CRANES
“Don’t play is loose when a crane is in use”
When lifting large and heavy objects that require specialized equipment, safety should always on the forefront of the minds of everyone involved. There are many variables that go into a safe lift, and all of them must be considered in order to ensure safety. Some of these are external to the lift such as weather conditions and nearby power-lines, and others are directly involved in the lift like the rigging equipment, ground conditions, and the crane itself. Below are a few items to a successful and safe crane lift:
- Conduct proper inspection of all rigging equipment prior to use and tag/label equipment properly
- Complete crane Job Safety Analysis (JSA) and Preventative Maintenance checklist
- Evaluate work site and crane working zone to ensure there are no potential conflicts in the way of the crane lift
- Evaluate weather conditions and forecast prior to starting any lift
- If lifting over in-service equipment, evaluate whether conditions require additional documented plans and/or review as detailed.
- Establish regulated lift area and barricade
- Designated signal person should be in place and have constant communication with crane operator via hand signals or radio