Crane Safety
At Jones Crane Hire, our people are our most important asset. Each employee contributes to our pursuit of excellence, and we believe that an excellent company is also a safe one. The Health and Safety of our people is an integral part of all of our business activities.
Wherever possible, we promote and maintain the highest degree of physical, mental and social well-being amongst our workforce.
Accidents are preventable
Jones Crane Hire provides appropriate resources, training, machinery, ancillary equipment, personal protection, procedures and work practices to prevent accidents at all places, on all occasions and at all times.
We strive for ongoing improvement of our Health and Safety policies, procedures and practices by steps that include:
- 1. Employees undergo “toolbox talks” that offer them opportunities to ask health and safety-related questions on-site and learn how to always be in charge of their safety.
- 2. All employees are encouraged to recommend improvements to the current Health and Safety standards and work practices and identify and eliminate hazards that can cause injury.
- 3. Jones Crane Hire management team regularly meets to consult and review Safety matters. The team continues to define responsibilities that promote a positive Safety culture throughout the company and ensures that these safety systems are realised.
At Jones Crane Hire, we are committed to the safety of our clients and to the reduction of risk factors that may occur during our operations.
Risks associated with mobile crane operations
Mobile crane operations may present a risk of injury to persons from:
- A. structural failure
- B. crane overturning
- C. contact or collision with other plants and structures and
- D. falling objects
Structural failure may include the failure of any crane component, such as the boom, jib, hydraulic rams or wire rope. A mobile crane may suffer structural failure if the crane has been overloaded in the structural area of its load chart. Structural failure may occur without warning.
A mobile crane is likely to overturn if the crane has been overloaded in the stability area of its load chart. This may be influenced by a number of factors including:
- A. poor ground conditions such as unstable ground
- B. failure to use or fully extend outriggers or stabilizers
- C. failure to level the crane
- D. high wind conditions
Contact or collision with other plants and structures may occur where sufficient clearances are not maintained between the mobile crane and other plant and structures, such as other cranes, buildings and overhead power-lines.
Falling objects may result from erecting and dismantling activities, and the way loads are secured during lifting operations. Falling objects may present a risk of injury to workers and members of the public.
Load charts, also called rated capacity charts, identify what a crane is able to lift safely. Load charts must be written in English and use metric units. Where the crane has one main load chart, this should be fixed in the operator’s cabin in a clearly visible location. Where the crane has numerous load charts (e.g. for different boom and fly jib configurations), the charts should be kept in a book, folder or envelope in the operator’s cabin.
Lifting should not take place unless the load charts are in the crane cabin. Although the crane’s load moment system may appear to be operating correctly, the load charts must be available to verify that the crane is not being overloaded.
The lifting capacity of a crane is limited by:
- A. structural strength when the working radius is small; and
- B. stability when the working radius is greater.
The load charts on most cranes have a bold line or shaded area dividing the chart into two segments. The divided segments shows the crane operator which capacities are limited by structural strength, and which are limited by stability.