Are you looking for crane services? You need to be cautious and put tips into place that ensure that you rent and operate the crane properly. Here are some of the tips that you should consider:
Pay attention to the job site conditions
If you have used cranes before, you know that no two cranes are the same. Different cranes work in different conditions. Before you head to the stores to rent a crane, ask a professional crane operator to visit your job site and recommend the best machine to go for. When you do this you will rent the right machine for the job thus have an easy time completing your work.
Always rent a properly maintained crane
Just as you should rent a crane that is ideal for the conditions of your work site, you also should rent a crane that is properly maintained. The last thing you want is a machine that will stop working the moment you put a load on it.
At the rental store, ask for the maintenance records. Carefully go through them and confirm that they are original. In addition to seeing the records, you also should see the crane. When inspecting the machine, look out for broken wires or strands to the rope structure, damaged latches, and deformed hooks. Also, take a look at the braking system and confirm that it’s working properly.
If you notice any issue with the machine, don’t rent it as it will not only fail to work at the site, it also increases the chances of accidents happening at the job site.
You should rent the machine from a company with other similar machines. This is to ensure that when your crane fails, you can easily replace it without incurring additional costs.
Don’t use an overhead crane too close to electrical lines
According to OSHA, most of the crane accidents happen when the crane gets into contact with power lines. The accidents come about when the boon gets into contact with the wires when moving the materials. You not only risk damaging the wires thus get into trouble with the electric company, the crane operator is also at the risk of getting electrocuted.
For you to be safe, operate the crane within a 10-foot radius of the power lines. If you have to work close to them, drive slowly to avoid touching the lines. It’s also wise to have an assistant signaling you where you should go.
Don’t overload the crane
You can be tempted to carry as much load as possible so that you can complete the task fast, but don’t do it. Going over the load limit of the machine puts it at the risk of getting damaged. You also increase the chances of accidents happening. For example, the materials can drop on the people working on the site. The crane might also trip over due to overload.
When renting, ask for the machine manual so that you can know the load limit. As rule of thumb, never overload the machine.
Hire an experienced crane operator
Most of the crane rental companies will provide you with an operator when renting the crane. The good thing about operators working with the rental companies is that they are usually highly experienced. If you aren’t one of the lucky ones and you have to hire a crane operator, be keen of the operator you go for.
Take your time and invite a few operators for an interview. Carefully go through their credentials. In addition to being experienced, they also should be certified by a regulatory body.
Observe crane safety tips
Even if you rent a properly maintained crane and hire the most experienced crane operator, you stand to cause an accident at the site when you don’t observe crane safety. Chances are that the people that you will be working with at the site haven’t worked with cranes before.
Don’t assume they will take care of themselves. Before you start the work, take time to educate them on safety. Educate them on the distance they should keep when working near the cranes. For you to have an easy time educating them, invite representatives from crane hire VA to help you out.