Crane Operation Hazards and Safety Meeting

1. Lifting and moving loads with overhead crane equipment is a common work activity that can also be very hazardous to personnel, equipment and to the building structure. Crane operators must be familiar with applicable rules and procedures implemented at the site to ensure that lifting and rigging work under their control is done efficiently and safely, with safety as the top priority. Supervisors and Foremen must ensure that employees fully understand the importance of safety and that they recognize their own authority and responsibility to stop work when safety is questionable. Only properly trained and authorized employees should operate overhead cranes and rigging equipment.

2. The hazards presented by this type of equipment and operations generally fall into one or more of two areas. These include hazards from malfunctioning equipment, faulty operations or falling materials.

3. MALFUNCTIONING EQUIPMENT HAZARDS

4. Crane Inspections: To work safely, cranes and rigging must be inspected before use and periodically, well maintained and immediately removed from service when problems are found.

5. Initial Inspection: New, reinstalled, altered, modified, or extensively repaired cranes must be inspected before initial use. All safety devices, controls, and other operating parts of the equipment must be checked during each inspection and must be in good working order before operating a crane. This is also true for a crane that has been out of service for a period of time.

6. Daily Inspection: Each crane must be inspected and operationally tested by a qualified crane operator or designated inspector before daily use or before each work shift. The operator must determine whether equipment must be removed from service or if a more detailed inspection is required.

7. A checklist is helpful, but written daily inspection records are not required.

8. Monthly Inspection: Monthly crane inspections are performed by qualified maintenance personnel or qualified contractors. Inspections must include the following: damage, wear, or other deficiency that might reduce capacity or adversely affect the safety of the crane.

9. Monthly inspection records: Signed and dated inspection records must be kept on file and must be readily available to designated personnel.

10. Annual Inspection: Complete inspections of all cranes must be performed by a qualified contractor annually.

11. Annual inspection records: Dated and signed inspection records must be kept on file and must be readily available for review by designated personnel.

12. Correct deficiencies: Any deficiencies discovered during the inspection of a crane conducted that could reduce its load capacity or adversely affect its performance must be corrected before the crane is returned to service.

13. Documentation of all repairs and inspections must be kept on file.

14. HAZARDS FROM IMPROPER RIGGING OR OPERATIONS

15. Crane operators must ensure that hoisting equipment and rigging devices such as slings, and hardware are in good condition and sized properly. Also important is the selection and placement of rigging “pick points” to properly support the load when it is being moved. Some other things to look out for:

16. Ensure that the load will not exceed the rated capacity of the equipment.

17. Do not engage in any attention-diverting activity while operating the crane.

18. When physically or mentally unfit, do not engage in the operation of equipment.

19. Obey a STOP signal no matter who gives it.

20. Whenever there is any question as to the safety of the activity, an operator has the authority to stop and refuse to handle loads until the matter has been resolved by supervisory personnel.

21. Do not hoist two or more separate loads in one lift, even though the combined load is within the crane’s rated capacity.

22. Do not lift, lower, or travel the crane while anyone is on the load or hook.

23. Do not carry loads over people.

24. Only perform vertical lifts, cranes must not be used for side pulls

25. Never use the final hoist-limit switch that controls the upper limit of travel of the load block as an operating control.

26. TOPIC CRANE AND HOIST INSPECTIONS:

27. Below are some key inspection points found on typical electric overhead cranes (Refer to the manufacturer’s operator manual for your specific make and model):

28. Pre-Lift Check: Before the lift is performed, the operator must ensure that:

29. The load to be lifted is within the rated load capacity limits for the crane.

30. The load is attached to the hook by means of slings or other approved devices.

31. The hoist rope or chain is not kinked.

32. Multiple-part lines are not twisted around each other.

33. The hook must be positioned above the center of gravity of the load in such a manner as to minimize swinging when the load is lifted.

34. If there is a slack-rope condition, it should be determined that the rope is properly seated on the drum and in the sheaves.

35. All personnel, including the operator, must be clear of the load.

36. Hoist Limit Switch: The first time the crane is used during a shift, test the upper- limit switch/device of each hoist under no load. Avoid two-blocking; “inch” the block into the limit switch or run it in at slow speed. If the switch/device does not operate properly, immediately notify the supervisor.

37. Moving the Load: The operator must see that the load is well secured and properly balanced in the sling or lifting device before it is lifted more than a few inches.

38. Ensure that:

39. The load is lifted slowly until it clears the ground or other support to minimize swinging.

40. There is no sudden acceleration or deceleration of the moving load.

41. The load does not contact any obstructions.

42. A “dry run” is conducted in areas where clearance is limited.

43. Topic: SAFE PRACTICES FOR OPERATORS

44. If there is doubt about the safety of crane or rigging equipment, immediately stop the lift and report the condition to a supervisor.

45. If there is a power failure, place all controllers in the “off” position and barricade under the load if it is in the air.

46. If leaving the crane unattended, land any load, place controllers in the “off” position and open the main switch.

47. Communicate using standard hand signals.

48. Write Comments or Remarks here:

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