Crane Safety

An

reminder:

Safety is always the top priority in crane operation!

We suggest that you post and/or distribute these recommendations to all personnel associated with crane operation at your work site.
 

Qualifications

Crane operation, to be safe and efficient, requires skill, the exercise of extreme care and good judgement, alertness and concentration, and a rigid adherence to proven safety rules and practices as outlined in applicable and current ANSI and OSHA safety standards.

In general practice, no person should be permitted to operate a crane:

(a) Who cannot speak the appropriate language or read and understand the printed instructions;

(b) Who is not of legal age to operate this type of equipment;

(c) Whose hearing or eyesight is impaired (unless suitably corrected~with good depth perception);

(d) Who may be suffering from heart or other ailments which might interfere with the operator's safe performance;

(e) Unless the operator has carefully read and studied the operation manual supplied by the Crane Manufacturer;

(f) Unless the operator has been properly instructed;

(g) Unless the operator has demonstrated his instructions through practical operation;

(h) Unless the operator is familiar with hitching equipment and practices.

Operation

Before operating the crane, the crane operator should carefully read and study the operation manual supplied with the crane by the Crane Manufacturer and note any special instructions not given previously by the proper instructor or supervisor.

With the mainline switch open (power off) the crane operator should operate each master switch or push button in both directions so as to get the "feel" of each device and also determine that they do not bind or stick in any position. If any of them do, before doing anything else, the operator should report the condition to the proper supervisor.

Learning the Controls

Having observed the feel of the controllers, the crane operator is now ready to try the crane with power applied.

After checking to be sure no one is on or near the crane, close the crane disconnecting means and press the "ON" or "RESET" button so that the power is on.

Try the hoisting motion first. The hook should be in an intermediate position. Move the master or push button slowly in the "up" direction or press the "UP" button in the pendant in the same manner. The resultant movement should correspond with master switch or push button markings for all motions. Observe the speed increase in relation to the steps in the controller. Try to feel the steps in a pendant-type controller. Move the hook to a position near the upper hook position and slowly inch the hook into the upper limit stop position. The limit switch should cause the hoisting motion to stop at the upper limit of travel. If any malfunction of either the hoist brake or the limit switch is suspected, this condition should be reported to the supervisor before proceeding. The hoist limit switch should never be used as an operating control for stopping the load. It is to be considered as an emergency limit switch only.

Repeat this procedure with the trolley controller. If the trolley is not equipped with a brake, note how it can be stopped by momentarily operating the control in the first point of the reverse direction. This is known as "plugging." Next try the bridge motion, first making sure that the first movement is in the direction the bridge is free to travel. Check the stopping of the bridge by means of the brake and by plugging.

GOOD operators should always remember and follow four simple rules:

1. Start all motions slowly, by moving the controller handle or push button step by step until the fastest safe speed is reached.
2. Stop slowly, by bringing the master switch or push button to the "off" position step by step so as to minimize "swinging" of the load and unnecessary wear of the brakes.
3. Learn to judge the drift of each motion of the crane after power is removed. Proper use of this drift will facilitate spotting of the load and minimize wear of crane components.
4. Handle the load in a safe manner with the area free of personnel and other obstructions.

Handling the Bridge Travel Motion

Before using the trolley or bridge of the crane, the operator should be sure the hook is high enough to clear any obstruction. Before a load is handled by the crane, the bridge should be brought in position so that it is directly over the load. Otherwise it will be impossible to "spot" the trolley and hoist hook over the load.

In addition to other operating controls, the bridge has a brake, usually operated by a foot pedal in the cab or an electric brake where push button floor control is used. The purpose of this brake is to permit stopping the bridge exactly where desired. After the operator has learned the distance that the bridge travels after power is removed, the operator should be able to judge distances so that the need to use the bridge brake will be greatly reduced. On floor-controlled cranes, the electric brake will set automatically when the push button is released.

Start the bridge slowly and bring it up to speed gradually. Approaching the place where it is desired to stop the bridge, reduce the bridge speed. If the operator finds that the crane is going to "overrun" the point where the bridge is to be stopped, apply the bridge brake. If extra fine control or creeping speed is not provided, follow the practice of "inching," namely: Move the controller handle or button on and off the point that produces a minimum of motion. This practice should be followed only as necessary because it causes extra wear on the controller contacts and the electric brake. Skidding of wheels when stopping will result in flat spots on the wheels and rough bridge action.

Handling the Trolley Travel Motion

Before a load is handled, the hoist should be brought directly over the load that is to be handled. When the slack is taken out of the slings, if the hoist is not directly over the load, bring it directly over the load before hoisting is continued. Failure to center the hoist over the load may cause the load to swing upon lifting.

If the trolley is equipped with a brake, follow the instruction given for controlling the bridge.

If the trolley is not equipped with a brake, this motion may require more skillful handling than any other motion of the crane. As the operator becomes familiar with the crane, he can gauge the amount of "drift" and allow for it. This will eliminate the necessity of quickly reversing power to the trolley motor to bring the trolley to a stop.

Always start the trolley motion slowly and reduce the trolley speed gradually. For very slight trolley movements, follow the practice of "inching" as described in "Handling the Bridge Travel Motion."

Handling the Hoist Motion

After the hook has been brought over the load, lower it until the load can be attached to the hook. As the hook approaches this level, reduce the speed so that the lowering can be stopped smoothly and quickly.

If load slings are used to handle the load, the slings should be fully seated in the saddle of the hook. With the hook latch closed (if equipped with hook latch), the hook should be started upward slowly until all slack has been taken out of the slings. Then the load should be lifted slowly until it is clear and it has been determined that the load is properly balanced and the slings properly placed. The hoisting speed may then be increased and maintained until the load is clear of all obstructions or if a hitcher gives the signal to stop.

When Towering loads, the lowering speeds should be gradually decreased until the load is near the place where it is to be stopped. If a hitcher is used it is very important that the operator pay particular attention to the directions of the hitcher. When the operator is signaled to continue lowering, it should be done at the slowest possible speed. If extra fine control is not provided, final spotting should be accomplished by following the practice of "inching" described in "Handling the Bridge Travel Motion.'

When it is necessary that loads be raised or lowered extremely short distances, particularly when raising loads off the floor or out of machine tools or fixtures, the practice of "inching" may be followed if extra fine control is not provided. Note: A good operator should minimize the number of inching operations.

The operator should check the hoist brake by raising the load a short distance and stopping. Check the load for drift. If no drift, lower the load halfway to the floor and stop. Again check for drift. If load drift is noticed in either step, lower the load to the floor and report the situation immediately to the supervisor.

 

[ Important Legal Disclaimer ] [ The components of a crane ] [ Safe Crane Operation ]
[ Crane Operation hand signals ] [ General Suggestions ] [ Operating Suggestions ]

 

[ Home ]
[ Crane Information ] [ Cranes ] [ Kits ] 
[ Hoists ] [ Control Systems ] [ Endtrucks ]
[ Power Delivery Systems ] [ Control Systems ]
[ Lifting Devices ] [ Cabs ]
 [ Contact Us! ]