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Crane Rigging Rules You Should Follow at All Times

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Rigging is a critical component in any application requiring heavy loads and equipment relocation. Workers’ safety should be the top priority when completing any rigging activity.

Remember that inappropriate load rigging can result in inadvertent slips, causing property damage and exposing riggers and other adjacent workers to safety risks, injuries, or even death.

To guarantee that all loads are carefully and properly rigged before any lifting technique, you should follow a set of rigging rules. These rules include:

Pick the correct rigging crane

Before operating a crane for a specific purpose, you must determine whether you are using the appropriate crane type. Two of the most common types of cranes you can use are mobile or fixed.

Mobile cranes are best suited for small access areas, while stationary cranes are ideal for complex tasks. Choosing the right type of crane ensures that the job is completed effectively.

The right way to go about it is to visit the crane rentals and explain to them the task you want to perform. Based on your description, they will recommend the best-suited unit.

Only hire qualified professionals.

All workers on the job site should be qualified in rigging safety. The workers you hire to do rigging tasks should be trained to follow all rigging protocols and equipment handling.

This is because professional riggers can predict a potential rigging problem before it occurs. If conditions become unsafe, this group of professionals will promptly stop the cranes or other material-handling equipment to ensure the cargo and any person is safe for lifting.

Be cautious of the crane workload limit.

You should determine the load’s weight by taking a look at the manufacturer’s specifications, catalog, and shipping paperwork. Choose equipment based on weight and size, such as the crane boom, slings, wire ropes, beams, and load.

You should consider the ideal workload weight. You can calculate this figure using the standard weight and suitable volume and area formulae. Rigging applications typically necessitate the calculation of the involved resistive forces.

Always ask about the maximum load you can lift when renting the crane. Before lifting, double-check and confirm that the load is the right weight for the crane.

Always ensure the load is balanced.

An imbalanced load can tip a crane over. To avoid this, always perform some basic rigging safety checks before lifting.

Before lifting, ensure the top suspension aligns with the load hook.
Ensure the crane’s chain and body are not in contact with the cargo.
Determine the crane’s center of gravity.
Make sure the load has ample swinging space.

If you notice that the crane isn’t balanced even by the smallest margin, don’t proceed with the lifting, as you will be putting your crane and people on the site in danger.

Be cautious of the weather conditions.

When planning lifting or hoisting activities, keep the environment and the expected forecast in mind. Consider wind direction, limited vision, and aircraft traffic.

Avoid abrupt movements or shock loading on rigging equipment in high cold temperatures since these can harm the brittle parts.

The majority of cranes have requirements for the highest wind speed they can withstand. There can be occasions when the load charts do not provide parameters, thus, you should consult the crane manufacturer to determine the maximum allowed wind speed for operation.

Always have a spotter on the site.

Spotters, also known as signalpersons, provide a second set of eyes when riggers do not have a clear view of the load due to their higher vantage point than the machine operator.

You should hire only competent, professional spotters trained in hand and speech signals for job site crane operation.

Inspect the crane daily.

There are three types of daily system inspections required for cranes. The first type is called pre-start checks. You are supposed to complete these checks before starting the crane.

Here, you should inspect the crane’s tires, oil levels, air reservoir, batteries, and other components.

The second type of daily check is the engine start-up check, which involves assessing the pressure gauge, fuel level, turn signals, and horn. Finally, you should do safety system checks to evaluate the rated capacity limiter, outriggers, and other associated components.

To be on the safe side, you should make these checks at least once a day before you start lifting. If you notice any issues, don’t proceed with the task.

Properly use the slings.

To avoid load swing, you should determine the load’s center of gravity and the crane while erecting any equipment.

Use proper sling methods to maximize lift efficiency while minimizing force requirements. Before raising the weight, remove and secure all unneeded slings.

As a rule of thumb, avoid dragging slings from under the load while maintaining adequate sling angles. This will lessen the chances of load imbalance and falling goods.

Keep the crane stable at all times.

Some cranes have outriggers that prevent them from tipping over during lifting and transporting activities. You can keep your crane stable by adhering to the manufacturer’s outrigger standards.

You can also increase outrigger pads or crane pads located beneath outriggers.

Store the crane properly.

Once your rigging task is completed, store your equipment in a location where environmental or other factors will not damage it. Make sure to inspect your equipment ahead of time to ensure its safety for the activity.

If you are renting the equipment from crane rental services VA, you should put up a temporary structure to place the equipment. If the weather isn’t that bad, consider always covering the equipment to shield it from the weather elements.

Parting shot

These are some of the things you should do to ensure you have a great time with your rigging equipment. To be safe, ensure that you follow the rules given.

When you have an issue with your equipment, contact a professional as soon as possible to diagnose and fix it.

Common Crane hazards and how to avoid them

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When you are working with a crane, there are plenty of hazards that come with it. The most common ones are:

Overloading

This happens when the load exceeds the crane’s capacity, but it can also happen when the cargo is swinging, dragging, suddenly dropping, or it’s centre of gravity is not immediately under the crane.

Overloading can decrease the structural integrity of the crane and increase the chance of the crane malfunctioning.

There is also the risk of the load falling and hurting the people working on the site. To avoid this, you should be ultra-cautious of the weight that you lift with the crane. As a rule of thumb, don’t lift more than the crane is designed to do.

Before you pick the crane from the crane rentals, confirm with them about the maximum weight that you can carry with the crane. Of course, you should never exceed it.

Falling/dropping load

Falling materials are another potential hazard when operating a crane, and they can cause significant injuries if someone is struck by or caught between them.

Objects may fall as a result of poor or inadequate rigging or material tying down. It could also be due to a mechanical failure of the lifting setup or even because of the movement of the materials being lifted.

To ensure this doesn’t happen, always do a double check of the load before you lift and ensure that it’s securely in place. It’s even wise for the crane operator to slightly lift the load to confirm that it’s securely in place. They should only continue with the lift after they have ascertained that it’s in place.

Sling angle

This is a critical issue that many people with limited crane experience do not completely get.

A resultant sling angle is created when you start the sling at the crane hook, go to the load at an angle, via I-bolt on top of the load, go to the opposite side through an i-bolt, and then back to the crane hook.

With this design, what appears to be a 45-degree angle due to the forces being applied to the sling is actually cut in half, well below what safety standards permit. People need to be aware of this circumstance so that they don’t overwhelm the sling.

Swing

Operators will undoubtedly encounter swing in the crane at some point, and it is critical that they understand how to remove swing from a lift properly.

The objective is, first and foremost, to not have a swing at all. However, due to the variety of conditions that may arise, a crane operator will occasionally encounter a swing and must know how to deal with it.

To reduce the risk of the swing, you should work with an experienced crane operator who can easily counter the swing.

Guide rope availability

When approaching a load, be careful not to touch it or the rigging. You need a guiding rope to help you out.

However, the challenge comes when there may not be a guide rope available. Someone may have stolen the guide rope, used it, and left it somewhere, but no one knows where it is.

Without the guide rope, operators may be enticed to briefly touch the cargo, which considerably increases risk.

Guide ropes aren’t always highly efficient, especially when it comes to regulating loads. The guide rope can assist with load rotation, however, it can only be pulled and not pushed, for obvious reasons.

To be on the safe side, work with rigging professionals who know how to handle the guide rope.

You might need two or more operators, each with their own guide rope, to control the load. Or, the alternative is to use a pole, which allows the operator to grab the load and push as well as pull it.

Wear/damage

It is usual for equipment to wear and tear with regular use. However, frequent inspections of the crane are required to guarantee that there is no serious damage to the hoist or rigging equipment.

Any sort of damage to the equipment should be categorized as either fixable—and fixed before the operator uses it—or damaged beyond repair and scrapped.

Working with damaged load-bearing equipment can affect their performance and potentially create safety hazards.

Crane training—the key to reducing the hazard effects

Training is essential for safe crane operations. Specific training needs can differ per jurisdiction so you should find the type of training that is ideal for your location.

Regardless of where you are located, training for personnel involved in crane operation aims to provide the necessary knowledge and skills for them to perform the task safely and effectively and to operate the equipment according to the manufacturer’s instructions as well as comply with applicable requirements and standards.

A comprehensive and up-to-date training program for crane operators and other workers involved in hoisting and rigging is a solid start.

Crane operator training includes both theoretical and practical hands-on components. It may include sections on crane components and safety equipment, as well as load handling concepts and how to calculate lifting capacity.

It could also comprise safe labor practices, such as agreed-upon communication methods and pre-operation inspections, as well as operating procedures and techniques, such as identifying factors that can affect hoist capacity.

Crane operation involves so many possible hazards that frequent refresher training may be required to review important knowledge and skills.

Parting shot

There are plenty of hazards that come with working with cranes. To be on the safe side, be on the lookout for these hazards and work on preventing them.

To reduce the chances of accidents happening, ensure that everyone handling the crane is fully and properly trained.

On-site training is also necessary for situations and applications that necessitate specialized skills or pose unique risks.

If an operator is expected to execute a task that is not covered in basic training, you can collaborate with the foreperson or supervisor to ensure the operator has the necessary knowledge of the scenario.

The people working with the cranes might be highly trained and experienced but if the crane is in horrible shape, they will have the worst experience. To ensure this isn’t the case, get well-maintained cranes from the crane rental services VA.

Important Questions to Ask When Hiring a Crane

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Are you preparing to begin a commercial building project? You will need a crane. If purchasing a crane is not an option, renting one from a crane rental services provider may be a more cost-effective solution.

You need to get in touch with a reliable crane rental company to discuss your requirements. To have a great time and rent the right unit, you must ask yourself several crucial questions. These questions include:

What do you want to lift?

Understanding the weights of the heaviest items you want to lift is critical. Knowing the weight of the load may appear straightforward, but there may be more to it than meets the eye.

You should learn the actual weights of your loads because it will determine the size of the crane you need to hire. The weight also has a significant impact on safety and efficiency of the unit.

Some people will advise that you guess the weight of the load, but don’t do this. You also should never randomly add weight.

You may think you are saving time, but doing this causes an error that may bother you later.

Adding a “contingency” load of a reasonable value to your load is best done directly and with the crane company’s input.

So, if you aren’t sure about the exact weight you want to lift, consult the crane company, and it will help you estimate it.

You can adjust the value of this contingency as conditions change and the project evolves, and you’ll always know where you stand.

The load’s dimensions is another thing to consider, so pay attention to it. Large items may be difficult to transport, so be cautious of their sizes.

While you are at it, know the location of the center of gravity. An excellent way to do it is to consult the fabricators’ designs. If your load’s center of gravity is not specified, let the fabricator help you estimate it. Don’t do it alone, as you will likely mess up.

How long will you need to hire the crane?

Before renting a crane, you must determine how long you will need the crane. The longer you use the crane, the more it costs.

As you are coming up with the cost of hiring the crane, consider the cost of deploying the crane. All-terrain cranes are designed to be driven on highways and are more cost-effective to transport than crawler cranes.

Larger all-terrain cranes typically require one or two truckloads of counterweights. Crawler cranes may need anywhere from a dozen to several dozen truckloads to get there, which means they will be expensive to transport.

The worst mistake you can make is hiring a crane only to find that you need it longer than you estimated. To ensure that you are hiring the crane for the right amount of time, work with professionals who will help you analyze the magnitude of the project and the amount of time it will take you to complete it.

Who will operate the crane?

The crane operator you hire significantly impacts the quality of experience you have with your crane. When you hire an inexperienced crane operator, there is even the risk of the crane collapsing and causing an accident.

To be safe, hire a contractor that knows what they are doing.

Most crane rental companies have two types of services. A service where they hire you the crane with the operator and one where they simply hire you the crane, and then you find your operator.

To avoid complications, hire a crane together with the contractor. This way, you are sure that the contractor is well-versed with the crane, and they are less likely to cause an accident.

They also are more likely to take good care of the crane as they use it regularly.

When you visit the rental companies, don’t just accept the operator recommended by the company. Instead, take your time to review their certifications and ensure they are experienced enough and authorized to work in your area.

Do you need to prepare the site?

Sometimes, you might need to prepare your work site to reduce the chances of accidents. Before renting a crane, bring a geotechnical expert to examine the area and recommend the best place to install the crane.

When hiring, find engineers supplying you with the ground-bearing pressures your equipment will exert on your location. If these pressure levels need to be reduced, the engineers will work with you to devise solutions to reduce the values to acceptable levels.

If the intended crane position is on disturbed soil, you may have to compact the soils. Remember that you shouldn’t erect cranes on disturbed or freshly backfilled soil, so you must give the soil time to settle before you bring on the crane.

Occasionally, the ideal site for the crane is above utilities, pipes, vaults, vessels, or other vital objects that may impact the crane’s capacity to support its operation at that location.

You must know about these subsurface problems to avoid damage.

To avoid accidents, work with engineers with extensive expertise in dealing with these difficulties and are eager to collaborate with you to find a solution.

Parting shot

When hiring a crane from crane services DC, you should ask these questions. As a rule of thumb, take your time hiring the crane.

Take your time and find a crane that is the right size and type for your project.

You also should hire an experienced crane operator who will minimize the chances of accidents and take good care of the crane.

Finally, properly prepare your work site. As a rule of thumb, work with experienced engineers who will adequately prepare the area and, at the same time, guide you on the best procedure to lift your load.

Tricks to Spend Less with Rented Cranes

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When hiring a crane for your project, you don’t want to spend too much on it. Profit margin drives decision-making in every aspect of construction, and even seemingly insignificant project modifications—like overspending or underperforming equipment—can have a big effect on the final financial result.

Due to this, getting every detail right is crucial.

When renting cranes from the crane rentals, you can avoid overspending by taking the time to plan and procure cranes, as well as by taking into account some basic site considerations.

The things you need to consider include:

Rent a small cane for small sites

A small crane with a remote control is the most economical option if you have a low-intensity site with a small workforce (12–15 workers, for example) and a required lift capacity of up to two tonnes, which would suggest you were building something with a timber frame or conventional houses using pallets of bricks, blocks, and mortar.

You will reduce the running costs greatly if you employ a remote-controlled model that only requires one person to load the hook and operate the crane controls.

Additionally, you can train multiple site workers to perform this task, allowing you to continue working without waiting for a single trained worker to return. This keeps the crane running and the project moving forward.

If, on the other side, you have a large site, you should get a tower crane. This crane is ideal when loads exceed two tones at thirty meters, and your project takes over twenty weeks.

Compared to mobile cranes with a comparable lifting capacity, saddle jib or flat-top cranes are more affordable to hire and come in various height and jib configurations. So, if your project fits into the crane, go for it.

Hire cranes that are tall enough.

A crane’s height significantly influences costs. And it’s not just the cost of the rental. Also, the costs of keeping the crane running.

You need more concrete and steel for the base of a taller crane to be huge and strong enough to support the crane’s weight.

Additionally, taller cranes use more electricity and emit more carbon dioxide. Therefore, even a slight reduction in the height required for your lifting requirements might impact your overall expenditures.

To ensure that you don’t rent a crane that is too tall than you need, determine the highest point that the crane can reach. This dimension will assist you in figuring out the necessary crane height. As you decide on the right crane, consider any impediments or barriers that could limit the crane’s reach.

These include power lines, neighboring buildings, trees, and so on.

Position the materials appropriately.

The cranes’ location and other building site features will also impact your expenses. One well-known instance that frequently happens is when a materials shop is placed in the center of a courtyard or other open space on the property.

If you have multiple cranes, this implies that while one is loading, the other cannot reach the materials and must wait, wasting time in the process.

In addition to raising the chance of collisions, this configuration often makes site operations challenging and ineffective.

Optimizing the location of the materials store within the overall lifting plan will guarantee seamless operations, resulting in longer hook times and lower crane rental expenses.

For a great experience, provide open, unobstructed access to these locations.

You also should ensure the site has well-built walkways and access roads so the cranes can navigate it. These paths should be clear of obstructions and large enough to fit both cranes.

As a rule of thumb, have a specific location for storing the materials. Ensure that both cranes can easily access this area. This area should be placed strategically to reduce the distance that cranes must go to pick up items.

Ensure the crane has enough power.

You will need three-phase power if you install lift shafts—most tall structures do. The power should be installed as soon as possible to use the tower crane’s primary power during construction.

You should ensure that you have enough power before you bring on the crane because doing so is far less expensive than using a generator, even with the additional rental fees, fuel tank, and fuel.

You can cut the costs throughout a building project with a few easy adjustments, including one-time hire fees and continuous operating costs.

Work with the right team.

Finally, you should ensure that you have the right team. This calls for you to ensure that everyone, from the crane operator to the riggers, is experienced and knows what they are doing.

Many people will argue that you will end up spending more money than you need when hiring expert riggers, but this isn’t the case.

When you hire experts, as much as they will be a little expensive to hire at first, they will save you a lot of money in the long run.

When you hire inexperienced contractors, as much as they will be cheap, they might cost you too much money. This is because they will do substandard work, and you will have to redo it, which will likely be too expensive.

There is also the risk of the crane breaking down or even getting damaged due to being handled by inexperienced technicians.

As much as you want to spend less on your project, take time and find experienced professionals. Thankfully, most crane service DC providers have their team that they work with; hence, you don’t need to worry about finding the right team to work with.

5 Overhead Crane Myths You Should be Aware Of

Overhead cranes are highly versatile and can be used in various applications. Due to their versatility, there are plenty of myths surrounding them. These myths include:

You can get away with overloading the cranes.

The common misconception is that overhead cranes have several safety features, such as an overload prevention system, so you don’t have to worry about overloading the overhead crane.

Even if some sections of the overhead crane have built-in safety features, the overall safety of the overhead crane system cannot be guaranteed under overloading.

The reason for this is that overloading a crane can stress its components beyond their design limits, potentially resulting in structural failure. This can lead to catastrophic mishaps, such as the crane falling, putting workers in danger and inflicting extensive damage to the surrounding environment.

Even occasionally, overloading a crane can severely shorten the crane’s lifespan. Repetitive stress on the crane’s components can cause premature wear and tear, necessitating more regular maintenance and repairs.

Overloading a crane jeopardizes its stability and balance, increasing the possibility of an accident. The crane could also tip over or swing unexpectedly, endangering operators, adjacent employees, and the load itself.

Overloading can also damage crane components, including the hoist, trolley, wheels, and structural elements. This might lead to expensive repairs and downtime for the crane.

Loading a crane beyond capacity can even result in legal ramifications, fines, and regulatory penalties. When you rent a crane from crane rentals, it’s your responsibility to ensure the safety of your employees and equipment, and intentionally overloading a crane is a breach of workplace safety standards.

To stay on the safe side, always use your crane as per the laid down regulations. As a rule of thumb, never overload your machine.

You should lift until you reach the upper limit switch

The upper limit switch is a safety mechanism that prevents the crane from rising any higher when it has reached a predetermined safe height. Its purpose is to prevent collision with obstacles, the trolley from striking the end of the runway, and the hook assembly from potentially damaging the crane or the load.

The misconception is that you should lift your crane until it hits the upper limit switch. In overhead cranes, lifting till you hit the upper limit switch is not encouraged and can be dangerous.

Instability can result from lifting a weight until the upper limit switch engages. This is because you can have unexpected swinging or shifting of the load, which could result in accidents, injuries, or damage to the load itself.

Using only the upper limit switch can give you a false sense of security. Assuming that the limit switch will always avoid accidents, you can become complacent and fail to adequately examine the load, the surroundings, and other potential threats.

If the load is too heavy, the crane may approach the upper limit switch while remaining within its load capability. This can result in unintended overloading, which is dangerous and can harm the crane.

To protect your crane and prevent accidents, you should avoid relying on the limit switch and follow the right crane procedures instead.

The secondary brake will prevent injury.

In overhead cranes, a secondary brake is an additional safety element that provides an extra layer of protection if the primary brake system fails.

The primary brake system is in charge of stopping the crane’s motion when it is not in use, while the secondary brake is designed to engage in the case of a primary system failure, preventing the crane from moving unintentionally.

Some people think that just because the overhead crane has a secondary brake, they can work safely beneath a load. Well, this is wrong.

Secondary brakes are intended to serve as a backup safety measure in the event the primary braking system fails. They are not, however, a guarantee against unintentional crane movement, and depending entirely on secondary brakes while operating beneath a crane can still pose major safety risks.

Many risks come with working underneath a crane, even with all the brakes engaged, so you should avoid doing it. If you have to work beneath a crane, use correct safety measures, such as wearing adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), staying clear of loads, and carefully collaborating with crane operators and other people working on the site.

Using the reverse button is the best way to stop the crane

The believe that when the crane is moving in one direction, the most convenient way to control velocity is to press the reversal button, is wrong.

Reverse plugging speed control was a viable method of controlling speed in the past, but for modern motors and contactors, which are much more compact, heat causes premature component failure.

Because current motors have various means of soft start and soft stop, usually with variable AC inverters, reverse plugging is no longer a choice with more advanced designs.

You can push the reverse button all you want, but it will only work once the crane comes to a complete stop.

To be safe and ensure that your crane stops when you want it to, you should use the brakes and not the reverse button.

Since the crane worked yesterday, it will work today

Some people treat a crane like a car. Since it worked perfectly yesterday, it will work today. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case.

Anything can go wrong since cranes lift heavy loads and work long hours. To stay safe and have peace of mind that the crane is in good working condition, you should inspect it.

You should note that you shouldn’t only inspect it when getting it from the crane rental services VA but also rent it every day before you start the lifting.

During the inspection, take a brief look around the area. Is the crane in good working order? Is there anything dangling? Is there evidence of crashes or damage?

You also should listen to the crane. Start the hoist. Is there any strange noise made when it reaches the upper limit switch or is dropped to the ground? Is the trolley and bridge movement audible when in use? Are there any other sounds? If present, you should find their source and fix them.

Best Tips When Working with Boom Lifts

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Boom lifts are essential for correctly deploying and completing many construction projects. However, this equipment’s size, scale, and structure can also represent a significant risk and potentially inflict serious injury if proper safety precautions are not implemented.

These safety precautions are critical to consider and execute when using boom lifts, as they can help prevent injuries, accidents, property damage, and liability concerns.

Hire trained operators

Hiring individuals who have been properly trained to operate boom lifts and who maintain essential safety certificates and knowledge will assist you and your other employees remain safe while the boom lift is in use.

In most cases, the operators will come with the boom lift when you hire it from the crane services, but if this isn’t the case, you have to hire one from your area.

Before hiring new operators, test them with hands-on activities demonstrating their operational knowledge of the lift. This way, you are sure that in the event of problems, they will easily address them before any accidents occur on the job.

When you receive applications, shortlist the applicants who suit your needs. You should scan the resumes for relevant experience, licenses, certificates, and other credentials you listed in the job advertisement.

When operating cranes, safety is a priority; therefore, ensure that the candidates you hire know what they are doing. Ensure the contractor you hire has ample knowledge of safety practices, laws, and industry standards.

Hire a qualified spotter.

Besides hiring a crane operator, you also should hire a spotter. This is because a crane might have blind spots, and the spotter serves as the operator’s eyes and ears while on the job.

Like the crane operator, ensure that every spotter you hire is qualified to handle the equipment for which they are spotting and have hands-on experience to assist them in identifying any blind spots or other concerns.

For example, the crane spotter should be able to set and enforce crane signals, recognize potential hazards, and maintain constant communication with the crane operator.

Have a clear base and circumference.

While the boom lift is in use, ensure the base and the entire circumference are clear of any workers. The radius of the lift is frequently large, and different items can easily fall from the platform and seriously injure anyone standing below.

Keeping the entire space free reduces the possibility of somebody getting hit below by falling debris.

Boom lifts can also tip over. However, this is extremely rare. Keeping the area beneath and surrounding the boom lift free will help ensure that no one is injured if the structure collapses.

Don’t go over the weight limit.

Each boom lift has a different weight limit. Knowing the limitations and ensuring you don’t go past them is critical. This is because going beyond this limit, even slightly, may cause the lift to become top-heavy and tip over.

Before operating the lift, one should always account for the weight of the operator on the lift as well as all tools and supplies on the platform to ensure that the total weight does not exceed the recommended capacity. It is also crucial to remember not to use the boom lift for heavy lifting.

Avoid climbing or sitting on the outer edges.

When standing on a boom lift platform, it’s easy to be tempted to climb on the platform’s edge to reach something rather than moving the entire boom lift.

You should avoid this as it’s more harmful than many people realize. Climbing or sitting on the platform’s edge considerably increases one’s risk of falling off and sustaining severe injury.

If something is inaccessible, communicate with the boom lift operator to assist in getting to a safe place in the platform where you can easily reach what you want.

Avoid working when it’s too windy.

Wind can be a significant safety problem when a boom lift is extended too high. The strong wind can topple a boom lift if it is strong enough. To prevent the possibility of a boom lift collapsing, users should avoid utilizing them in highly windy or other poor weather conditions.

Each lift has a wind limit that it can endure; reading the user guide will assist you in understanding the unique constraints of the lift they are operating and identifying tactics for using the lift in adverse weather.

Operate the crane properly.

Reading the manufacturer’s instructions thoroughly will assist an operator in understanding how to manage the boom lift properly and when it is and isn’t safe to move the lift while it is extended.

It is advisable to avoid relocating the lift in this manner as a best practice. Moving a lift while extended increases the risk of injury and should be done only when absolutely required and only if specifically permitted by the manufacturer’s manual. Otherwise, the boom lift should be lowered, moved, and extended as needed.

Inspect the crane before use.

You should inspect the crane before each usage to ensure it is in excellent operating order. Inspect the tracks and tires for signs of wear and damage. Check the fluid levels, including those for the engine, hydraulic, and oil, before turning on the equipment.

For cracks and damage, examine hydraulic hoses, buckets, booms, and other pieces. Confirm that every attachment is securely put in place. Finally, before starting up the equipment, ensure all the lights, backup alarms, gauges, and horns are operational.

Beware of your surroundings.

You must be aware of your surroundings and any potential hazards. To avoid coming into touch with overhead electrical lines, for example, de-energize them or install barriers if that is not possible.

You also should check that all utilities, including sewer, water, gas, and electricity, have been located and accurately labeled to avoid harming subsurface facilities, causing delays, and adding to the burden when digging.

Workers should avoid areas where heavy machinery is utilized whenever possible. Furthermore, operators should be cautious of the swing radius, particularly when operating in tight quarters, to avoid colliding with other workers, onlookers, neighboring cars, or other machinery or equipment.

Parting shot

Operating boom lifts can be challenging and dangerous, but following the above tips will help prevent on-site accidents and injuries. For peace of mind that the crane will get the work done without many issues, rent the crane from reputable crane rental services VA.

5 Best Crane Practices

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Cranes have unrivaled mobility, maneuverability, and lift radius, allowing them to excel in small and large areas. While everyone understands the fundamental operation of a crane, it is equally critical to learn how to manage them and maximize their output.

To help you out, here are the best practices to consider when hiring a crane for your project.

Rent the right crane.

When selecting a crane, it is critical to consider the construction site’s terrain, potential impediments, and access limits.

You should note that cranes have varied weight loads, boom lengths, and other features. This makes the different cranes ideal for various applications.

A mobile crane, for example, would be excellent for simple load transportation from one area to another.

A tower crane, on the other hand, would be suitable for large-scale architectural buildings.

Choosing the proper crane for the suitable project location ensures that you have both efficiency and safety. The crane will also be cheaper to run in the long haul as it will do the work how it’s meant to.

Regardless of the type of crane you deem right for your project, ensure there are no obstructions on the site that will prevent the crane from reaching where you want it.

Before heading to the crane rentals, watch out for obstacles on your work site. These can be trees or buildings.

Remember that you want the task to go more smoothly, and you save some money, so always get rid of the obstacles before you hire the crane.

Get a package deal

Get the cranes as a package deal to save money and have peace of mind. This means that you shouldn’t just hire the crane. Also, get the various services and equipment that come with the crane.

An ideal crane package includes the crane rental, an operator to operate the crane, transportation of the crane to and from the job site, and occasionally extra equipment such as rigging and accessories.

By choosing a package offer, you can save time and effort by having the crane rental company manage everything.

When you are in the rental stores, don’t shy from expressing your exact demands and specifications to the rental provider so that the package deal can be tailored to your project.

As you rent the crane, be cautious of the number of cranes the rental company has. As a rule of thumb, rent from a company with many cranes. This way, you are sure that even if the crane that you hire breaks down, you can always get a replacement crane without incurring an additional fee.

Beware of safety and licenses required.

The last thing you want is to be on the wrong side of the law while looking to handle your project. To ensure this doesn’t happen, ensure you have the relevant licenses for the work.

As a rule, ensure the crane operator you hire has a High-Risk Work Licence (HRW).

When you have the proper licenses, you safeguard yourself and other people on the site.

You also should ensure that everyone on the site that you are working with is certified and authorized to work on such a site.

You should always hire a qualified rigger as you will not only put your life and that of others on the site in danger but also risk damaging the crane and other accessories.

Have all the necessary crane accessories

Besides the crane, you need plenty of other accessories depending on the nature of the project you are having.

Some of the accessories you might need include:

Rigging equipment: This includes slings, shackles, hooks, and chains that are used to secure and hoist the weight. The type and size of rigging equipment you use vary depending on the load’s weight and dimensions.

Spreader Bars: These horizontal bars with attachment points help disperse the load evenly and keep the crane stable. They come in handy when lifting large or wide goods.

Lifting beams: They are similar to spreader bars and give additional support and stability during lifting operations. They are more effective when lifting objects with several attachment points or that require extra clearance.

Crane Mats: Also known as crane pads, crane mats are placed beneath the crane’s wheels or tracks to protect the ground surface and give stability. You use them on delicate surfaces like asphalt or grass.

Load Monitoring Systems: These systems monitor and display the weight of the load being lifted and other important information. They give the crane operator real-time feedback, ensuring safe lifting techniques and reducing overloading.

You should double-check the systems to confirm they are working before hiring. It’s also wise to always inspect them before you do any lifting.

Work with a reputable crane company.

The crane company you work with greatly impacts the crane experience you get. When you work with a horrible crane company, chances are that you will have a horrendous experience.

The wrong company also won’t honor your agreement. For example, when you agree that the company will take care of the transport costs of the crane, they might fail to do it.

You should take your time to visit different crane companies and see what they have before you decide to work with one.

An ideal rental company should have a fleet of well-maintained, modern cranes in good functioning order. Reliable equipment ensures that operations are efficient and safe. You also save time and money as the machines don’t keep failing.

Since you are looking for a package deal, you want to ensure that the company has plenty of highly skilled and experienced crane operators.

When you work with competent operators, you are sure that lifting operations will go smoothly and successfully.

Safety is essential when dealing with heavy machinery, including cranes, so you must ensure that the crane services VA provider has a strong safety culture, adheres to industry norms and standards, and regularly examines and repairs their equipment to ensure safe operations.

When you are in the rental stores, ask to see the crane maintenance records.

Way in Which a Crane Rigging Training Can Benefit Your Crane Project

Before launching your crane rigging project, it’s highly recommended that you undertake proper crane training. This is because the training comes with plenty of benefits. They include:

Increases safety

Rigging training ensures that crane operators and other rigging employees understand proper safety measures, which lowers the likelihood of accidents and injuries occurring on the site.

When you undertake proper training, your workers know how to select and inspect rigging equipment, ensuring the appropriate equipment is used for each project. Using the right equipment reduces the risk of accidents and injuries.

The workers also correctly calculate the weight of the load and determine the appropriate rigging equipment and techniques to use, making the project proceed fast and safely.

The workers keep everyone on the site safe by ensuring that the load is balanced and steady when lifting. Remember that improper load location can induce swinging and sometimes even falling, which can be catastrophic.

Communication is usually a large part of the training. Through the training, the crane operator and other workers on the site easily communicate, ensuring that everyone is aware of the plan and the dangers involved. This eliminates confusion and errors.

Through the training, the workers understand the regulations and standards that govern crane operation and rigging.

By following the rules, they make the site safe and reduce the risk of fines and penalties.

It increases efficiency

As you can tell, when everyone is properly trained, the personnel can choose, examine, and use rigging equipment correctly.

This leads to faster and more efficient rigging procedures, lowering project completion time and enhancing production.

The personnel can also communicate better, which comes in handy in increasing efficiency.

You might be wondering how better communication enhances project efficiency, but it has been shown that when everyone on the site speaks the same language, the project is bound to proceed fast.

Reduces equipment damage

When your personnel knows what is going on and how to load the equipment properly, they are less likely to damage the rigging equipment.

This is because the training assists individuals in comprehending rigging principles such as load capacity, weight distribution, and center of gravity. This helps the workers make more informed decisions when using rigging equipment.

Adequately trained personnel know how to care for the various equipment, so you always have equipment in top shape.

When you work with untrained personnel, there is the risk of them failing to properly rig the load, which, as you can tell, increases the risk of damage to both the load and equipment.

Ensures that you comply with the regulations.

Every jurisdiction requires that every worker be properly trained on proper handling of the rigging equipment and machines, so by properly training your personnel, you comply with these regulations, which comes in handy in ensuring that you are safe.

You give your personnel confidence in their work.

Nothing beats uncertainty, especially with hanging loads and heavy rigging equipment.

Exposing the personnel to the various cranes and letting them practice and have fun with them gives them plenty of confidence in their work as they know they have already practiced with them. They are sure that what they are doing is the right thing.

Furthermore, training will assist your entire team in mastering the movements and capabilities of your cranes and other equipment, providing them with greater confidence in using these tools to finish the project fast.

You promote teamwork

Since your workers go for training together, it significantly helps build a bond which comes in handy in helping them to keep an eye out for each other.

A good rigging safety program will teach your workers how to stay safe on the job site and communicate with each other better, ensuring that everyone has an easy time working together.

You prevent accidents

This is an obvious one since your employees are properly trained on proper handling of cranes and machines, they tend to be extremely cautious when working, which comes in handy in ensuring that there are no accidents at the work site.

You give your personnel long-term knowledge.

Safety rules for cranes are always subject to change, but the basic ideas stay the same. By learning how to maintain the crane, you can help your team work well together for a long time and pass this knowledge on to new workers.

You save money

You might think you waste money when you enroll your employees in training, but this isn’t the case. While you might spend money on the training, these programs work to your advantage in the long run.

For example, when your employees are properly trained, accidents are less likely. This means you don’t worry about accidents and damaged equipment that can deplete your budget, primarily if you work with large machinery and expensive materials.

When your crew works efficiently, you will save time, improving your bottom line.

There are also fewer chances of your equipment getting damaged, so you don’t have to spend money on repairs now and then.

You give your employees better job opportunities.

Rigging is a highly sought-after specialized skill in the construction, manufacturing, and entertainment industries. Employers frequently seek candidates with rigging experience, and training in rigging can make your employees more desirable candidates.

Rigging will help your employees develop a broader range of rigging-related skills and knowledge, enabling them to assume greater responsibilities in their line of work.

As you can tell, this leads to more opportunities for career advancement and promotion.

Parting shot

These are some of the perks of taking your employees for training. You must enroll your employees in professional training to stand out and have peace of mind that the project is being handled professionally.

This means that besides budgeting for the cranes from the crane rentals VA, always budget for proper training. You might think all training is the same, but this isn’t the case.

Take your time to find the right one.

You might be attracted to cheap training but don’t take this as it will most likely lead to problems.

Tips to Control Load During Rigging

crane rigging

When undertaking crane rigging or any other type of rigging, one of the most important things to pay attention to is load control. When you control the load, you complete your project quickly and keep the other people on the site safe.

To help you out, here are load control measures you should take into account to ensure that your rigging is safe and fast:

Know the weight you are lifting.

One of the most important parts of keeping load control is ensuring the load is rigged and lifted correctly for its weight.

Often, the weight of the load will be written on it. Or, if it’s a load you lift regularly, you’ll already know how much it weighs.

If you don’t know the weight of the load or it isn’t written on the load, there are several ways to figure it out. These ways include:

Look at the bill of lading or other shipping paperwork
Engineered prints or design plans
Use an industrial scale
Check the specifications or catalog data from the manufacturer.
Use load cells or dynamometers

Mark the center of gravity

You need to find the load’s center of gravity before lifting it safely (COG). One easy way to do this is to set up the load and slowly lift it a few inches off the ground while watching where the weight shifts.

Once you’ve found the COG, set up the load so that:

The center of gravity should be right below the load hook.

The load’s connections should be above the COG.

You should note that if the load is connected below the COG, the load could flip over, which could cause shock loading and cause the lift to fail.

If the load hook is not above the COG, it will shift or swing toward it when lifted. If the load is moved too quickly toward the COG, it can fall over.

If the load is not rigged correctly according to the COG, you can lose control of the load, which could hurt the load, nearby structures, or even workers on the job site.

Use the right rigging and lifting equipment.

You need to use the right equipment to keep your load balanced. Some of the equipment you need include:

No touch tools: You use hand tools when a load has pinch points that are too dangerous to touch or move with your hands. With these tools, the load can be moved and handled without touching it, which keeps you safe.

Rigging Hardware: These include hoist rings, swivels, shackles, and other pieces of rigging hardware that you can use with lifting slings. The hardware can connect slings to the hook on the load or the crane or even to other slings. Hardware for rigging can also connect the load directly to the hoist or crane hook.

Devices for lifting below the hook: A below-the-hook lifting device can help when a load is broad, too big, or has a strange shape. Because these tools are made to order, they can control and support loads better than standard rigging. You can change below-the-hook lifting devices to lift metal coils, furnaces, pallets, and more.

Use the right sling hitch.

Like the lifting equipment, you need to use the right sling hitch. Three main types of hitches are ideal for different applications:

Vertical hitch: The load is most likely to twist and sway with a vertical hitch, so you may need to use tag lines to keep the load from swinging into a nearby building. You shouldn’t use vertical hitches to move long, loose items like a bundle of pipes that could fall over when moved.

Choker hitch: Do not use a choker hitch to move loose or uneven loads. You can use the hitch to pull loose or unbalanced loads if wrapped around the load twice.

Basket hitch: You shouldn’t use basket hitches on loads that are hard to balance. These hitches work best on evenly balanced loads.

When none of the three basic hitch types is the best way to rig the load, work with an experienced industrial rigging MD rigger who can use a sling assembly with more than two legs. With these assemblies, the rigger can connect the load in more than one place, making it more stable and easy to control.

The Right Way to Rent a Crane

crane rentals

No doubt, renting cranes for a construction project can be scary. Crane rental can be especially hard for a person with no prior experience.

It doesn’t help that even the most minor mistake could cost a lot of money, and that’s not even counting the possibility of legal consequences for horrible mistakes.

When renting cranes, you don’t have to try and see what works. Here are a few easy ways to keep things running smoothly with the help of crane hire experts.

Research

No matter what you’re looking for, the Internet can make it easy for you to find a match. When it comes to renting cranes, all you have to do is click a few buttons.

But if you go with the first great deal, you put your building project at risk that you don’t need to. It’s easy to be surprised by hidden fees from a rental company that isn’t as trustworthy as it claims to be.

The best way to research is to go online and make a list of possible candidates, in addition to looking at testimonials and feedback.

You should then plan to interview these companies. The best place to interview these companies is at their offices. While at their offices, get to know about their experience level and the number and quality of their cranes.

Remember that you are better off with a company with many cranes. This is because you have peace of mind that if the crane breaks down, you can get a replacement quickly and without paying extra.

Accidents are common on construction sites, so it’s a brainer to want to work with an insured company.

You should interview three to five companies and settle on the best one.

Think about the distance to your site.

Once you have enough options to compare, consider how close or far the rental service is from where the project will be done. A few extra miles might seem like a little, but you also have to think about traffic.

Depending on when you need to move the cranes, even the smallest traffic jam could cause a lot of trouble.

When picking the best crane rental service for your business, distance is one of the most important factors because getting cranes to the site takes a lot of work.

Why put yourself in danger by choosing a service that is too far from your site?

You want to rent from a company close to your site, which saves you time as you don’t spend too much money and is less trouble as you don’t have a lot to deal with on the road.

Before you sign the rental agreement, you should agree with the rental company on who will be responsible for the logistics of delivering and picking up the crane.

It will be better if the company can provide the service at an extra fee as you are sure they will install it correctly for you. After all, they are experienced with it.

Get your site ready for the crane.

Aside from renting a crane, getting the site ready is also something to consider. Is everything ready for the crane, including the rigging equipment and any other details that might come up?

During transportation, is it necessary to get a permit to use the road around the project site? Can you stay in touch with the rental service during the transportation process to ensure everything goes well?

Before renting a crane, you need to know the answers to all these questions.

Remember that the last thing you should do is wait until the crane arrives for you to get ready. This is because most crane rentals VA will charge you by the hour. This means that the longer you stay with the crane, the more you pay.

You can now imagine having the crane on your site then you start getting ready. It will cost you a lot, won’t it? So always be ready before you bring it to the site. This way, you start immediately, saving you a lot of money in the long run.