Cranes are a piece of construction equipment used in many different types of businesses. Safe crane operation requires many hours of specialized training. But technology is changing the crane training process.
Technology such as drones and simulators are quickly changing the crane operation industry. The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires all crane operators in the United States to be certified. New technology ensures that your business will not only be saving a lot of time but also a lot of money.
Read on to learn about how new technology is increasing crane training performance.
Simulation Technology
A crane simulator is a piece of equipment that allows the user to simulate operating a crane in a controlled virtual environment. In this environment, operators can develop and train their crane operation skills and abilities.
Many companies have switched to using simulators for their employee’s crane training rather than the machine itself. The training has been useful in simulating real-life scenarios so that operators can be ready when working on site.
Some benefits of using a simulator include:
- Always available for training
- Increases productivity
- Customizable training
- Customizable testing
- Training logs
- Analyzed training records
- Standardization
- Reduces training costs
Drone Technology
Many businesses are also exploring drone technology to help with crane training. Drones are extremely helpful in giving the big picture. By flying a drone overhead, an operator can learn awareness of their environment.
A drone can show the route of the crane boom, and allow the operator to learn about how to maintain control of the boom. It also helps with learning about maintaining proper distances from various objects. These distances are sometimes difficult to judge from the ground level.
By using a drone to show what’s happening from a higher altitude, it is much easier to see how close the crane boom comes to various obstacles.
Not only can drones be used in the training process, but they can also be used in the actual work environment. Drones can be used to assist with crane inspections and maintenance. A drone can be flown at a high altitude, allowing them to help an inspector see the condition of the crane from above.
Drones can also be useful for checking the expected travel route for the crane lift. While the lift may have already been simulated, a drone can be flown in the expected travel path to double check there are no unanticipated obstacles.
Ready to Incorporate New Technology into your Crane Training?
Proper training is an important aspect of keeping your business efficient and your employees safe. 90% of crane injuries are due to human error. Keeping up with the new technology in the crane industry is a great way of increasing productivity and safety.
Both simulation and drone technology can help with crane training performance. While technology moves fast, it is important to take advantage of relevant technology when it helps your business.
Check us out for more information on new technology and equipment.