Cranes might be a vital part of many businesses, but they also pose a serious safety risk. Between 2011 and 2017, there were 297 crane-related deaths in the United States. One of the best ways to prevent crane injuries is to follow a proper safety and maintenance routine.
If you haven’t performed crane maintenance in the past, then you’re probably wondering what you can do to ensure that your cranes stay in good shape. Thankfully, we’ve compiled this brief guide to help you get started. Read on to learn everything you need to know!
Create a Crane Setup Checklist
No matter how experienced you or your employees are at using a crane, one of the best things you can do is to create a crane setup checklist. This comprehensive checklist ensures that ideal operating conditions are present when you bring it onsite.
The checklist should instruct the operator to check for obstructions that could hinder the operation of the crane, such as power lines or tree limbs. The operator must check the ground on which the crane sits to make sure it is level and allows the crane to operate properly. Additionally, you should bring proper crane rigging supplies with you to ensure safety and good work flow.
Finally, the checklist must include information about the load ratings to prevent the crane from getting overloaded and toppling over.
Schedule Weekly Inspections
Cranes fail for many reasons. The best way to prevent crane failure is to identify potential issues before they become a problem. From there, you learn more about the solutions to ensure that the crane is safe to operate.
If you want to identify those issues in a timely manner, then you need to conduct weekly or even daily inspections of your crane. This is especially true when your crane is in heavy use. Once the inspection is complete, draft an inspection summary to document the condition of the crane.
Maintain Inspection and Maintenance Records
You must maintain records for every single crane that you own and operate. These records should include information about routine inspections, and more in-depth inspections. You’ll also want to keep records of all of the maintenance that is done on your cranes throughout their life.
These records provide valuable insight into the condition and safety of your cranes. They’re also proof that you’ve done your due diligence as a business owner to ensure that your cranes are safe for your employees to operate. You’ll need these records on hand in the event that an employee files a claim against you.
Proper Crane Maintenance Is Key!
If your business owns and uses one or more cranes on a regular basis, then creating a proper crane maintenance routine is critical to the safety of your employees. Little things like a solid crane setup checklist and regular inspections will give your employees peace of mind when they use the cranes. You won’t regret taking this extra step to protect your staff!
Are you looking for more awesome tips that’ll help keep you and your business in good shape? Check out the rest of our blog for tons of great articles that’ll help you do just that!
