Hydraulic Crane Safety

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Hydraulic CraneSafety
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Hydraulic Cranes

• Can be stationary or attached to trucks, trains
  and boats
• Lift capacities in excess of 1,000 tons

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Hydraulic Cranes

• Cranes represent the largest cause of injury in
  construction today
• Consider the following accident statistics

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Hydraulic Cranes

• Cranes contribute to as many as one third of all
  construction and maintenance fatalities and
  injuries resulting in permanent disabilities
• 1.4 deaths per 1,000 operators over the past 45
  years
• Operators consist of 13 of all victims in crane
  related fatalities
• From 1980-1992 cranes are associated with 306
  construction fatalities (16.1 of all
  construction fatalities

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• 1996 OSHA study of 502 crane related fatalities
  identified causes of death as
• Electrocution (39)
• Crane assembly/dismantling (12)
• Boom buckling/collapse (8)
• Crane upset/overturn (7)
• Rigging failure (7)
• Other (27)

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OSHA Standards1926.550

• A thorough, annual inspection of the hoisting
  machinery shall be made by a competent person
• All employees shall be kept clear of loads about
  to be lifted and suspended loads

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Power Lines

• Minimum clearance between the lines and any part
  of the crane or load shall be 10 feet
• Add 0.4 inches for each 1 kV over 50 kV

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Crane Signals

• Hand signals to crane and derrick operators shall
  be those prescribed by the applicable ANSI
  standard for the type of crane in use
• An illustration of the signals shall be posted at
  the job site

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Crane Signals
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Inspection Items

• Operating Manual
• Machine Guarding
• Swing Clearance Protection
• High Voltage Warnings
• Boom/Jib Boom Stops
• Boom Angle Locator
• Boom Hoist Disconnects
• Anti-Two Block Devices
• Power Controlled Lowering
• Leveling Indicator Devices

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Inspection Items

• Sheaves
• Main Hoist and Auxiliary Drums
• Main Boom/Jib Boom Extensions
• Hooks/Hook Block
• Hydraulics
• Outriggers
• Load Rating Chart
• Wire Rope
• Cab

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Hydraulic Cranes

• Careful consideration must be used when planning
  a lift
• Identify potential hazards inside the cranes
  radius
• Make sure hoists/slings are secured
• The operator should be able to see the spotter
  throughout the entire lift

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Hydraulic CraneSafety