Cranes are heavy-duty machines designed to load, shift and unload extremely heavy weights. These are mostly used by the construction and transportation industry to deal with otherwise impossible tasks. Although these machines contribute a lot to the projects, but there have been times when serious accidents have occurred. If you are about to own a crane or rent one from crane services, you should be aware of some of the most common types of crane accidents to help avoid them. Let’s discuss!
Electrical Hazards And Other Obstacles
One of the first things contractors should consider is the safety of the route on which the crane will travel. In fact, most states have made it necessary for cranes to apply for a permit especially if it intends to travel down highways and motorways, etc. Since these are heavy machines, there is a lot of risk involved.
Furthermore, if the crane is supposed to travel within the city, through narrow streets, it is quite possible that it might mess up the electric system. Considering their height, cranes can easily cause electrical hazards. This is why it is important that the route be safely and thoroughly planned.
Any obstacles that might cause serious trouble should be avoided. If there is no other option than driving the crane through a busy street with electrical wires above, it is important to shut down electricity in that area for a while until the crane has safely passed through.
Falls And Overturns
Falls and overturns are another popular cause of crane accidents. These accidents usually take place when the maximum lifting capacity limit is exceeded, improper loading, or due to extreme winds. In most cases, cranes tend to overturn due to improper loading. The reason is that cranes are designed to lift a specific amount of weight.
If you were to exceed that limit or not secure the weight properly, there is a huge chance that the crane will overturn. This is an extremely dangerous situation for the people on the ground as well as the expensive equipment in the surrounding. If the crane was to fall on the building itself, it can easily bring it down within seconds.
To avoid such incidents, it is important that contractors follow the recommendations of the manufacturer and make sure the load is secured properly. In addition to that, you should also check the worksite for the crane to work without any hurdles.
Since the soil has a huge role to play in terms of traction and stability, you will need to make sure it is stable enough to keep the crane above ground.
High Wind
Believe it or not, high winds have caused several accidents in the past but you can easily avoid them if you were to practice the necessary safety steps. As the crane is lifting weight, it is important that the distribution of the weight is equal. If the crane is tilted to one side, it might fall off or overturn due to high wind.
Therefore, while it is important to inspect the work site for soil and other factors, it is equally important that the weather conditions should be factored in to prevent trouble down the road. It is suggested to halt any crane operations if extreme rain or winds tend to make things complicated.
Complete Or Partial Crane Collapse
In addition to high winds and improper loading, crane accidents can also occur due to utter ignorance. According to the rules & regulations in some states, the operator is required to inspect the crane before it is operated. The operator should look for any visible signs of leakage, cracks, or damage.
This means that the important components of the crane should be inspected such as the boom, hydraulics, etc. Under no circumstances should the crane be operated if there are visible signs of trouble, even if the crane seems to be performing perfectly fine. This is why crane inspection is so important.
Final Word
about the most common causes of crane accidents and how to avoid them. Make sure that you follow the state laws to ensure the safety of the working environment. And work with experienced rigging services MD that have a track record of carrying out projects safely.
