Projections show that global crane shipments will reach more than 35,000 units by 2025.
Electric cranes are generally smaller than most other cranes but present several safety risks due to accidents and improper use. Therefore, keeping injuries to a minimum should be a priority in all applications.
For three practical safety tips for working with electric cranes, keep reading.
1. Conduct Proper Inspections
Like all heavy machinery, you must do daily inspections on electric cranes. In addition, the operator needs to check multiple crane elements to confirm everything is operational and safe to use.
This isn’t just good practice in almost all circumstances but also a legal requirement. Things that should be inspected include the electric crane hoist, rigging gear, upper limit switch, and power disconnect switch.
Several inspections will be essential across the entire industry, but businesses can also implement extra checks if desired. All reviews are needed at the start of every day. If there are alternating shifts or another operator takes over, the new operator may need to do the checks again.
2. Be Aware of Your Surroundings
Anyone operating an electric truck crane should always be vigilant of their working area. If any hazards present themselves, all operations should stop until the hazard is removed. A typical example could be a vehicle driving too close to the crane.
This also applies to anyone else working in the area. You should make sure you keep a safe distance from cranes and all other machinery.
More than a third of crane-related injuries occur due to a load drop, load swing, or unstable load. The odds of a load falling are low but not impossible, and if something requires a crane to lift it, you can be sure that it is very heavy.
3. Regular Maintenance for All Equipment
Electric cranes are solid and durable pieces of equipment but are prone to wear and tear like all machinery. Keeping all parts well maintained and in good condition will prevent the risk of breakdown and help keep everyone safe.
A pickup truck crane with an electric winch has a lot of components, meaning there is a lot that could go wrong.
Mechanical failures such as a chain-breaking could result in a load drop, or the malfunction of any safety features like the power disconnect switch could cause more harm in an emergency.
The maintenance plan of a crane can be based on its use. If an electric crane is only used once a month, it won’t need to be attended as often as one that is in use daily.
The manufacturer of any equipment will be able to provide details of the maintenance needed. This information should be available in the manufacturer’s service manual, but if this is not accessible for whatever reason, they should be able to tell you if you contact them directly.
Working With Electric Cranes
Working with electric cranes requires good practice and responsibility to keep the risk of injury as low as possible.
Kor-Pak Industrial Supply has a wide range of parts for electric cranes and other machinery and can carry out any repairs or replacements needed.
To find out more about our services, click here to contact us today.