Tag Archives: crane hire company

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.

Guide to Hiring the Right Crane for Your Project and Save Money

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When you are looking to hire a crane for your project, you want a crane that will not only perfectly handle your project, but also save you money, right? If this is the first time you hire a crane from crane rental services, here are tips to ensure you hire the right unit.

When you have a small site

You need a small crane if you have a low-intensity site with a small number of workers (12-15) and a required lift capacity of up to two tonnes.

A classic example is when you are building a timber frame or conventional house using pallets of bricks, blocks, and mortar. In such an instance, you need a small tower crane controlled by a remote control.

You can considerably cut your running costs by employing this type of crane with one worker loading the hook and operating the crane controls.

You should teach many site workers to undertake this function, allowing you to continue operating in the event of an absence rather than waiting for a single trained operator to return.

As you can tell, this keeps the crane operational and the project on track. You also don’t rely on one person to do all the work.

When you have a large or busy site

A tower crane will be more appropriate if your loads exceed two tons at 30 meters, and your project will take 20 weeks or longer.

Saddle jib or flat-top cranes are available in various height and jib configurations, making them more versatile and less expensive to hire than mobile cranes with comparable lifting capabilities.

Be cautious of the height of the crane.

The height of a crane significantly impacts costs. The tall crane is not only expensive to hire, but also requires a larger and stronger base to withstand the stresses, which necessitates a lot more concrete and steel.

Taller cranes also require more electricity and emit more carbon emissions. As a result, even a modest reduction in the height required for your lifting requirements might significantly impact your overall costs.

Before you hire a crane, take your time and find out if there is any way you can hire a slightly shorter crane than you would ordinarily need. This calls for you to work closely with experienced contractors who know what they are doing.

Watch where you position the crane.

The placement of the crane, as well as other construction site factors, will impact your final expenses. A common example is when a materials shop is placed in the middle of a courtyard or the center of the site.

This means that if you have more than one crane, when one is loading, the other cannot get to the materials and must sit idle, wasting time.

This configuration significantly increases the likelihood of collisions and makes site operations complex and inefficient.

To save time and money, set up the materials store conveniently. This way, you will have maximum hook time and low crane-hire expenses.

Ensure you have enough power.

Three-phase power is required for sites installing a lift shaft, as most tall buildings do. Wherever possible, you should install power as the first thing, allowing you to use mains power for the tower crane during construction.

This is substantially less expensive than using a generator with its related hire charges, fuel tank, and fuel.

Be cautious of the rental company you hire from

The rental company you choose to hire from has a significant impact on the crane you hire and your experience.

As a rule, don’t hire from a rental company with a single or a few cranes. This is because you won’t get a replacement crane in the event the one you are using breaks down.

The best way to do it is to hire from a company with many cranes. As much as the company is expensive, you should note that you might save a lot of money in the long run.

This is because if the crane you are using breaks down, you need to notify the rental company, and they replace the crane at no extra cost on your part.

Hire a well-maintained crane.

How well-maintained the crane is is important as it determines how well it functions, not to mention how much money you spend.

As a rule of thumb, you should hire a crane that is in perfect shape. This calls for you to do a double or even triple-check on the maintenance records of the crane and ensure that it’s well taken care of.

You should avoid a poorly maintained crane as it will keep breaking down, and you don’t want this.

A well-maintained crane will indeed be a little expensive to hire, but in the long run, it will be cheaper as it will function more efficiently and won’t break down too regularly, which means that you will complete your project without many complications, and within the shortest time possible.

Parting shot

You don’t have to be complicated when it comes to saving money when undertaking crane hire VA. You only need simple modifications to lower your expenses throughout a building project, both in one-time hire prices and continuing operational expenditures.

When doing the hiring, don’t hire from any company. Instead, take your time and hire from a reputable company with many cranes to hire from.

As a rule of thumb, don’t hire from a small company with a single crane. Even if they give you a great offer, they might be too expensive.

As mentioned, a small crane company has no replacement crane when the one you are using breaks down. The consequence is you are forced to hire another crane from a different company, which, as you can tell, is too costly.

Heavy Machinery Movers: Which Is the Best for You?

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Moving big machinery is difficult and often requires the use of specialized equipment. The common areas you need to undertake heavy machinery moving are in industrial and construction environments.

If you want to move heavy machinery, a wide range of heavy equipment movers are available. They include:

Forklifts

Forklifts are flexible equipment to lift and move large machinery within a facility. They are available in various capacities and configurations, ranging from small electric forklifts for interior use to bigger diesel-powered forklifts for outdoor use.

Forklifts are ideal for short-distance transportation, but you can also use them for long-distance or off-road movements.

When hiring a forklift, consider the task you want to undertake with the machine. Are you using it in warehouse operations, construction, or manufacturing? Think about this before hiring.

You also need to determine the forklift’s weight capacity and height requirements. This will give you an idea of what the forklift can do and the areas you can use it.

Finally, consider the topography and operating circumstances of the forklift. Are you looking to use it inside, outdoors, or in a difficult terrain? Think about this and hire the right one.

Mobile cranes

Mobile cranes are known for their capacity to lift and transport huge items. There are many types of these cranes, including hydraulic, rough, and all-terrain cranes.

Mobile cranes are ideal for moving heavy machinery on building sites and other outdoor locations. You can equip them with various attachments to meet specific lifting and movement needs.

When hiring mobile cranes, ensure that you hire the right ones that will be able to lift your intended equipment and navigate your area.

The last thing you want is to hire a crane to discover that you can’t use it in your location.

Crawler cranes

These are tracked, self-propelled machines built for large lifting. These machines have the benefit of being stable and mobile on rough terrain, making them ideal for moving big machinery in difficult situations.

Crawler cranes are best used in major construction projects when agility is critical.

When hiring the crane, ensure that it can work in your area.

Transporter systems

Self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) are specialized equipment for transferring big loads. These systems comprise several wheeled modules that may be separately operated, providing for precision movement and weight distribution.

SPMTs are best used to transport huge and heavy machinery, such as transformers and industrial components.

Rigging and skidding equipment

Rigging and skidding equipment comprises hydraulic jacks, skid shoes, and other items used to lift, move, and position heavy machines.

This equipment is best used when moving machinery in a restricted space or when a more cost-effective alternative is required.

Towing and recovery vehicles

Towing and recovery vehicles are used to transport broken or damaged heavy machinery. These vehicles are available in various sizes and capabilities, making them suited for various recovery and transportation jobs.

Hydraulic platform trailers

Hydraulic platform trailers are designed to transport large and heavy goods. They feature hydraulic systems you can change to handle different weights and sizes. These trailers are widely used on public roadways to move big equipment across long distances.

Things to consider when hiring heavy equipment movers

For you to get the most from the machinery you are hiring, you need to consider several things, including:

Weight and dimensions of the machinery

You must consider the weight and dimensions of the equipment you must transport. Heavier and larger machinery may necessitate using specialist machinery movers such as mobile cranes, crawler cranes, or transporter systems.

Choosing the right heavy machinery movers is critical in logistics to ensure industrial equipment’s safe and efficient movement.

Terrain and location

The terrain and location you are looking to use the machine are critical factors in selecting the right mover. Rough terrain may necessitate crawlers or all-terrain mobile cranes, while indoor environments may benefit from forklifts or rigging equipment.

Distance and accessibility

The distance that you need to move the moving machine and the route’s accessibility are critical considerations you should make.

If you want to move the equipment over a long distance, you should go with hydraulic platform trailers or specialist carriers, whereas indoor or tight places may need rigging equipment.

Safety

Compliance with safety standards and permissions may determine which machinery mover suits your requirements.

Always make sure that you are adhering to all legal and safety regulations to prevent accidents from coming about.

As a rule of thumb, ensure your machinery is strong enough to move your intended machine.

When transporting heavy machinery, footwear is extremely vital because anything that falls might easily injure personnel’s feet. This can lead to issues like accident litigation and employees missing work, which you certainly don’t want to happen.

To keep your employees safe, provide them with the relevant footwear.

You can use machine skates for smaller machinery that must be transported across your business.

Machine skates are an excellent alternative for moving machinery across a factory or shop floor without heavy lifting. As the name implies, this entails placing the equipment on ultra-strong machine-moving skates to transport it to its new location effortlessly.

You should use lifting jacks when placing the machinery on top of the machine skates. Installing the machinery on the skates takes little time, depending on the size of the machinery you are lifting.

Parting shot

You can use this equipment to move heavy machinery for crane rigging DC or any other task.

For an easy time, maintain clear communication with everyone involved.

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.

What Should You Consider When Renting A Crane From A Crane Rental Company?

Are you looking to hire a crane from a crane services provider? There are plenty of factors you should consider when hiring. These factors include:

Hire the crane from a professional company

Many people looking to hire a crane go online and key in search terms such as “crane company near me” they then proceed to contact the first company they come across and hire it. This is wrong.

Just because a company ranks high in the search results doesn’t mean it’s the best.

The right thing you should do is to contact five or more companies near your area and request an interview. During the interview, you should ask as many questions as possible that help you know more about the company and the nature of its cranes.

When you are in the rental stores, ask to see the cranes they have to hire and check their maintenance records. For peace of mind that the crane will give you great service, you should work with a properly maintained crane. If you come across a crane that isn’t up to date when it comes to maintenance, don’t work with it.

During the interview, you should also know who will be responsible for the installation and service backup. To save money, you should work with a company with technicians who will install the crane and help with the maintenance.

The company should also have a team of crane operators and riggers. This way, you have peace of mind that you won’t need to hire a professional to help with the crane operation and rigging work.

Have a clear plan of how you will do the work

It’s often said that you are planning to fail if you don’t have a plan. This means that for your project to succeed, you should have a solid plan on how you will go about it.

Before you even head to the rental stores, you should know the route the crane will use to get to your destination. If there are obstacles, you should get them out of the way, so you don’t waste too much time with the crane.

If you are getting the crane from a distance away, you need to plan how you will move the crane from the rental stores to your site.

If this is your first time having a crane project, it might be hard to devise a solid plan for executing everything, so it’s wise to work with a professional who will help you out.

Know the crane you need

What crane do you need to do the lifting? You should know about this before you head to the crane rental stores. This is because when you hire the wrong crane, you increase the chances of an accident happening.

Hiring the wrong crane also increases your money on the project. For example, when you hire a crane that is too small for your load, you will spend too much time with the crane hence you end up paying too much money for hiring the crane.

To be safe, you should work with a professional who will help determine the right crane for the work.

Hire an expert crane operator

You shouldn’t hire just anyone to operate your crane—you need to ensure that the professional you hire knows what they are doing and won’t cause an accident on your site.

As mentioned above, the best place to find a reputable crane operator is from the crane rental services VA providers.

The cool thing about hiring an operator from the crane company is that you have peace of mind that they are conversant with the crane. You are also sure that the rental company won’t entrust an unqualified person with the crane, so you can be sure that there are fewer chances of an accident on your site.

4 Mistakes You Might Be Making With Your Crane

Did you know that you could be doing the wrong thing with your crane without knowing? Here are some of the ways you could be making crane mistakes:

Using the wrong crane for the job

If you have visited crane rental services, you must have realized that there are many types of cranes you can rent.

One of the major mistakes people make is choosing the wrong crane for the job. To help you out, here are some of the major cranes you will find in the rental companies and how you can properly use them:

Carry deck cranes are highly mobile ones that feature excellent rotation and easy setup. While they are great, their major flaw is they don’t handle rough terrain well.

Rough terrain cranes: Although rough terrain cranes can’t travel on public roads, they tend to handle difficult grades exceptionally well and will get the work done when working on tough terrain.

Crawler cranes: Since they use tracks instead of rubber wheels, crawler cranes are excellent for sites with soft terrain.

All-terrain cranes: They have the advantage of being able to travel on their own to the job site, and they handle the rough terrain extremely well when they arrive.

You have to rent the right one to get the most from your crane. If you aren’t sure about the right one to go for, get the input of a professional.

You ignore load limits.

Different cranes have different load limits, and you should be ultra cautious of the limitations of your unit to prevent an accident.

As you are loading your crane, remember these things:

A crane will hold more weight when it’s on an outrigger than when on tires alone.
The crane will hold more weight if the boom stays over the front of the crane throughout the lift, whereas the capacity will be lower if the boom needs to swing.
The higher the load radius, the less weight the crane can lift.
To ensure that you never overload your crane, work with load charts.

You don’t read the operator manuals.

Even with highly experienced professionals, you should note that cranes from different manufacturers have unique controls, failsafe devices, and features. This means that even the most experienced professionals might not know everything about a crane.

This means that before you start working with the crane, carefully read the operator manuals and ensure that you understand everything pertaining to the cranes when it comes to:

Load capacities
Safety mechanisms
Operator controls
Stabilizers and counterweights

If you are having a problem understanding certain things in the manual, don’t ignore it—ask the technicians working in the crane rental companies.

You don’t inspect the crane.

After you have confirmed that the crane is in proper working condition in the rental stores, your work is done, right? Well, no.

For peace of mind and to reduce the chances of accidents happening on your site, you should regularly inspect your crane and ensure it’s in perfect working form.

Some of the inspections you should undertake include the following:

Pre-start checks: From their name, these are checks that you do before you start the crane. Your crane operator should check the tire condition, seat belts, oil levels, air reservoir, battery, and other factors.

Engine start-up checks: Before you start the daily work, the crane operator should start the engine, check the fuel level, pressure gauge, horn, signals, brain system, suspension, and other units and ensure they are in perfect condition.

Safety system inspections: To prevent catastrophic accidents, you should do safety system checks. During the inspections, evaluate the anti-two block, outriggers, and rated capacity limiter and ensure they are in perfect shape.

If there is a problem with your unit, regardless of how minor it is, don’t ignore it—fix it before you do the day’s work.

You work with the wrong professionals.

You shouldn’t hire just any contractor you meet. For the best outcome, take your time and hire experienced professionals that know what they are doing. The best contractors to work with are those from your local crane hire companies VA.

Common Crane Accident Causes And How To Prevent Them

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Since they are large, heavy, and carry heavy loads, cranes are often prone to accidents brought about by a number of factors. Which are these factors? Here they are as given by crane services:

Improper crane assembly

This happens when you improperly set up the crane. The reason why your crane won’t be properly set up is when you hire inexperienced professionals.

To avoid an accident from coming about due to improper crane assembly, hire the right professionals. As a rule of thumb, hire professionals with significant experience with the crane. You will even be better off hiring professionals working in the crane rental company.

To add another layer of safety, have the workers inspected by a senior competent and qualified professional.

While these professionals will charge you a little extra, they will be worth it as you will be sure they know what they are doing.

Improper training

Like other machines, people handing cranes need to be properly trained on proper crane handling and how to use them safely. To save money, some people hire the cheapest workers they can find.

In most cases, the cheap service providers are untrained and inexperienced, so they have a high chance of doing the wrong things and causing accidents.

To avoid accidents due to improperly trained workers, never hire untrained contractors. All the crane workers should be expertly trained in properly handling and using cranes. They also should have completed OSHA courses on proper crane operation.

Even if you have hired the best-trained workers, you should still train them at the work site to remind them of the crane dangers and how they should conduct themselves in an emergency.

Mechanical failures

Accidents due to mechanical failures happen when the crane stops working in the middle of a lift. Thankfully, you can easily prevent these failures by adequately maintaining the crane.

Inspect the crane as you are hiring it from the local rental stores. While there, insist on seeing the maintenance records and, as a rule of thumb, ensure that the crane is in top shape.

You also should make it a habit to inspect the crane before the start of the project and before you do any lift. This way, you have an easy time identifying issues with the crane and fixing them before you do the lifting.

Besides the crane, you also should inspect the rigging materials and confirm they aren’t worn out and are free of tears.

Overturned crane

What would make a crane overturn and cause an accident? The most common reason is overloading the machine. When you make the machine carry a heavier load than it’s supposed to, it will overturn.

The other reason is hiring an inexperienced crane operator. The same way some people hire unskilled crane workers is the same way they hire amateur crane operators. As you can guess, when the crane is under the control of an inexperienced operator, chances are high that it will overturn, among many other risks.

To prevent the crane from overturning, you should only load it the maximum allowed weight. Before you begin your project, check the manual to tell how much weight the crane can carry.

Some people try to cut costs by hiring a smaller crane for their project. Don’t do this. While you will save some money by hiring a smaller machine, you increase the chances of overloading the machine as you have to make it carry more weight so that you can complete the project on time.

The other way to prevent your crane from overturning is to ensure that it’s under the control of an experienced crane operator that knows what they are doing.

For peace of mind, hire the operator from the same rental company you hire the crane.

Ensure that the crane operator you hire is certified by a nationally accredited crane operator testing organization such as the National Commission for the certification of crane operators (NCCCO).

Parting shot

These are some common causes of crane accidents at the work site and how to prevent them from happening. To avoid accidents, hire a properly maintained crane from the crane hire VA.

You also should ensure that you work with experienced professionals that know what they are doing. You don’t want newbies that will mess up your project, do you?

What Makes A Good Crane Rental Company?

If you have a construction project or any other project requiring heavy lifting equipment, you need to rent a crane. You need to hire the crane from the right crane rental services provider to have a successful project.

What makes a good crane rental company? There are several factors to consider, with the common ones being:

Skilled and trained operators

When you rent a crane, you can hire your operator or hire one from the crane rental company.

If this is the first time you are renting a crane, you don’t know many operators, so it will be hard to find one.

To save time and money, you should work with the operator affiliated with the rental company. After all, they are experienced with the crane, which further reduces the chances of accidents happening on the site.

Just because the operator is working with the rental company doesn’t mean that you should simply hire them—you should do background checks to ensure that they are experienced enough.

The operator should be certified by the relevant bodies and organizations, such as the National Commission For The Certification Of Crane Operators (NCCO).

The operators should also be conversant with OSHA regulations.

A wide range of cranes

The rental company should also have many cranes to choose from. You might argue that you only need one crane, so you can hire it from a company with a single crane and complete your project.

While this is possible, you should note that you waste a lot of time and money should the crane break down.

For example, when the crane develops mechanical problems, you have no way out, other than to wait for it to be fixed or rent another crane from another company, which translates to wasted money.

To save money and have peace of mind, rent a crane from a company with many cranes. This way, you are sure that in the event the rented crane stalls, you can easily get a replacement without wasting much time or paying extra.

Well maintained cranes

It’s one thing having many cranes, and an entirely different ballgame having properly maintained cranes. As a rule of thumb, you need to ensure that your renting company keeps its cranes in pristine shape.

When you visit the rental company offices, ask to see the maintenance records of the cranes. A reputable company should religiously maintain the cranes. It will even be better if you can get in contact with the maintenance company and find out the crane’s history.

Competitive pricing

Price is vital, so you should pay close attention to it. Of course, before you hire a crane from any company, you must agree on the price.

Many people hire the first rental company they come across, often because they are in a hurry to start working. This is wrong.

The best way to go about it is to take your time and visit as many rental companies as possible. While there, you should compare the cranes available, the prices charged, and the condition of the crane.

When a company gives you a quotation, you should get to know what the quotation entails. Does it include the price of the contractor? Are the riggers included? You should know all of this before working with the contractor.

As much as you should strive to save as much money as possible, don’t work with an extremely cheap company as they might have poorly maintained cranes, and you spend too much money down the road.

For ideal results, work with a company that charges you a median fee, but provides excellent services.

Attractive terms and conditions

Every crane hire VA company has its set of rules and regulations that you have to work with. Of course, you need to work with a company with attractive terms and conditions.

Before you sign the rental agreement, you need to know:

Total costs and fees that you will have to pay

Who is responsible for crane repairs?

What happens if there are delays?

Can you get a replacement crane in the event of a mechanical problem?

Can Anyone Rent A Cherry Picker?

crane hire

Cherry pickers, also known as boom lifts, are necessary for a construction site where you use them to raise and lower people to access different areas of the site.

Can anyone rent a cherry picker? Yes, anyone can rent the boom lift and use it on their site. If your site has narrow and restricted areas or inaccessible areas from the ground or areas obstructed by an obstacle, you should get a boom lift.

While anyone can rent the lift from crane hire companies, not everyone can operate it. To eliminate the chances of crane accidents on your site, ensure the cherry picker is operated by a professional trained to the latest OSHA cherry picker standards.

Why should you get a cherry picker?

If you are on the fence on whether you should get the cherry picker, you should know that the boom lift comes with plenty of benefits that include:

Improves safety

What is the next best alternative for a cherry picker? A ladder. While the ladder will get the work done, it’s not the safest, especially if many people will use it. The ladder can easily break, or the employees can fall from it and get injured.

On the other side, a cherry picker encloses your employees in a safe place away from harm’s way, ensuring they are safe and comfortable.

The picker improves productivity.

As the project owner, you want the project to proceed fast to concentrate on other areas. When the staff uses ladders, they are slow as they have to keep moving the ladder from one place to another to undertake a thorough inspection.

With a cherry picker, the staffs work much faster, which not only sees the project proceed fast, it also saves you money as you don’t keep paying the contractors.

You can transport the cherry picker.

Most people use cherry pickers in only one area. What most of them don’t realize is they can apply them in different areas. If you have several construction sites, you can transport the machine between these areas and save money, and at the same time, speed up the operations.

What should you consider when hiring a cherry picker?

Although a cherry picker has plenty of benefits to your project, it doesn’t mean you should hire just any machine you come across. You should put several considerations into place. These include:

Where are you planning to work?

Are you working inside or outside? Think about this. If using the picker outside, you need to review the terrain and select a powered access platform that will effectively handle the surface.

You should also review the machine’s gradability and ensure it can cope with the slopes and inclines in the area.

If using the picker indoors, you need to consider whether it can easily navigate through tight areas. If using the machine indoors, it’s always wise to use an electric-powered machine to reduce the possibility of poor ventilation.

Availability of a licensed professional

If looking for a heavier, more specialized cherry picker, you need a licensed professional to operate it. When hiring the technician, ensure they are not only licensed, but also experienced. The last thing you want is a contractor messing up your valuable project.

The height you want to reach

Since you have a construction project, you want a cherry picker that can easily reach a high place. If not sure about the right machine to go for, get the input of an expert.

Safety tips when using a cherry picker

Besides hiring an experienced and licensed professional, there are plenty of other tips you need to be safe and reduce the chances of accidents happening on your site. These tips include:

Ensure the cherry picker is stable: To reduce the machine’s chances of tipping over, ensure you place it on stable ground. As a rule of thumb, don’t park the cherry picker on a slope or incline.

Undertake a risk assessment: Before you begin the project, undertake a risk assessment for overhead hazards. When doing it, pay attention to buildings, power lines, overpasses, trees, and other things.

Operate within the manufacturer’s requirements: You should never load more people than recommended by the manufacturer. You also should never lower the cherry picker at a higher speed than recommended. How can you maintain these standards? Work with experts, preferably from the crane rental services VA.

Looking To Hire A Crane From Crane Services Providers? Consider These Tips

crane services

You need a crane to move heavy and gigantic objects in your work site. When having a one-off project, you shouldn’t stress yourself over buying a crane—you should rent one from your local crane services providers.

You don’t want a crane that keeps on breaking down at the site, do you? Then you should rent a high-quality machine. How do you do it? By following these tips:

Know what you want

Can you hire a crane you don’t know what it’s for? Of course not. For you to hire the right crane for your project, you need to understand why you are hiring it in the first place. Do you want it to carry stones? Lift construction materials? What do you want it to do?

The first step to renting the right machine is understanding your environment. Is the area slant? Are there holes? What is the type of terrain? Is it accessible?

It’s after you have considered these things that you will be able to pick the right machine for your needs.

Hire from the right company

The crane you hire is as good as the company you hire from. A good rule of thumb is to rent from a reputable company with a proven record of having high-quality machines. The company should also have many cranes.

Remember, just because a crane is appropriately maintained doesn’t mean it can’t break down. When you work with a company with only one crane and it breaks down, you have to hire from another company, which will be expensive as you will pay twice.

To avoid this, work with a company with a variety of cranes. This way, you are sure even if the crane you are renting develops problems, you will easily replace it without incurring additional loss on your part.

Carefully inspect the crane

Most of the crane rental companies are online, and when you visit their sites, you will see the cranes they stock. Should you order the cranes online? You can go ahead and do it, but first inspect the cranes in person.

If you have bought something online, you will agree that the pictures aren’t always identical to the real thing, so don’t place an order before you see the crane.

This calls for you to visit the rental company offices and carefully go through the cranes. A rental company worth its salt will have a wide variety of cranes ranging from rough terrain to side-lift cranes.

During the inspection, pay attention to maintenance records. When was the crane maintained? Is it currently in good condition? Which company maintains the cranes? And any other details that will help you know more about the current condition of the machine.

The main reason for inspecting the crane before hiring is because you don’t want to order a machine in a horrible condition that won’t perform your intended tasks.

If you have hired cranes in the past, you can quickly tell whether the crane is properly maintained, but if this is your first time, ask an experienced crane operator to help you with the inspection.

Hire an experienced crane operator

As mentioned above, when renting the crane for the first time, you shouldn’t do it alone—ask a crane operator to help you out. The operator will not only help you with finding the right crane, he/she will also help you with safely operating the machine at the worksite.

Most people hire their friends or relatives with basic crane knowledge as their crane operators. Don’t do this. Remember that a crane is a complex machine that should only be handled by a certified professional.

For peace of mind and to minimize accidents at the worksite, only work with a professional with the right certification. While they will be a little bit expensive, the extra cost is worth it.

In most cases, you don’t even have to pay for their services as they come as a package from the crane hire DC companies.

Parting shot

These are four of the ways in which you can ensure you rent a crane that is right for your project. By following these ways, you not only reduce the chances of accidents happening, but it also saves you time and money.