It goes without saying that crane inspection and maintenance are critical to safety on the job site. Property owners and contractors are obligated to follow OSHA guidelines when it comes to the safety of workers and other people on the project. These regulations are designed with rules that are practical and reasonable to minimize both safety risks and health risks.
Like other heavy equipment used on a job site, cranes need regular inspection and maintenance to ensure they are safe to use. Manufacturers provide maintenance instructions, and the OSHA regulations also need to be followed.
These inspection and maintenance steps are essential to identifying signs of damage or corrosion in the early stages. Proactive care of the equipment minimizes the possibility of an accident, which helps to avoid injury and expensive material damage on the job site.
Not only are the potential risks identified through inspection, but it is also an opportunity for safety improvements that need to be addressed. Preventive maintenance is a key factor for safety, and each maintenance schedule needs to be custom-tailored based on the type of equipment, use, storage, and more.
Basic routine maintenance can be as simple as lubricating and adjusting to ensure the equipment is meeting the manufacturer’s requirements. These steps improve overall function of the moving parts, so everything is running safely.
At the same time, compliance inspections are needed to ensure regulatory requirements are met. As the equipment owner or operator, it is important to understand these compliance details. Regular internal inspections should be performed so the equipment is always current with these standards.
Specific processes for crane inspection vary depending on the type of crane. Before the equipment is tested and inspected, it is important to look at the paperwork:
The pre-check begins before looking at the equipment. The inspector will request the above information and have conversations with the ground crew, supervisors, and operator(s) about load weight, rigging, load charts, capacities, and other determinations that affect the safety of the crane.
Additionally, the crane operator will likely be asked to operate certain functions of the crane. For example, the boom/load line needs to be raised and lowered, and the running line or rope should be inspected from the cab position. Brake action needs to be observed to ensure the ability of the crane to stop.
The initial review of the crane should focus on multiple factors that will affect the performance and safety of the crane function:
Even if the crane isn’t operated regularly, routine testing and inspection are important to ensure the equipment is ready to be used when needed. Depending on the use of the equipment, it is smart to complete an inspection daily or weekly. The frequency of these inspections is based on level of service, activity, and the environment where the equipment is operated.
The best way to identify wear and tear in the early stages (and thus minimize the risk of injury or damage) is to maintain a consistent schedule for inspections. Cranes can cause serious injury and even death when something goes wrong. Overlooking these inspection schedules could result in liability if something happens on the work site.
Often, a daily inspection is completed by an operator at the start of each shift. The operator walks around the crane to look for visual signs of problems or defects.
Not only does the inspection need to be completed, but a written summary should be kept on file.
Major inspection is also required at certain intervals, with the goal of identifying any parts that are in need of repair or replacement. These major inspections should occur every 1 – 12 months, depending on the equipment and manufacturer recommendations.
Major inspections should include all items listed above for daily inspections, but a few more points also need to be inspected. Keep in mind that this list is not inclusive since inspection points vary for each piece of equipment:
In the inspection, if it is discovered that a crane is in need of maintenance or repair, then it is important to understand the risks to safety and health if the crane is kept in service. The use of the equipment should be put on hold until the proper cleaning or maintenance is completed.
Whenever the crane is inspected or maintenance/repair work is completed on the crane, thorough records need to be kept. Documenting these significant events makes it easy to see the maintenance history. Additionally, this information might be important to show the proactive maintenance approach to ensuring safety, in case liability is in question.
When documenting the safety and maintenance of the crane, including applicable information, such as:
Inspection reports should also be detailed, and include the following information:
One essential aspect of crane safety is ensuring that the load ratings are known and respected. A durable rating chart should be attached to the crane in a location where the operator can view the information while sitting at the controls.
This rating chart provides restrictions and guidelines about the capacity of the equipment. Charts should include all loading ratings as well as operating radii. Other information might include a list of no-load work areas, weights of auxiliary equipment, work area chart listing capacities (over front, over rear, over side), as well as a description of hoistline reeving requirements.
Every crane should have a custom inspection and maintenance plan, based on the use of the machine and the manufacturer’s recommendations. Not only does this plan improve safety for employees and other people on-site, but it is important to ensure that you are in compliance with the requirements established by OSHA.
Major inspections for cranes are recommended at intervals ranging from 1 to 12 months, depending on the equipment and manufacturer recommendations.
Crane inspection records should include maintenance or inspection date, mechanic's name, parts replaced, work completed, signs of damage, and a signature of the work completed, while inspection reports should detail components inspected, method used, signs of damage, criteria, and recommendations for maintenance or repair.
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