Crane Safety
This page covers the following topics:
- Overview
- Ground Condition Safety Measures
- Crane Assembly & Disassembly
- Shift Inspections
- Compliance with Rated Capacity Requirements
- Pre-Operation Precautions
- Crane Safety During Operations
- Additional Information
Overview
According to the U.S. Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), moving large, heavy loads
with cranes is crucial to the construction industry. Crane operation requires
that safety measures be implemented to protect both the operators of cranes, as
well as the workers in proximity to the cranes.
Significant and serious injuries to construction workers may
occur if:
- Cranes are not inspected before use;
- Cranes are not used properly (for example, when
a worker is struck by an overhead load or caught within the crane's swing
radius); or
- When the boom of a crane or its load line
contact an overhead power line.
To minimize the risk of injury to workers, employers must
take measures to ensure that cranes are used only when ground conditions are adequate, that pre-operation precautions are followed, and that cranes are
properly maintained, inspected, and operated.
Ground Condition
Safety Measures