers and do a thorough inspection of the site before you begin working.
9. Perform Trial Lifts
Short, controlled lifts will help test the stability of the load. These trial lifts allow crane operators to make adjustments without putting anyone at risk.
10. Never Leave a Suspended Load Unattended
Last, but not least, never leave a suspended load unattended. This is one of the many OSHA requirements that saves lives. Follow this rule to maintain a safe work site for everyone.
Bottom Line on Industrial Crane Safety
We hope you found these ten industrial crane safety tips helpful. Remember, a crane is a powerful machine. You can’t be too careful.
The time you spend following safety precautions will always be less than the loss of work caused by a workplace injury.
Check out Kor Pak Corporation for various crane controls and material handling.