Crane Safety

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Crane Safety

Managing Risks By undertaking the following steps, you can help ensure that workers and bystanders are not exposed to health and safety risks. *Let's start with the first step, Identify Hazards. *

Identify Hazards The following can help you identify potential hazards...

Assess Risks Most of the time, risks and control measures will already be known, but you may have to undertake a risk assessment if this is not the case.

Take action to control the risk There is a hierarchy in the steps you should take to control risks.

** 4. Check your control measures** Control measures should be regularly reviewed to make sure they are effective.

There are a couple of important things you must consider before operating a crane. *Let's start with the first step... *

Choosing a crane Your choice of crane should consider... The lifecycle of the crane How long you need it for How often it will be used The conditions under which it will be used The maximum load it can bear

It is also important to look out for... safe access points (for example ladders, footholds, steps and grabs rails) seat design visibility environmental controls

** Hiring a Crane** If you intend to hire a crane, you should make sure to check that it is suitable for its intended use, and whether you have the knowledge or expertise to operate it. If you do not, you may need to hire a crane crew to assist.

Registering a Crane Check if your crane needs to be registered before use!

Inspection and Pre-safety checks Before you can operate a crane, inspections must be undertaken to ensure that it is in safe working use. This includes the workplace environment, functionality of different components and correct set up.

** Emergency Plan** An emergency plan should be prepared for each worksite where the crane will operate.

Crane Safety

Setting Up a Crane The previous lesson gave you a quick introduction to managing risks while operating a crane on a worksite and outlines the processes you should take before operating a crane.

Siting a crane You should choose the location for siting the crane after considering these factors... The risk of the crane overturning or collapsing (Including the foundations or supporting structure, and the ability of the crane and foundations to support the forces being imposed on it) ** 2. The risk of the crane colliding with another object** ** 3. The loads and paths the crane will take**

Collisions A crane, should be positioned so that there is a clearance between the crane and other structures. If multiple cranes are operating near each other, the crew members should consult to coordinate movements. A spotter (someone who observes the crane), should also assist the safe movement of the crane.

** Working near electric lines** Electric lines can have serious risks including electrocution, arcing, fires and explosions. Contact with energised overhead or underground electric lines can be fatal. It is crucial to ensure safe working distances from and electric lines, and these will vary depending on the worksite.

Working at height An activity where a person could fall over two metres is considered high risk. To minimise the risk of workers falling, temporary work platforms may be installed, as well as travel restraint systems, harnesses and edge protection systems.

Pick and carry Mobile cranes can travel while carrying suspended loads. Pick and carry activities must only be undertaken by cranes designed for this purpose. Risks to consider when operating a mobile include, the ground conditions, travel path, and wind speeds.

Crane Stability Serious crane accidents are often caused by a failure to maintain stability of the crane. To ensure stability when operating a crane, you should consider the counterweight, ground conditions, slope of the ground, wind conditions and the way the loads will be moved.

Wind Conditions Winds affect the cranes' stability. It is important to recognise that the wind speed at the height of the load may be different from the speed at the cabin.

Crane Safety