When you’re operating any heavy-duty equipment, the safety of your crew is paramount. Mobile cranes are essential machinery you’ll likely need on a construction or other industrial project, but they can cause dangerous damage if not used properly.
Before you begin your project, ensure you and your employees are up-to-date on the most important safety guidelines for crane operation below!
Ensure Employees Complete Proper Training
Crane accidents are more likely to happen when someone lacks proper knowledge or training. Therefore, it is essential that all crew members who will be operating a mobile crane on your construction site complete comprehensive training on how to use the equipment. Furthermore, operators and anyone working around the crane should also be trained in the proper safety protocols to follow in case of any unexpected situation.
Perform a Proper Inspection of the Equipment
Crane operators should complete a pre-inspection checklist every time they use the equipment for a successful setup. The manufacturer may provide a list, but generally, it will involve looking for damage or component issues. Pre-inspection tasks may include visually checking wheels, security of cables or wires, lights, signals, oil, fuel, and other fluid levels, and assuring everything else is in good working order.
Take Note of Your Surroundings
Anybody operating heavy machinery must be acutely aware of what’s around them. Look at your surroundings for any potential hazards that could interfere with your mobile crane, such as trees, powerlines, nearby buildings, crew members in the immediate area, and even inclement weather conditions.
Stabilize the Ground
Perhaps the most important factor in safe crane operation is that the ground you’re working on is sturdy and even. If your construction site is wet, slippery, or otherwise precarious, you could significantly damage the crane or ground beneath it and lead to an accident. For the safest and most efficient crane operation, you should use crane mats and outrigger pads to stabilize the ground and help evenly distribute the weight of heavy-duty equipment.
Ritter Forest Products is dedicated to making industrial worksites safer and more productive everywhere. With our hardwood crane mats and other durable products, you can be sure that your crew is safe and your equipment is operating at optimum functionality.
Contact a team member today to order new or used mats for your next project!
