UNIC Cranes Europe has introduced hundreds of recognised courses to the market and is a market innovator in the construction sector. Crane safety matters and the importance of the safety measures that must be taken when operating a crane has been repeatedly reinforced by the over 25 years of expertise at UNIC Cranes Europe.
Every time a crane is to be used, safety should always come first. Cranes must be managed carefully because of their size, weight, and capacity to transfer loads; otherwise, they represent a risk to persons and property. Safety regulations can result in injury and harm to the crane or the environment when they are disregarded. By taking precautions, you can cut down on the amount of time and money it might have taken to repair any damage or injuries.
Planning and Setting Up the Site
Assessing the area and making preparations to guarantee the crane can be operated safely should come before bringing your crane into the job site to start operations. A first assessment should always be made of both unfamiliar and known areas because there may have been modifications such as additional barriers or severe weather that might loosen the ground and make it slippery.
It is important to evaluate the ground’s bearing pressure and how it will react to the weight of a crane and its load. If the area has been affected by rain or snow, you should determine whether the ground has become soggy or whether the snow has produced a hazard or impediment. You may come up with a plan to create a safe path for the crane and personnel to pass through once these assessments have been done.
UNIC URW-706 Mini Spider Crane installing stringers.
Capacity for Load
As overloading a crane can be fatal, all cranes and plant machinery have load capacities that must be adhered to. Before being sold to any customers, a crane’s capacity will be tested numerous times, therefore the capacities listed in the manufacturer’s instructions and charts are accurate but shouldn’t be used as a general rule.
Using a heavier weight than your crane is designed to handle might result in instability, especially if the load is swaying in any way. If you exceed the load weight that a crane is designed to support by any amount, there is a chance that the crane will topple or suffer other damage. If they take place, you run the risk of seriously hurting yourself and other people while also causing a great deal of catastrophic damage to the infrastructure in the area.
Interaction
Communication is essential for health and safety requirements to be followed on the job site. On a busy construction site, there are several ways to communicate, including hand gestures and the usage of radios. The most effective communication methods should be determined before starting any project. Hand signals, for instance, won’t work if the signaller is hidden when operating a tower crane. You would probably use radios in this situation, making sure to use all the proper terms and avoiding jargon to prevent misunderstandings.
Before beginning any radio communication, make sure everyone has enough battery life, that there is no interference, that voices are clear, and that everyone is on the same channel. Additionally, it is advised to stop moving the crane safely and restart contact if you discover there has been a communication breakdown for a longer period of time than usual.
Education and Credentials
All parties involved should have completed the necessary training for their responsibilities in order to ensure that a crane can be operated safely. This could include the operator, lift supervisors, and slinger signallers, all of whom need to be knowledgeable about how to carry out their duties properly. No matter how skilled or inexperienced an operator is, UNIC Cranes Europe offers a variety of authorised courses.
UNIC URW-706 Mini Spider Crane assisting with a pier refurbishment.
We want all of our customers to complete their lifts as safely as possible because we are professionals in crane operations and lifting solutions that know how much crane safety matters. We at UNIC Cranes Europe can offer guidance and the most effective course of action for finishing a lift while adhering to all applicable codes and current safety standards. In order to ensure that your projects are performed safely, we also provide contract lifts, for which we will provide operators, other pertinent staff, and lift plans. Click here to chat with one of our experts.
