What Is Crane– We Can Say That Crane Is Probably One Of The Most Important Inventions In The World Of Transportation And Construction. The Credit For Introducing Cranes To The World Goes To The Ancient Greeks Who Then Used Animal Power To Put These Cranes To Work Lifting Loads. Of Course, We Have Come A Long Way Since Then And Nowadays Most Cranes Use Hydraulic Systems, Internal Combustion Engines And Motors.
Cranes Have Been Used In Almost Every Industry Because They Make It Simple To Lift And Lower Objects That Are More Than Ten Times Our Own Size. Be It On Land Or On Water, It Is Impossible To Carry Out Many Important Activities Without The Use Of Cranes. We Will Learn In Depth About Crane , Crane Types, And Crane Safety In This Article. Along With This, We Will Also Know Its Crane Inspection Checklist Format.
What Is Crane?
A Crane, Equipped With A Derrick Or Tower, Is Used To Lower And Lift Heavy Objects Using Pulleys And Cables. Heavy Equipment Manufacturers And The Construction Industry Use Cranes In A Variety Of Activities Related To Their Process.
Cranes Are Usually Used In Companies Where Heavy Equipment Is Manufactured Or In Construction Industries To Lift And Connect Multiple Equipment Together. This Crane Is Either Mounted On A Purpose-Built Vehicle Or Installed On The Ground. Based On Their Functions And Structure, This Crane Is Divided Into Derrick Or Tower. Cranes Are Equipped With Pulleys And Cables To Lift Heavy Goods Which Are Lifted By Attaching Any Heavy Object Or Equipment To The Hook Of The Crane With The Help Of A Sling.
A Standardized Hand Signal Is Used Between The Person Operating The Crane Controls, Called The Crane Operator , And The Person Working On The Ground, Called The Rigger Or Signal Man, To Guide The Crane Operator In The Correct Lifting Action. Large Installations Also Use Radio Communication For This Purpose.
Using Such Signals, The Load Can Be Lifted And Placed With Great Accuracy By An Experienced Crane Crew. When It Comes To Lifting Heavier Loads Or Lifting Loads, There Are Various Mobile Or Stationary Cranes For Different Weights, Sizes And Lifting Capacities ( Swl ).
In The Process Of Choosing The Right Type Of Crane To Match The Work, It Is Necessary To Consider Both The Radius And The Capacity Of The Crane To Lift The Load. There Are Many Other Things To Consider From The Safety Point Of View, Which We Will Discuss In The Section On Crane Safety Below. After Understanding What Is Crane, It Is Important To First Know The Types Of Cranes. Here Are The Most Common Cranes Used In Construction And Other Industries.
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Types Of Crane
You Must Have Easily Understood What Is Crane Above, Now You Have Been Told About Some Cranes Mostly Used In Different Industries And Construction Sites, Which Will Be Explained To You In Detail Below.
1. Mobile Crane
Mobile Cranes Are Truck Mounted Or Wheel Based And Are The Most Popular Type Of Machinery Used For Handling And Lifting Heavy Loads. They Are A Common Sight On A Variety Of Construction Projects Including Projects Involving The Maintenance Of Pipelines, Buildings, Bridges, Or Highways.
Most Mobile Cranes Have Lifting Capacities Ranging From 3 To 100 Tons And Can Be Erected At Heights Of Up To 450 Feet Or More When The Boom Is Fully Extended. Wheel-, Truck-, Or Crawler-Mounted Mobile Cranes Are All Options. Most Of The Time, Mobile Cranes Use A Boom With A Hook Attached By Cable And Sheave At The End. Electric Motors, Internal Combustion Engines (Ic) Are All Used. Mobile Cranes Are Very Versatile And Can Be Easily Transported Anywhere And Are The Most Commonly Used Type Of Crane In The Industry
2. Tower Crane
Any Large Construction Project Relies On A Tower Crane To Help Lift Large Equipment, Steel, Concrete, Or Other Heavy Materials. This Type Of Crane Is Easily Assembled And Dismantled On Site Due To Its Large Size, With Parts That Can Stand Several Feet High. Lifting Capacity Depends On The Capacity And Radius Of The Crane.What Is A Tower Crane
The Tower Crane Is The Most Adaptable And Useful Crane Available. It Comes With Precision Lifting Technology For Any Civil Engineering Task. That’s Why You See Tower Cranes On Almost Every Construction Site. These Highly Useful Cranes Have Proven Their Worth In Both The Construction Of Residential Buildings And Large-Scale Industrial Projects Around The World. This Versatile Equipment Rises Hundreds Of Feet In The Air And Can Reach Just As Far.
Tower Crane High-Utility Equipment Used To Lift Large Equipment Such As Steel, Concrete, Acetylene Torches And Generators And A Wide Variety Of Other Construction Materials.
3. Marine Crane
Marine Cranes Are Specially Designed To Be Attached To A Ship At Sea Or Installed Very Close To The Shore Line. Cranes Attached To A Boat Are Used To Lift Heavy Loads And Place Them On The Shore Or At Another Location In The Water.What Is A Marine Crane
Marine Cranes Come In Many Different Sizes And Varieties, Including A Choice Of Jibs, Such As T Elescopic , S Tiff Boom , Or Foldable Knuckle Boom .
Cranes On Deck Typically Operate With A Working Load Of 10 To 15 Tonnes, Although Some Are Larger Which Can Easily Lift 40 To 100 Tonnes. These Can Be Used For Rapid Cargo Loading And Unloading. Larger Rigs May Have Up To Two Or Three Cranes Installed On The Centre Line. These Are Mounted On A Turntable Platform To Give 360-Degree Access.
Different Types Of Cranes Are Made Depending Upon The Operation, For Example A Hook Crane For General Lifting And For Bulk Cargo, Other Options Include Triple Chrome Rod, Stainless Rod, Paint Options Etc. To Operate These Marine Cranes, Proper Signals And Good Communication Between The Crane Operator And The Rigger Is Required.
4. Gantry Crane (Overhead Crane)
Gantry Crane Or Overhead Crane Is Mostly Used To Move Heavy Materials Or Equipment In Stock Yards. This Type Of Crane Is Attached To Two A-Frames And Moves Back And Forth On A Horizontal Rail . Lifting Capacity Varies With The Size Of The Gantry Crane With Smaller Models Designed To Lift Up To 10 Tonnes And Larger Models Up To 100 Tonnes.
The Overhead/Gantry Crane Carries Its Load Using A Bridge Type Structure Which Is Attached To The Walls Of A Building Or Workshop And Is Operated By A Controller Below.
Depending On The Purpose For Which They Will Be Used, These Cranes Can Be Fixed Or Adjustable In Height And Are Typically Constructed Of Steel Or Aluminum. The Way A Gantry Crane Is Designed Is With Two Upright Beams And Then A Cross Beam. The Crane Has Two Legs That Are Shaped In An A-Frame Design And Are Built With Wheels Underneath To Make It Portable And Moveable.
In Manufacturing Operations, The Smallest Version Of A Gantry Crane Is Typically Used To Move Large Parts, Containers, And Molds To And From A Specific Location Or Between Assembly Or Workstations. In A Warehouse Setting, A Gantry Crane Is Used To Move Heavy Materials For Distances Within The Work Area.
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How To Take Crane Safety Precautions
You Must Have Understood This, Now You Need To Know About Crane Safety. As You Know, Cranes Are Undoubtedly Very Helpful In The Workplace And They Can Lift Huge Amounts Of Weight And Make Work Faster And More Efficient. However, They Are Also Extremely Dangerous Due To Their Enormous Power.
If For Some Reason A Suspended Load Falls, There Is No Way To Stop It And It Is Almost Impossible To Warn The Workers To Get Out At That Time. This Can Result In Serious Injury And Even Death Or Damage To Nearby Valuable Equipment.
90% Of Crane Accidents Are Caused By Human Error, So Proper Preparation And Training Is Important, Potential Accidents Can Be Avoided To A Great Extent By Learning How To Do Crane Safety. After Knowing Crane Kya Hai And Types Of Crane, It Is Very Important To Know About Crane Safety So That You Can Protect Yourself And Your Co-Workers From Accidents On The Site.
Hazards Associated With Crane Operation
To Properly Implement Crane Safety On The Site, It Is Important For You To Know The Hazards Associated With It. If You Understand Its Hazards, Then It Will Be Easy To Apply Its Control Measures And By Easily Implementing Its Safety Precautions, You Can Prevent Any Untoward Incident I.E. Accident.
Most Crane And Hoisting Accidents Can Be Prevented By Field Personnel Following Basic Rigging Practice. When A Crane Operator Collaborates With A Rigger Or Rigging Crew, It Is Critical That Both Parties Agree On The Signals To Be Used And Are Conversant With All Aspects Of The Lift.
Not Knowing The Working Load Limit (Wll): Never Use The Equipment If You Don’t Know The Working Load Limit, And You Should Never Go Over It. Faulty Crane And
- Lifting Components – Check All Hardware, Tackles And Slings Before Use. Remove The Item From The Location Or Destroy It If It Is Found To Be Damaged Or Defective Because It May Be Used By An Unknown Individual, Resulting In An Accident. Also Check The Maintenance Of The Crane And Ensure That It Has Been Inspected By A Third Party (Eg-Tuv).
- Hazardous Weather Conditions – Never Operate A Crane Or Perform Lifting Operations When Winds Are Extremely Strong . This Could Put Workers, The General Public, Or Property In Danger. Assess The Load Size To Determine If Windy Conditions May Cause Problems. Read The Manufacturer Sheet Of The Crane Being Used For More Information.
When The Rigger Crew’s Visibility Is Affected By Snow, Fog, Rain, Darkness Or Dust, Extra Caution Should Be Taken And, If Necessary, The Lift Should Be Postponed. - Electrical Contact – One Of The Most Frequent Killers Of Riggers Is Electrocution. An Electrical Path Is Created When The Crane Boom, Load Line, Or A Part Of The Load Comes Close To An Energized Overhead Powerline. When A Crane Is In Use, You Should Take Extra Care Of The Electrical Overhead Lines. This Is A Deadly Hazard.
- Presence Of Underground Utilities – Check The Underground Cables And Pipes At The Place Where The Crane Is To Be Parked And Also Check The Load Capacity Of The Soil There Whether It Can Handle The Weight Of The Crane Along With The Lifting Material Or Not.
- Suspended Load – After Checking All The Hazards Mentioned Above, Now It Comes To Lifting The Load. First Of All, You Should Ensure That No One Comes Within The Radius Of The Item To Be Lifted, Not Even The Rigger. You Have To Cordon Off The Entire Area And Also Put Up A Warning Sign. When The Load Is Lifted, No One Should Be Allowed To Go Under It.
- Crane Topple Over – As I Mentioned Above, If The Load Is Not Known And The Crane Has More Load Than Its Limit And The Surface Where The Outrigger Of The Crane Is Parked Is Not Level, Then This Can Also Cause The Crane To Topple Over.
Crane Safety Precautions
90% Of Crane Accidents Are Caused By Human Error And Include Accidents Caused By Crane Lifting. Make Sure All Workers Are Wearing Proper Safety Ppe , And Are Physically And Mentally Prepared To Work. Crane Accidents Are Very Serious But The Right Safety Training Can Significantly Reduce The Incidence. Crane Safety Precautions.
Pre Start Checks – You Must Inspect The Crane And The Area Where You Will Be Working Once You Are Physically And Mentally Prepared For Crane Lifting. Look For Small Leaks, Clear The Space Around The Crane So Nothing Is In The Way And Check The Crane Itself. Test Fluid Levels, Controls And Brakes When You Hear Unusual Noises. Also, It Is Very Important To Check The Limit Switch That Turns The Power Off At The End Of The Crane’s Limit To Make Sure It Is In Perfect Working Order And Right For The Job.
Check Work Load Limits – On Any Crane, The Weight Capacity Limit Should Be Checked Before Use And You Should Be Aware Of The Safety Devices That All Cranes Have.
There Are Two Types Of Devices – General Safety Devices And Operational Safety Devices. Bells And Warning Lights Are Two Examples Of Common Devices. Operational Safety Devices Monitor And Control The Handling Capacity Of The Crane And Include Overload Indicators, Emergency Stop Buttons And Limit Switches.
For Adequate Clearance, All Overhead Obstructions Must Be Removed To Ensure Crane Safety. The Crane Should Be Installed On A Solid And Level Surface, Capable Of Supporting The Equipment And Additional Payload. A Lot Of Careful Planning Is Required Before Using A Crane. All Equipment On The Workplace Should Be Placed In An Area Where Injury Is Unlikely. These Tips Should Not Be Neglected Or Performed Randomly.
Crane Inspection Record – Next, Make Sure The Crane You Are Working On Has Been Inspected. If It Has Not Been Inspected In Time, It Should Not Be Used. If The Crane Breaks Down, A Very Serious Accident Can Occur. Never Work On A Crane Unless It Has Been Inspected! Also, Make Sure The Hook Has Been Inspected As Well.
A Safety Latch On The Hook May Occasionally Be Bent Or Broken. This Can Easily Result In The Load Slipping Off The Hook. Also, The Hook Can Stretch If Not Loaded Correctly. If The Hook Is Stretched More Than 15% Or Twisted More Than 10% It Is Not Suitable For Use.
Check Electrical Overhead – Qone Of The Most Serious Crane Safety Hazards Is Electrical Shock. Make Sure You Also Inspect Your Environment And Look For Power Lines That May Get In The Way Of Your Work. Also Know Where Other Electrical Equipment Is Located And Keep An Eye Out For Bad Weather And Stop Work During A Lightning Storm.
Cordon Off Operating Radius – After Finding Out The Boom Radius Of The Place Where Crane Lifting Is Going On, Barricade The Entire Area And Put Up Sign Boards And Closely Monitor That No One Passes Under Or Near The Suspended Load I.E. The Lifted Load. Everyone Should Be Moved Away Before The Load.
Close & Continuous Monitoring – Crane Operations Must Be Closely Monitored To Ensure That Plans And Procedures Are Not Being Modified Or Ignored. An Unqualified Person Should Never Be Allowed To Operate A Crane. The Crane Operator Must Have Adequate Training And Experience To Guarantee Crane Safety And The Rigger Must Also Be Trained And Experienced. Also, A Tagline Must Be Used To Control The Load In The Correct Direction.
They Must Be Well Oriented With Equipment, Especially How To Read And Use Instruments And Charts, And Also Have Math Skills To Calculate Loads. The Crane Operator And Rigger Needs Good Judgment And The Ability To Pay Attention To Detail, As He Is In Charge Of Deciding When And How To Change Crane Speeds And Loads Based On Conditions On Site.
