Hazard Of Mobile Crane and Its Safety Precaution

Mobile Crane

Mobile cranes are utilized in the construction industry and petrochemicals because it makes the job easy for the workforce.

There are tons of loads which are lifted in this industry day and night and to perform it with perfection crane is a need.

Crane is a piece of electro-mechanical heavy vehicle utilized in the construction industry and petrochemicals to lift heavy loads.

What is the Hazard of Mobile Crane?

1. Overturning.
2. Overloading.
3. Untrained operators.
4. Poor environment i.e. heavy rain, heavy wind.
5. Improper sling and breaks.
6. Absence of flagman during crane movement.
7. Overhead power lines.
8. Untrained Riggers.
9. Absence of tagline.
10. Bad or poor signal.
11. Nearby Obstructions.
12. Improper barricade.
13. Personnel under the suspended loaded.
14. Poor maintenance of the crane.
15. Unsecured loads.
16. Absence of foreman and the job supervisor.
17. Dropping of the load.
18. Striking the people, objects, and equipment with the load.
19. Sharp edges

Mitigation to the Hazard of Mobile Crane

Place it ON the Firm Level:

Ensure the mobile crane is standing on the firm level with outriggers extended on metallic pads or wooden pads.

The tires must be in good condition in order to avoid hazard of mobile crane.

Operate the Vehicle within SWL:

Operate the mobile crane under SWL (Safe working load) with an installed sensor that shows the load capacity.

Check Static and Dynamic Load Angle:

Check the static and dynamic load angle of the load prior to lifts to save the workforce from incidents and accidents and from the hazard of mobile crane.

Keep the Moment Area Free:

The handles of the said heavy vehicle must be free from all obstacles so that the windows or glass gives a full view of load movement.

In addition, the crane movement and boom moment area must be free to prevent any accidental damage to the plant and property.

Utilize Certified Operator:

Engage certified operator and ensure they must possess third-party certification in order to avoid any altercation.

Stop it during High Wind:

Stop the mobile crane in heavy wind and rain to avoid the associated hazard of mobile crane and the climate.

The crane operator needs to stop the mobile crane If the wind speed goes more than 32 Km/h to save the workforce from the imminent dangers pertaining to the hazard of mobile crane.

Check all Lifting Gears prior to work:

Inspect all the lifting tools and tackles and ensure it must have third-party certification in order to avoid any imminent danger.

Use a Competent Flagman during the Movement of the Vehicle:

Flagman must be present during the crane movement in order to avoid any hindrance in the traffic and to save passers-by and the plant from the hazard of mobile crane.

Boom Moment Area must be Free:

During the crane operation, the boom moment area must be free and doesn’t touch the power lines.

Make the operation away from the crowded area in order to save the people.

Utilize Certified Riggers:

The Riggers must be well trained and third-party certified in order to avoid the dangers and hazard of mobile crane.

Use Tag-line:

To control the load use tag-line in order to control its movement and to avoid accidents pertaining to the hazard of mobile crane.

Use Multiple Riggers during Blind Lifts:

Riggers must be technically sound in their subject and allow only one rigger to give a signal during the crane operation until and unless it is a blind lift.

Barricade the Area as per the Boom Radius:

Barricade the operation area as per the boom radius in order to save unauthorized from the hazard of mobile crane.

Do not Allow Unauthorized in the Area:

Do not allow unauthorized personnel during the crane operation except job foreman, supervisor, and Riggers to avoid any damage to the workforce and plant property and the area must be free from obstruction.

The Mobile Vehicle Must be Third-party Certified:

The Crane must be third-party certified with a well-developed preventive maintenance plan for the whole year in order to avoid hazards.

Engage Competent Foreman and Supervisor:

During the crane operation job foreman and supervisor must be in the area to avoid any breach in the safety protocol.

Secure the Load:

Secure the load in order to avoid dropping so tie it in a proper manner with the lifting tools and tackles.

Cover the Sharp Edges:

Pad up the sharp edges of the load in order to avoid any damage to the webbing sling and lifting tools.

Terms and Acronyms

Rigger:

They are a technical craft engaged in crane signaling purposes.

Flagman:

Is a person who controls traffic during crane movement in the workplace.

Tag-Line:

It is the type of rope used to control the load during loading and unloading on the equipment.

Foreman and Supervisor:

They are the personnel who are leaders of the area.

Operators:

They are the ones who operate the said heavy vehicle.

Read more about the stated rules of working near overhead power lines Electrocution: Work Safely with Cranes Near Power Lines | Transcript | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (osha.gov)

There are numerous incidents and accidents that occur in the construction industry during the operation of the mobile crane

That is why all the crafts working in the area need to be very careful about selecting the correct lifting tools during the execution to prevent the workforce from imminent dangers and hazard of mobile crane.

Final Thoughts

One needs to be very careful during the operation of the vehicle so as it has stated in the above paragraphs that the hazard of mobile crane is very dangerous.

That is why competent crafts need to perform the job in order to save the crafts and all the workforce from the dangers associated with the hazard of mobile crane, what is your thought and opinion on this?

Passionate readers love to read about several topics without any break. We are having several scorching topics like this one of them is Electricity and its hazards.

Authored By:

M H KARIM

Last Updated: -9 Feb 2022