The crane in use at your business has very specific safety requirements it must meet. This isn't just to ensure the safety of your employees, but also the safety of your equipment and the materials you are working with. The following checklists can help you keep your crane inspected properly so it is falling within the necessary requirements.

#1: Employee Safety

All employees who operate the crane must have the proper training, along with any necessary licenses. Make sure employees are provided with and are wearing necessary safety equipment, such as harnesses or hardhats, and the area where the crane is in operation is blocked off to other personnel.

#2: Work Site Inspection

There are three work areas impacted by a crane:

• The area where the load is initially.

• The transport path for the load.

• The landing location for the load.

The crane operator must inspect all three locations before beginning to operate the crane. They must make sure these areas are cleared of people and blocked off for the duration of the transport. Make sure the landing location has a clear spot and is ready to receive the load.

#3: Equipment Safety

Finally, the operator must perform a full equipment inspection before powering on the crane. Check for loose or broken wires. Make sure the pulleys and lifting mechanisms have no loose or broken components. The bottom block on the pulley can't be twisted, which means that no lengths of wire roping attached to the block are touching. Also, follow the wire hoisting rope and make sure it is seated properly in the grooves of the drums on the pulley system.

#4: Operation Check

Now the operator can power on the crane. Once this is done, they should quickly through all the controls and movements to make sure the crane is moving and lifting smoothly. Once this is done, they are prepared to retrieve the load. It should go without saying that any load should fall inside of the weight limits detailed for the specific crane.

While the daily operation checks can help maintain safety on your job site, you will want more thorough inspections performed on a weekly or monthly basis. Although you can train your employees to perform these thorough inspections, it can be well worth it to bring in an outside crane inspector, like one from All Ship & Cargo Surveys Ltd. Fresh eyes can often catch potential problems before they become a major issue.