Tag Archives: crane rigging

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.

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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.

Tricks to Help You Prevent Hazards During Your Next Rigging Assignment

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Rigging is a common process on job sites, but it can be dangerous if not done correctly. To help you out, here are basic rules meant to assist you in preventing hazards during your next rigging assignment:

Work with the right weight load

The first stage in the safe rigging process is to determine the weight of the load that you will be rigging and raising. Knowing the weight of the load is essential for comparing it to the rated capacities of the lifting and rigging equipment you’re using.

In some circumstances, it may be clear that the load is insufficient to surpass equipment capacity. Other times, it may be unclear if the load can be raised safely.

In these instances, you will need to determine the weight of the load and compare it to the rated capacities of the lifting or rigging equipment.

Thankfully, product features, including weight, are often provided or can be obtained from the manufacturer or supplier. Certain products may require you to perform simple calculations to ascertain their weight.

You shouldn’t just start the rigging without knowing the maximum weight you can lift. If you can’t find the information on the equipment, get in touch with the rigging services providers that rent you the equipment.

Use the right hitch

There are three primary types of hitches you can use when rigging: vertical, choker, and basket. Selecting the appropriate hitch to sustain the load is an important aspect of safe rigging. For example, a single choker hitch cannot entirely hold a stack of unfastened pipes.

When the lift starts, the sling tightens around the sides and bottom of the stack but remains slack on top, allowing pipes on top of the stack to fall.

A 2-sling double-wrap choker hitch or a 2-sling double-wrap basket hitch would be a much safer option because it would snugly secure all of the pipe during lifting.

The type of hitch you go with will depend on the load that you are lifting. As a rule of thumb, do background checks to determine that you are using the right hitch for your load and weight.

Again, if you aren’t sure about the right one to go with, get the input of a professional.

Choose the right sling.

When deciding on the best sling type for your load, there are several aspects to consider. Will the sling hold the load securely and steadily?

Is the sling compatible with the rigging hardware and hitch you’ve chosen? Is the sling fitting’s rated capacity sufficient to support the load?

Slings come in a variety of styles, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages, as well as rated capacities. Some of the most commonly utilized types are synthetic web slings, synthetic round slings, wire rope slings, and steel chain slings.

Understanding which sling is ideal for your load type will go a long way towards ensuring top-notch rigging safety. Do your research and find the right one.

Use the right hardware.

Choosing the appropriate hardware for each rigging application is just as critical as selecting the right hitches and slings. There are several types of hardware, but some, such as hooks, shackles, and eyebolts, require the right choice.

That’s because these are rated for in-line loading. However, keep in mind that the rated capacity varies depending on the angle.

When choosing gear for a certain rigging application, ask yourself: Could this hardware damage the equipment being lifted?

Is this hardware compatible with the sling? Is this hardware sturdy enough to do the job safely and lift the load securely?

As a rule of thumb, always use the right hardware for the load that you are looking to lift.

Pay attention to detail.

There are several measures that you must put into place prior to and during a lift to guarantee that the process proceeds safely and successfully.

Some of these measures include:

Use taglines to prevent the load from swinging out of control during the lift. To handle the load securely, use as many taglines and experienced tagline operators as necessary.

Check for obstacles in the path of a moving cargo. Consider where the load needs to be transported in relation to where it is being lifted, and look for any obstacles that could impede the moving weight. If you detect a potential blockage, speak with your operator to ensure they are aware of it and have chosen a safe path for the cargo to follow.

Clear the area of workers who are not associated with the lift. Set up a signal for workers in the area so they know when the lift is about to happen.

Make sure they understand that they must stay away from the lift location and path of travel until the lift is complete.

Start communicating with your operator. Make sure the rigger and operator can communicate and are comfortable using the same verbal and physical gestures in case important information needs to be transmitted quickly during the lift.

Test the load. After you’ve secured the area and done the necessary rigging, instruct your operator to slowly elevate the load a few inches at a time.

During this test, you can see how the rigging equipment is operating and whether it is properly positioned in the load’s center of gravity. If you see any problems or are doubtful if the weight can be safely lifted, instruct the operator to lower the load and re-rig it before trying again.

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These are some of the measures you can take to reduce the chances of hazards in your next rigging project.

When doing all of this, also remember to rent the right rigging equipment. For example, when you are in the crane rental services VA, rent a crane that is large enough for the load you are looking to lift.

You should also ensure that the equipment is properly maintained. As a rule of thumb, always ask for the maintenance records before deciding whether to rent it.

How to Properly Rig Your Load

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In the world of construction, the tools and materials required to complete the job are frequently too large or bulky to carry by hand. As a result, if you need something moved from point A to point B, a crane will usually be your first port of call.

Besides hiring a properly maintained crane from crane services, the other thing you should do is to ensure that you properly rig the load. To help you out, here are tips on how to go about it.

Be cautious of the weight.

The first thing to think about before trying a lift is the weight of the load. Equipment should be labeled with their weight. If no such marking is visible, contact the manufacturer.

When lifting building materials, make sure to account for both the number and weight of the units being transported. The weight of the load will determine the type of sling you will use during the lift.

Lookout for the sling

Make sure your sling is up to the task. This includes choosing a sling that is appropriate for the load. Fabric slings made of nylon and polyester are easy to handle, but user-friendliness should not come at the expense of safety.

Keep in mind that knots and cuts considerably weaken fabric slings, making them more susceptible to heat and friction than their metallic counterparts. Wire or chain slings are often the best solution for carrying big or abrasive goods.

Before you do any lifting, always double-check the sling and ensure that it’s in perfect shape. The last thing you should do is to use a sling that is in the blink of getting damaged, and you put your machine and the people working on the site at risk of getting hurt.

Hitch the load correctly.

Take the time to ensure that your sling is attached to the most appropriate section of the load. Never hitch to sections like guard rails that may come free during the lift.

Always tie the sling to the most secure component of the load to reduce the possibility of detachment or yielding during transit.

Loose hooks and slings are a major cause of load slippage and crane overturns. If a load is not correctly secured and reinforced to the jib and hook, it may become disconnected in the middle. These mishaps are extremely dangerous, particularly if they occur in the air.

Hitch the weight while ensuring that the hooks are tight, properly positioned, and exactly between the center of gravity.

Before you start the lifting, always double-check and confirm that everything is in perfect working order.

The right hitch lifts the load without tilting, spinning, or slipping. The Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) recommends that you use these types of hitches:

Vertical hitch: The weight hangs straight from the crane via a vertical sling. A bridle hitch is a variation on this in which the weight is held by many slings at different angles rather than just one vertical sling.

Choker hitch: The sling rotates around the load, one end attached to the sling and the other to the crane.

Basket hitch: The sling surrounds the weight with this hitch, but both ends are attached to the crane hook.

You should note that even little damage affects a sling’s loading capability, so before you use it, you should thoroughly inspect it along its length. Inspect it for welding marks, deformations, cracks, and other signs of damage. If you notice any problem, don’t use the sling.

Have good communication

If a load is properly fixed, the possibilities of injury during the lift are reduced. Those operating on the ground, however, must still take responsibility for their own and their colleagues’ safety.

With this in mind, clear communication is essential. There should be a designated signaler who communicates with both the crane operator and his or her ground crew. Furthermore, each member of the rigging team should be free of pinch points and any load sway before the signaler gives the crane operator the go-ahead. Obviously, never stray beneath a loaded truck.

Be cautious during the lowering.

Before the operator begins lowering the load, make sure your surroundings are capable of supporting the burden.

If you need to steer the weight, use a tagline; if you’re walking with it, keep it near the ground. Remove all surrounding items and keep your feet clear. Stay on your toes and avoid getting stuck between the load and a stationary object.

Never leave a suspended load unattended.

Even with suitable rigging and a sufficiently large crane, leaving a hanging load unattended poses various concerns. For example, the weather can change fast, and a strong blast of wind might have a significant impact on hanging cargo. In this scenario, the entire crane may become unstable and collapse.

To avoid this, you should never have an unattended load hanging on your crane. You should always put the load down before you do anything.

In many cases, you will have a suspended load when the site isn’t ready. As you can tell, this is often due to poor preparation. Before you even lift the load, you should know where you will place it. The last thing you should do is to lift the load and then start thinking about where to place it.

Use a quality crane.

It goes that you should use a quality crane to do the lifting. When you are hiring the machine, always do a double check and confirm that its properly maintained and in perfect working condition.

This calls for you to ask for the maintenance records. If the crane rental services VA provider is dodgy on the maintenance of the crane, you should stay away from it.

Even when you get the crane, don’t just start working. Inspect it and confirm that it’s working optimally. A good way to go about it is to inspect the crane before you do any lifting.

As a rule of thumb, always ensure that the crane operator you hire is experienced and knows what they are doing. The last thing you want is the operator causing problems that aren’t supposed to be there.

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.

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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.

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.

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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

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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.

Best Practises When Using a Crane

In construction, the tools and materials needed to do the job are often too heavy or bulky to carry by hand. Because of this, going to a crane rental services provider and renting a crane is often the first thing people think of when they need to move something from point A to point B.

While a crane is vital for the workings of the work site, there are several things you need to do to ensure that everything goes according to plan. Which are these things? Here they are:

Watch the weight you are lifting.

Before you try to lift anything, you should first think about how much it weighs. Your crane should have labels that say how much it weighs.

If there is no such label, check with the company that made it. When lifting construction materials, you should consider how many you carry and how much they weigh. The sling that should be used to lift the load will depend on how much it weighs.

Properly secure the load.

You shouldn’t lift any load into the air if it is not safe to do so. Ensure you have the right lifting equipment and that your load is set up correctly.

Check the safety catches on the hook before you hitch up the load. For peace of mind, ensure the hook is placed above the load’s center of gravity.

Before the final lift, test the load’s safety by lifting it from the ground into the air.

Ensure the sling is strong enough.

Make sure your sling can do what it needs to do. This means choosing the right sling for the load. Fabric slings made of materials like nylon and polyester are easy to use, but that shouldn’t mean safety should be put at risk.

Keep in mind that knots and cuts in fabric slings make them weak. It also makes them more susceptible to heat and friction than their metal counterparts. Wire or chain slings are often the best for carrying heavy or rough loads.

Hitch your load correctly.

Make sure your sling is attached to the right part of the load by checking it. Don’t hitch up to parts, like guard rails, that could come off during the lift.

Always attach the sling to the most stable part of the load to reduce the chance it will come off or shift while moving.

Keep the lines of communication open.

If a load is set up correctly, it is less likely that someone will get hurt while lifting it. But the people who work on the ground still have to keep themselves and their coworkers safe.

Keeping this in mind, it is important to communicate well. To ensure this is the case, ensure that someone is in charge of sending signals to the person running the crane and their colleagues on the ground.

Before the signaler gives the crane operator the go-ahead, each member of the rigging team should be clear of pinch points and the load’s possible sway. You should never go under a load that is being moved.

One way to maintain clear communication lines is to have walkie-talkies. Ensure that everyone on the site has a walkie-talkie that gives you peace of mind that they can all hear what is being communicated.

To make the site even safer, provide bright jackets that make it easy for the crane operator to see everyone.

Be ultra cautious when bringing down the load.

Before the operator lowers the load, ensure the environment can handle the weight. If you need to guide the load, use a tagline, and if you’re walking with the load, make sure it stays close to the ground.

Clear your feet of anything that might be in the way. Stay alert, and don’t get stuck between the load and the surface.

Parting shot

These are some of the best practices you must implement when working with cranes. By doing this, you will not only have peace of mind that your site is safe, but you will also speed up your site’s workings.

As mentioned, ensure that the crane you rent from crane rentals VA can handle the load you are looking to lift.

Mistakes to Avoid When Dealing With Cranes

crane services

Is this the first time you hire a crane for your construction or lifting project? There are several mistakes you should avoid making. Which are these mistakes? Here they are:

Failing to assess your work site

Many people hiring a crane for the first time will go straight to a crane rentals company and place their order without first analyzing the condition of their work sites. This is wrong because different cranes are designed to work in different areas.

Some will work on rough surfaces, while others will work on smooth surfaces.

To hire the crane that will perform the best on your work site, you need first to analyze the conditions of your work site. While at it, identify any hazards that might prevent you from executing your project as well as you should. These hazards include power lines, unstable ground, limited space, etc.

Failing to check the crane and operator certifications and qualifications

The other mistake you can make is to believe everything you are told and take everything at face value.

It’s always highly recommended that you thoroughly inspect the crane before you hire it. Besides checking the crane’s physical condition, you should also check the crane’s inspection and maintenance records.

When you visit many crane rental stores, the representatives will tell you that their cranes are in top shape. While this might be true, it also might be untrue.

The worst mistake is to believe what the representatives tell you without verifying the information. For example, they will tell you that the cranes are regularly serviced, but this isn’t the case.

Before you agree to hire the crane, check whether all the services are done correctly and on time.

The same thing applies to crane operators. Don’t simply hire an operator because they have told you that they can operate a crane—take your time to verify that they have the necessary qualifications and certifications.

While you can hire any qualified operator, it’s wise that you hire one from the rental company you are hiring a crane. This is because you are sure they are conversant with the crane, so they are less likely to make mistakes.

Failing to communicate properly

Most people will hire the best crane rigging professionals but forget about how the professionals and riggers will communicate at the work site.

As you can guess, this often increases the chances of accidents happening. To stay on the safe side, you must ensure clear communication with everyone on the work site.

Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to ensure clear communication on the site.

As you are renting the crane, also rent radios and other communication devices to ensure clear communication between the crane operator and the other rigging personnel involved in the project.

Before starting the project, it’s always good to meet with everyone involved in the lifting and devise a lift plan. The plan should detail how everything will be done from start to finish.

Besides doing this, you also should have visual aids such as diagrams, videos, and photos that will help not only mark certain areas but also help better explain the lift plan and the best rigging practices.

Proper hand signals are also important at the work site. To cut the learning curve, hire experienced professionals who are properly trained in hand signals. This way, you will have peace of mind that everyone can communicate with each other.

To make it even easier, hire crane operators and other professionals that work together. Since they regularly work as a team, you have peace of mind that they will do a good job, as they will have an easier time communicating.

Failing to inspect the crane and rigging equipment regularly

Most people will check their cranes at the time of hire, and while this is good, it often isn’t enough—you also need to inspect the crane and rigging equipment before you do any lifting.

Besides inspecting as you hire the crane from the crane rental services VA, make it a habit to inspect the crane and the other equipment before you do any lifting work. If you notice any issue with the machine or equipment, stop the project until you have fixed the unit.

What Is The Most Important Rigging Precaution?

As much as rigging has plenty of benefits, it’s hazardous. For example, the load can fall from the crane and injure or, even worse, kill the site workers.

If you are wondering which is the most important rigging precaution you should take to prevent accidents, ensure that the equipment and the environment you are working on is safe.

Before you start lifting tasks, ensure that the crane you hire from crane services is strong and sitting on a stable surface. You also should carefully inspect the work area and ensure there are no dangers. This calls for you to ensure no power lines in the crane line.

You also should ensure that the path the crane uses is well done and there is no risk of the crane tipping over due to unstable ground.

Besides observing this precaution, you should consider plenty of other precautions to ensure that your rigging is safe. These precautions include:

Thoroughly inspect the rigging hardware

Before you start rigging, carefully inspect your hardware and ensure that it’s in tip-top shape. Inspect all parts for cracks, deformation, excessive nicks, stretches, gouges, and other imperfections.

To avoid costly downtimes, inspect the slings and ensure they are in perfect condition.

It’s also wise to inspect the crane before you start any lifting work.

Lift the right weight

You must have come across a load falling from the crane or the crane tipping over, right? Well, this is usually attributed to trying to lift more weight than the crane can carry.

One of the reasons why some people will overload the crane is due to a lack of knowledge. For example, if they don’t know how much the crane can carry.

The other reason is if they are in a hurry to finish the work.

It’s common for people to miscalculate how long the project will take to complete. Due to this, they will rush to hire a crane, rush to complete the project, and as a result, end up overloading the machine.

People will also overload the machine when they are looking to cut costs. You see, cranes are charged by the hour. This means that the longer you stay with the crane, the more you pay.

To cut costs, some people overload the machine to finish the work quickly. This is wrong.

The right thing to do is to ensure that the machine only carries the recommended weight. If you aren’t sure about the right weight it should carry, get the input of a professional.

Remember that the risks of overloading the machine significantly outweigh the money you will save by overloading, so avoid doing it.

Use the right rigging materials.

Besides properly rigging your load, you must also ensure that you use the rigging materials. From the rings, swivels, and nuts to the slings you use, ensure that everything you get is quality from a reputable store.

Some people try to cut costs by buying lower quality or even second materials. Don’t do this, as you will be putting your life and that of others at the site at risk.

You also end up spending too much money than you should. Since the crane is charged by the hour, having an accident means that you will stay with the crane for much longer than you should, which sees your rental bill go high.

You should always use manufacturer-recommended materials. If you aren’t sure about the right ones to use, get the input of a professional.

Work with experienced professionals.

It goes without saying that you should always ensure that you hire professional riggers and crane operators to do the rigging work.

While these professionals will be a little expensive to hire, they will give you peace of mind as you know that the work is done correctly and save you money as there are few chances of accidents happening.

If you are wondering where to find reputable professionals, the best place is from the crane rental services VA where you rent the crane.

Crane Rigging Tools You Should Know About

When you are looking to undertake crane rigging, you should be aware of plenty of rigging tools. It also doesn’t hurt knowing how they work. Which are these tools? Here they are:

Hooks and shackles

These connect ropes, chains, slings, and other rigging equipment as you move your target load. Having a secure hold on heavy loads prevents them from slipping while suspending them in the air.

Both hooks and shackles have two parts: loop-shaped steel that connects to a chain and a safety pin that closes it off.

If this is the first time you are coming into contact with hooks and shackles, you should know that there are many types of hooks you can rent or buy. Some popular ones include: eye, choker, sorting, and clevis grabs.

To choose the right hooks for your project, you need to consider several factors, such as: the weight of the load, object you are looking to move, the angle of the hoist, the connection points from the top to the bottom of the hook, and size of hook opening.

Slings

A sling is a flexible, lightweight tool with wire ropes to lift heavy loads. It provides strength and balance when moving hefty weights around your work site.

Most slings are made from synthetic materials, and they are mainly of two types:

Endless sling: This one takes an infinite loop shape

Eye and eye sling: Comes with flat, twisted, or triangular ends made from polyester, metal, or nylon.

Wire ropes

Wire ropes support the shape of the load as you are lifting it. You mount the wire rope to the crane using shackles, hooks, or swivels.

Pay attention to their strengths as you buy or rent the wire ropes. Some factors determining the rope’s strength include: core material, steel grade, rope diameter, and wire finish.

OSHA advises that every wire rope you use should be one continuous piece without a knot. You also shouldn’t have endless rope slings and eye splices at the ends of the wire.

For the best results, ensure that any eye splice in your rope has only three full tucks.

Blocks and pulleys

These two work together to help you easily lift heavy objects without putting in a lot of force. They do this by providing plenty of support and reducing the pressure you need to lift a load simultaneously.

To use the pulley, you need to rig a rope and then attach it to the object you want to lift.

Pulleys come in different sizes depending on the type of rope, frame, and sheave size.

The block on the other side functions as a stabilizing force that carries the rope’s weight as you are lifting. Some common types of blocks you can go with include square, snatch, and swivel blocks.

Eye bolts

They serve as anchor points and loop cables in rigging applications. They come in various sizes and materials that you can choose from depending on your needs.

Some of the common eye bolts you can go with include:

Shouldered bolts: You use them to load your equipment at an angle

Non-shouldered/straight bolts: You use these to lift your objects in a vertical system

Other bolt types include screw eye bolts, U-bolts, and so on.

To choose the right eyebolt, you need to consider several factors, such as the weight of the load, the type of sling used, the angle of loading the load, and the frame material for the bolt.

Steel nuts

They work with eyebolts in anchoring your rigging system and come in various shapes, sizes, and configurations that are ideal for different rigging applications.

To choose the ideal steel nut, you need to consider several factors, such as the total weight of the load you are lifting type of thread you are using, among many other factors.

You can choose steel nuts: ball ends, Hex nuts, Done nuts, wing nuts, and lifting eye units.

If you aren’t sure about the suitable nuts to use, enquire from the rigging services DC providers.