Overhead cranes can provide an efficient way of handling heavy material and improve production while helping to reduce worker injuries. However, heavy machinery and accessories can be dangerous if used incorrectly, leading to serious injury and even death. With an increased use of overhead cranes in industrial manufacturing, many companies have failed to maintain best practices for safety with the focus shifting to other safety forms such as automated machine safety, safe welding practices and fall protection. Each year there are hundreds of injuries and fatalities cause by the unsafe handling of materials that could easily have been avoided by the implementation of pre-start checks on heavy equipment as well as practical measures for risk assessment.
All employers who operate heavy lifting equipment on their premises are legally obliged to display a copy of the OHS Regulation and the Workers Compensation Act where it can be readily viewed by workers. The official OHS Regulation can be purchased from Crown Publications.
How To Safely Operate A 25 Ton Overhead Crane
A 25 ton overhead crane is a heavy duty piece of equipment that should be treated as inherently dangerous, especially if not operated in a safe way. Before attempting to operate the crane, a pre-use inspection should be carried out including the following checks:
1.Before being used the operator should ensure that :
-The crane had been inspected for that particular work shift; and the safety and control devices had been tested for that work shift.
-The testing and inspection must be conducted according to Regulation and in a manner as specified by the crane manufacturer is safety handbook.
2.Any defects discovered must be immediately reported to a supervisor who will determine which course of action to take, and details recorded in the maintenance and inspection record system.
3.If it is found that a defect is of such a nature that it will affect the safety of workers or the safe operation of the crane, the equipment must be shut down immediately and not used until the defect has been repaired.
Operator Duties
The operator of the crane must at all times be in full control of the equipment whenever the crane is in use and not engage in any other duties while the crane is in operation.
Position Of The Crane
-The 25 ton overhead crane must be positioned in such a way that none of the moving parts of the equipment will at any time come within 2ft or 60cm of any areas accessible to workers, or of any obstruction.
-If the required clearance cannot be provided, barriers or other effective means must be erected to prevent entry to such areas.
Safe Lifting
-The rated capacity of the 25 ton crane must not be exceeded.
-The load to be lifted must be secured in such a way that prevents any part from becoming dislodged.
-The load line on the crane must not come into contact with anything else but the hook or load block and the hoist drum or sheaves.
-Effective means such as tag lines must be used to assist in the positioning of the load or to control a hazardous load movement when necessary.
-The operator of the crane must not engage the crane to move a load unless he is completely satisfied that it can be safely handled.
-If the crane is being operated in the same location and at the same time as other work activities, the supervisor must control and organize the work being carried out by persons not involved in the load lifting to ensure the safety of the operation.
Safety comes first at all times when operating heavy equipment. It is worth taking the time to ensure that all checks have been carried out according to safety regulations before attempting to operate a 25 ton overhead crane in order to prevent damage to the equipment and injury or death to workers.