3 Risks of Crane and how to Avoid them

In the manufacturing and construction industries, overhead cranes can lift and transport materials required for various applications. If installed and used correctly, overhead  cranes will contribute to safer and more efficient operations. However, incorrect installation and use will often damage the crane, slow down its service life, and cause serious safety accidents and affect the lives of workers. The key to preventing these incidents is to find their source so that operators can better understand and avoid these incidents.

The following article outlines the four main influencing factors related to crane installation and use, and some suggestions on how to avoid them.

overhead crane

Common crane risks .Most overhead crane accidents stem from one of the following three main reasons:

1. Excessive load

According to statistics from the China Crane Inspection Bureau, 70% of all crane accidents and failures are caused by exceeding the rated capacity of the crane. Overloading will seriously damage the crane and reduce its structural integrity and stability. The steel structure cannot support a fully loaded crane or even deforms, resulting in unstable operation of the crane. Once these situations occur, parts of the crane may fall or malfunction, and crane operators and nearby people may be injured.

Overload can be caused in several different ways:

1) The lifting load exceeds the rated lifting capacity of the crane

2) The wire rope shakes, drags or the load suddenly drops off the hook

3) The wire rope is diagonally pulled, and the load is loaded from one side (the center of gravity of each load is not directly below the crane).

4) For crane operators, to understand the main causes of these overloads and how to learn to avoid them, comprehensive training must be carried out before the bridge crane is officially put into operation. The complete training plan includes imparting knowledge of the load handling capacity and lifting capacity principles of operators under various working conditions and operating conditions.

The factory needs to train crane operators and workers regularly to avoid safety hazards in advance

2. Falling materials

In the workplace or on-site, falling materials may cause serious injury or death to nearby workers. These events may have many reasons, such as:

1)Workers’ blind spots or inadequate observation

2）Improper material handling or unstable installation

3）Mechanical failure

4）Operator improper operation

By carefully operating the crane, most, if not all, causes of material falling can be avoided, and this can be avoided by hiring a well-trained and qualified crane operator.

overhead crane operation

3. Insufficient inspection and maintenance

Through use in operation, load bearing equipment will suffer damage. This damage can manifest as the ropes, wires, and structural parts wear. Since these systems play a vital role in lifting and transporting heavy objects, regular inspections to ensure that they are in a normal working condition are essential to prevent employee injuries and deaths.

Crane inspectors should have the following conditions:

1）At least 2,000 hours of crane and lifting equipment inspection, maintenance, repair and testing experience

2）Have knowledge of safety and design standards, understand safe operating specifications, and understand reports and documents for crane maintenance and operation.

3）Possess mechanical maintenance certificate and operation certificate

4）There are four inspection types, some of which are performed by crane inspectors, and some are performed by operators.

5)Initial inspection: Carry out a careful initial inspection of all new cranes and improved cranes.

6)Pre-shift inspection: It is recommended to perform an inspection every time a crane operator changes, for example, when a new shift is started.

7)Frequent inspections: These tasks are performed by inspectors with certificates. The frequency of inspection varies with crane type, size and capacity.

8)Regular inspection: Inspectors are required to inspect each part of the crane in detail, covering the entire crane components.

overhead crane installation

Cooperation Dejun industry 

We provide a variety of material handling equipment, including overhead cranes, for various industries such as aerospace, automotive, construction, navigation, mining, and waste disposal. As a leading manufacturer of high-quality standards and customized systems, we fully understand the nuances of safe and efficient crane operations.

I hope this article helps you understand more about crane operation knowledge. If you have any questions about cranes such as installation, repair, maintenance, etc., please feel free to Contact Us.