At Armquest, we are great advocators when it comes to using cranes in construction. In many cases, there’s no way to complete a project without them. However, we also recognise that there are some health and safety issues when working closely with such powerful machinery. Here we list just a few concerns when working with this machinery and how to avoid them.
Overloaded Cranes
Overloading a crane is the primary cause of crane structural failures and the deterioration of a crane’s operational ability. By overloading a crane you can cause huge damage to the machinery. By avoiding swinging loads, using old and obsolete components and dragging loads you can reduce the risk of overloading your crane.
Risks of Electrocution
As cranes are made from huge metal beams and often work near to power lines, electrocution is a real risk to contend with. If a metal part of the crane comes into contact with a power line, the crane can become and conductor and electrocute the operator as well as any other workers in the immediate area. Detailed planning must be carried out before a project is performed to ensure that this risk can be reduced as much as possible.
Falling Loads
Falling loads can be one of the most damaging problems to arise from using a crane, not only to the people down below but for the project too. This issue is often caused because of worker incompetency and incorrect loading or mechanical failure within the machinery.
Tips To Avoid These Issues
Competent Operators
Ensuring that your workforce is fully trained in the safe operation of a crane is the first and most important step in reducing the risk of catastrophe. Operators who are experienced working with cranes and versed in health and safety regulation are less likely to cause any accidents.
Enforce Load Limits Under Supervision
Similarly, it’s crucial to have a supervisor on the site to ensure that load limits are not exceeded. As one of the most significant causes of accidents, it’s important to have strict rules in place which are enforced by an experienced member of the team.
At Armquest, We’re Well Versed in Health and Safety and Compliant With All Relevant Regulations
To find out more, contact us today. You can find us at Armquest Industrial Services Ltd, Invar Road Wardley Industrial Estate, Manchester, M27 9HD, call us on 01617 278 578 or email us today stevegroves@armquest.co.uk.