Gapoy, Frednixen B.

BSMT2- Alpha

MOBILE CRANE PARTS

Question 4: How to operate cranes.

Step 1: Ensuring Safety

Before starting the crane operation, the first thing to do is to ensure safety. Inspect and
check whether or not the crane structure has damage. The crew should be alert to the
possibility of damage to both a crane structure and/or its wires.The most common
damage is that to the hoist wire, often caused by improper or rough handling by the
crane driver

A risk assessment and management must also be done to ensure that the working area
is safe.

Everyone who will be part of the operation must all be using the right personal
protective equipment. No person is to be allowed to operate lifting equipment without
adequate training and familiarisation with the operating instructions. Trained persons
are to be issued certificates with record formal training and approval to use the
appliance, and Ships' staff should be alert to the possibility of damage to both a crane
structure and/or its wires.

Personnel who are operating lifting equipment shall have no other duties and must
have a clear view of the operation. Where this is not possible a trained signaller is to
be used to give directional instructions to the operator. The signals used are to comply
with these detailed in the CODE OF SAFE WORKING PRACTICE.

Limit switches should not be overridden when handling cargo and their use must be
strictly limited to stowing or raising the jib.

Controls are to be permanently and clearly marked with their function and operating
directions and instructions. Where special instructions are applicable to securing and
unsecuring of the equipment these shall be separately detailed in a clear manner.
Controls must not be modified in any way from their original specification.

All fitted safety devices limit switches, cut-offs or pawls are to be kept in good
working order and tested regularly. Safety devices must never be isolated or
overridden.

Also, check the safe working load and the lifting capacity to determine whether or not
your crane is suitable for the load that you will carry.

Step 2: Execution

In operating the crane, there are levers that one must utilize. The levers are for boom,
runners, and swing. The operator must know what each of these lever do. Also, as the
eyes and the ears of a dedicated area or crane, a crane hand signal person carries many
responsibilities. The crane operator and the signaller must work together so that the
operation will be safe and successful. The signaller will be the one who will give the
instructions. He will do this by using various hand signals. The signaller will provide
instructions like stop, hoist, swing boom, and extend the boom. The operator must
follow. Of coarse, the first ting that they must do is to place the load into the hook.
Then after that, to ove it to other place, they must hoist it up and move.

Examples of Hand Signals that must be followed.

Stop signals- When stop signals are used operation of the equipment must be halted.


Dog everything – This signal will stop all activity and is performed by clasping
hands together and placing them at waist level.

 Stop – In order to pause or stop an action, the signal person will extend a single
arm and face their palm down; they will then begin to swing the extended arm
back and forth.

Boom signals- it will inform the crane operator of which maneuver they should
perform with the boom.

 Raise boom – To raise the boom, a signal person will extend an arm horizontally
to the side of their body and signal thumbs up, with a closed fist.

 Lower boom – In order to lower the boom the signal person will extend an arm
horizontally and signal thumbs down, with a closed fist.

 Swing boom – To swing the boom, the signal person will extend an arm out
horizontally, using their index finger to point in the direction the boom is to
swing
 Extend boom – To lengthen the boom, the signal person will place their hands at
the front of their waist and point thumbs outwards with remaining fingers in a
fist.

Load signals- Load signals will dictate what the operator should do with a load once
it has been lifted by the crane.

 Hoist load – In order to lift the load upwards the signal person will extend their
arm vertically towards the ceiling/sky, point with their index finger and make
small circles with their hand and index finger.
 Lower load – To lower the load downward, the signal person will extend their
arm horizontally, pointing their index finger towards the ground, once in this
position they will make a circle motion with their finger.

Step 3: Restoration and Storage- For this step, everything that was
used must be stored and kept in the suitable place.