Material handling is a significant part of any industry or factory. Whatever industry you look at, there is a requirement of lifting heavy loads and materials for manufacturing things. Previously, workers used to lift or move heavy loads or materials as technology and mechanics were not too developed. Naturally, workers used to get injured very frequently.
The advancement of technology and mechanics has gifted some machines and tools that have reduced workers' burdens. Those machines and tools have saved workers from injuries and accidents up to some extent. Anyway, handling those material handling tools can lead to severe accidents as well. Workers who are not trained to handle machines like cranes are more likely to face accidents. That’s why training the workers to handle the material handling machinery is significant.
Overhead cranes are one of the most used tools in all industries and factories. These are also one of the most dangerous tools to handle. An inexperienced worker can come across a serious accident while handling an overhead crane in the wrong way. This article is going to mention some safety techniques for handling overhead cranes.
How to operate overhead cranes with proper safety?
- Before using an overhead crane for lifting a heavy load, proper inspection is necessary to avoid accidents. The workers should repeatedly check if the crane is in the right condition to lift heavy loads or not. Apart from that, you should also check if the cranes' parts are functioning correctly or not. The bolts of the crane should be placed in the right positions. Otherwise, there will be high chances of accidents.
- Check the weight of the load before engaging an overhead crane in lifting that. An overhead crane usually has a maximum weight taking capacity. Once the weight of the load exceeds that lifting capacity, accidents occur. Therefore, checking the weight of the load or material is mandatory for safety purposes. You should never miss checking if the crane is capable of lifting or moving or not.
- None should be around while you’re lifting a heavy load using an overhead crane. Before using an overhead crane for lifting weight, the crane operator should notify everyone around. If anyone stays nearby the crane while lifting, he can get injured if a lifting failure occurs.
- The crane operator should place himself in a safe position for additional safety. In a case of hoisting failure, the crane operator can have severe and life-threatening injuries. That’s why the operator should be in a safe position to avoid any accident.
- The crane operator must attach the suitable sling before lifting a heavy load. Besides that, the operator is also liable to check if the sling is damaged or not. A damaged or defective sling can be the main reason behind a major accident.
- While hoisting a load, the operator shouldn’t start or pause the operation all of a sudden. If you’re a crane operator, you must know that accidents occur due to sudden pauses while lifting. When the crane is lifting a massive load, the operation shouldn’t be paused without calculations. Otherwise, the weight can get detached from the crane and fall.
- Make sure that the load doesn’t swing too much. If the load swings frequently while lifting, that can be hard to control. That’s why the operator should try to lift the load using the crane as smoothly as possible. Fast motion during lifting can make the load swing more, and that can lead to accidents.
- The operator should focus on hoisting the load upward in a straight manner. When you try to lift the load straight upwards, the task gets easier for the crane.
- If you have to move the load from one place to another in a certain path, check the path carefully. Often crane operators don’t check moving paths before moving a massive load. That kind of thing makes the moving process unsafe and difficult. Instead, you should check the moving path before starting the operation. That can help you in handling a safer operation.
- Always remember that an overhead crane is not favourable for lifting loads from sides. That’s why it is highly risky to lift a heavy load from aside. While you are using an overhead crane, lifting the load straight upwards is the best option.
- While lifting a heavy load with an overhead crane, it is highly risky to leave the operation in the middle. Those kinds of things happen in factories frequently, and that’s not desirable. As a crane operator, you should never leave a hoisting operation in the middle. If you do so, the heavyweight can fall anytime.
- Once you have finished the entire lifting operation using the crane, you must remove the entire load. Please don’t leave the crane and the load as they are. Take the help of your co-workers and remove the load from the crane. After that, you must check if you have switched off all the controllers or not before turning off the main switch.
These are the safety precautions that you must take before using an overhead crane. These instructions will guide you to have a safe lifting operation using the crane.
