Construction is a high-stakes, high-reward industry. There are no guarantees about which build will pay off in the end. The elaborate, beautiful, and challenging builds—can be the kind that potentially change the game and also the kind that lands you with lawsuits and debt. The construction industry can be Pandora’s box in that sense. It is best to go into every project knowing the necessary rules and regulations that protect you and your team, as well as what you can do to ensure the safety of cranes in use.
It is a shared responsibility
When you are looking for your crane, remember that the responsibility for the crane in cases of accidents is shared between the people who hire the crane and the people who use the crane. Safety in the use of cranes relies on different factors: the state of the machine, the lift plan, the supervision, and the use of the crane. The responsibility for on-site use, which ranges from planning to using, lies with the crane user. The only time this responsibility changes is if the company where the crane is hired from is contractually bound to assist in the planning and its use.
Since everyone shares the responsibility for the use, there is no side that benefits from careless errors and breaches of planning, supervising, and execution. The company you hire is as invested in the use of the crane as you are.
Inspection and certification
Crane hire companies, such as Crane Hire Lincoln, are inspected by third-party organisations. When they pass inspection, which ranges from the state of the machines to the competence of the employees, they are certified and endorsed by that organisation. Seek out companies which have been inspected by multiple organisations to ensure the absence of bias. Before asking for a quote, ask about their certification and the dates of the most recent inspections. The Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS) is an example of a third-party inspector. They work alongside government organisations such as the Association of London Government (ALG) and are also inspected themselves to ensure they meet the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) safety schemes.
Off-site precautions
You need to have a plan before you do any heavy lifting. The programme should outline the lifting operation, the emergency actions, identified risks, resources required, and division of responsibilities. The plan should be made by someone who is competent, with enough theoretical and practical experience. There are guidelines for these plans under British Standard BS 7121, Part 1, 2006.
Other precautions include teaching your employee’s safety measures when the crane is in use. The majority of crane-related accidents involve either the fall of the crane or the fall of the load being carried.
On-site precautions
On-site precautions include having a supervisor present every time the crane is in use, marking out zones with hazard signs, and strictly enforcing proper safety gear. Have a system that prevents access to those who should not operate the crane, and outsiders from accessing the site during crane use. As the project continues, routinely inspect the site and the machine. In cases where you are rushing, stay on plan and avoid overloading the crane. Each type has a strict limit that should be followed.
Keep high-stake builds safe with proper crane use.
