Newground Safety

Tool Box Talks

CRANE COUNTERWEIGHTS

Some things to know before you give your talk.

It is important that you talk to your crew about the danger of crane counterweights. Since
cranes don’t swing that fast, you wouldn’t thing that counterweights could do much damage.
If you are ever hit by a counterweight, chances are you won’t be hurt. In open space, you will
probably just get pushed aside and feel embarrassed.

However, if you get caught between the counterweight and a stationary object, (like a wall,
column, or even a parked vehicle) causing a pinch point, chances are you’ll be seriously hurt or
killed.

Remind the crew that the operator and spotter aren’t looking at the counterweight or at them.
They’re concerned with the boom and the load on the other side of the crane.

What can we do to control the problem?

• Eliminate the pinch point.

Locate cranes away from any stationary object.
Remember that you don’t have to put the crane very far away.
Just leave enough clearance so that someone can pass between
the counterweight and the fixed object.

• If you’re an equipment operator, make sure that you’re not

creating any pinch points for yourself or any one else by parking
your machine too close to any stationary object.

• If tight job conditions force a pinch point with a crane, make

sure that it is tightly barricaded with signs that warn of the hazard.
Make sure there is another way for workers on the job to pass
through the area.

• Finally, if for some reason you can’t barricade the pinch point,
provide warning to everyone on the job. Use orange or yellow
safety tape. Check it daily and replace where needed.

• “Oilers” are most often injured by swinging cranes. The operator

should always know where the oiler is working. If the oiler must
 Newground Safety
Tool Box Talks

go into a hazardous spot, the crane should be shut down. You should also consider doing
the maintenance at lunch time or some other time when the crane can be shut down.

Crane safety tips

• Never take a shortcut behind a crane

• If you have to walk near the crane, make sure the operator sees you!

Try this for show and tell!

Do a quick sketch of your job site. Show it to the crew and point out:
• where the cranes are (or are going to be)
• the only acceptable ways to enter and exit the site

Questions you can use to get them talking:

• Are we doing a good job of controlling pinch point hazards on this job site?
If not, where’s the problem and what do we need to do?

• What are the different ways you can get operator’s attention?

Attended by: _____________ _________________ _________________

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