Best Practices for Crane Safety and Proper Set Up
Crane operators have more responsibility on a jobsite than just operating the crane. A recent article by Curtis Moore of Fisher Phillips, published by Construction Executive, addresses six best practices for crane safety.
- Select the right equipment
- Know what is overhead
- Have a proper base for operating
- Know what is under the load and around the crane
- Conduct routine equipment checks and maintenance
Selecting the right equipment doesn’t begin and end with the crane. Because soft or uneven ground conditions could lead to the crane tipping over or cause the load to shift during operations its critical to evaluate the ground and use outrigger pads or crane pads. Correctly sized and constructed pads and cribbing create stability and safely distribute outrigger reaction forces to the ground. Undersized pads can create unstable conditions, and oversized pads are heavy, costly and can create inefficiencies.
While routine equipment inspections and maintenance are being done, crane pads and mats should also be inspected. During inspection, look for; cracking, warping, rotting or other signs of possible failure. If a pad looks compromised in any way, do not use it.