Construction Machine Blog

The crane truck is a complex machine that has a myriad of uses from moving heavy objects to loading supply ships and hoisting equipment. They are frequently used in construction, transportation, utilities, mining, drilling for oil, railroad yards, heavy equipment yards and building supply dealers. y safe operation of these vehicles is critical. Operators must learn to use crane trucks properly and safely so costly accidents and serious injuries can be averted. The following are some tips I found on the internet which I hope can be of great help to the crane operators.

• One of the biggest hazards of operating a crane is the possibility of electrocution. When working near overhead power lines, employers, supervisors, and workers must exercise extreme caution. Preventing Electrocutions of Crane Operators and Crew Members Working Near Overhead Power Lines, a publication of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, provides a sobering look at this possibility and discusses how to prevent it.

• And not to dwell on the hazards, but be aware that occasionally trucks are fitted with boom cranes when they have not specifically been designed for such applications. Fortunately, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is watching out for you and discusses this danger in this Hazard Information Bulletin. Outriggers are a very important component of crane stability:  Outriggers must always be set up properly on a solid foundation.  The outriggers use hydraulics to lift the truck off of the ground.

• Counterweights must be placed beneath the crane cab to prevent the crane from tipping forward. The weight of the counterweights is adjusted according to a formula that includes the boom radius, the weight of the load and the angle the boom is operating at. The crane operator must be able to use mathematical charts to calculate the appropriate counterweights.

• Most cranes have onboard computers that the operator enters information into to determine if he is operating the crane according to manufacturer specifications. The computer is meant to be more of a back-up system to alert the driver if he is exceeding the load limits of the crane truck he is operating.

• Load moment indicator lights will turn on if the crane’s operating capacity is being approached. The load needs to be reduced if these lights go on.

• Crane operators maneuver both foot petals and joysticks to control movement of the boom both left to right and forward and back. The foot petals control the telescoping aspects of the boom as well as the pump pressure.  Crane operators also control the winding and unwinding of the winch, and any rotating of the cab. All controls should be labeled.

• Don’t skimp on crew. Two other workers are necessary for the safe execution of a lift-the oiler and the signalman. The oiler is in charge of the crane’s parts while the signalman is what he sounds like-the man who gives hand signals to the crane operator as he performs the lift.

Tags: crane, truck

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 6th, 2009 at 4:10 am and is filed under crane truck. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.