Cranes and

Crane Safety Awareness

 Course Introduction
Crane is considered as a piece of heavy machinery that is a
tower or platform and equipped with cables and pulleys.
They are used to lift and lower materials. The most common
use of cranes is in the construction industry. Thus, knowledge
on overall foundation pertaining to Cranes and Crane Safety is
necessary for a construction site safety officer.

In this course, you will be able to identify types of cranes and

their basic components, recognize hazards associated with
cranes and understand safe operating practices based on
established guidelines with crane operations.

Applicable provisions pursuant to OSHS and D.O. 13-98 will be

used as reference guidelines in this course.
 Course Objectives
• Describe hazards and most common causes of crane
accidents
• Recognize types of cranes, basic components as well as
rigging equipment
• Describe maintenance, inspection and certification
requirements of cranes
• Understand load capacities, limits and lifting principles
• Understand hand signals
• Understand the roles and responsibilities of lifting
personnel
 Definitions
• Crane – Consists of a rotating structure for lifting and
lowering horizontally on rubber tires or crawler treads
• Hoist – Used to lift and lower load
• Boom – An inclined spar, strut, or other long member
supporting the hoisting tackle
• Boom stops – A device used to limit the angle of the boom at
its highest position
• Brake – To slow or stop motion by friction or power
• Block – Sheaves or grooved pulleys in a frame with hook, eye
and strap
• Jib – Extension attached to the boom point to provide added
boom length for lifting specified loads
Crane
Parts

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 Types of Cranes
• Mobile Telescopic • Overhead Traveling
• Crawler Lattice • Wall
• Side Lift • Gantry
• All Terrain • Semi-Gantry
• Truck Mounted • Cantilever
• Articulating • Straddle/Mobile
• Barge/Floating/Ship Gantry
• Railroad • Tower/Derrick
• Aerial/Helicopter Hammer Head
• Stiff-leg Derrick
Most Common Types of Cranes
in Construction
Crawler Lattice
Wheel-Mounted Telescoping
Tower Crane
 Crane Hazards
• Contact with power lines
• Overturns
• Falls
• Mechanical failures
• Moving parts
• Improper load rating
• Excessive speeds
• No hand signals
•
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Inadequate inspection and
maintenance
 Crane Hazards (cont.)

• Unguarded parts
• Unguarded swing radius
• Working too close to power lines
• Improper exhaust system
• Shattered windows
• No steps/guardrails walkways
• No boom angle indicator
• Not using outriggers
Who is at Risk?

• Operators
• Persons at Crane Site
 Power Lines
The greatest risk for cranes is contacting power lines.
 Power Lines
Stay clear from power lines at least
10 feet under 50kv.
If the voltage of the power lines is
unknown, stay at least 20 feet away
or more and immediately contact
your employer so that they may
contact the utility provider to
determine voltage of the power
lines.
Warning: Power lines can carry
50kv, 250kv, 350kv, 500kv or more.
The higher the kv the greater the
risk of arcing and employee injury
and property damage.
 Improper Load

Improper loads or speeds can result

in the tipping of the crane.
Improper Load
Improper Load
 Guard Moving Parts

Unguarded
Chain Drive

Guard moving parts such as gears or belts.

 Swing Radius

Stay out of the swing radius of the crane –

make sure there are barrier guards showing swing radius.
Operator Visibility
Broken
Window

Make sure broken

windows or other
obstructions do
not prevent the
operator from
seeing.
 Ladders

Ladder

Use ladders to get to the upper portion of the cab.

 Guardrails

Runways and
steps need to
have
guardrails,
handholds and
slip resistant
surfaces.
Common Reasons Accidents Occur
• Instability – unsecured load, load capacity
exceeded, or ground not level or too soft
• Lack of communication – the point of
operation is a distance from the crane
operator or not in full view of the operator
• Lack of training – inadequate maintenance
or inspection
Safety Measures
 Planning Before Start-Up
• Level the crane and ensure support surface is firm and able to
support the load.
• Contact power line owners and determine precautions. Know
the location and voltage of overhead power lines.
• Know the basic crane capacities, limitations, and job site
restrictions, such as the location of power lines, unstable soil,
or high winds.
• Make other personnel aware of hoisting activities.
• Barricade areas within swing radius.
• Ensure proper maintenance and inspections.
• Determine safe areas to store materials and place machinery.
Suspended Loads

Don’t stand under

suspended loads.
Competent Person
The competent person
must inspect all
machinery and
equipment prior to each
use, and during use, to
make sure it is in safe
operating condition.
Broken Track If it needs fixing, take it
out of service and don’t
use it until it is fixed.
 Load Capacity - Speed - Warnings

• Make sure the crane

operator can see
the:
• Rated Load
Capacities
• Operating Speeds
• Special Hazard
Warning or
Load Rating Chart
Instruction
 Boom Angle Indicator

A boom angle indicator must be on the crane

 Know the Weight of the Load
• Refer to shipping ticket or other
documentation
• Ensure lift calculations are correct
• Ensure load is within load chart rating for
boom length and load radius of crane
• Crane is rated by the maximum weight it
will lift at a minimum radius and minimum
boom length – the further from its
centerpoint, the less it will lift.
 Load-Limiting Factors
• Not level
• Wind
• Side loads
• On its wheels
• Lifting over the side
• Use of extensions, jibs and other
attachments
• Limits of wire rope, slings and lifting
devices
Mobile Cranes – Lifting Principles

• Center of gravity
• Leverage
• Stability
• Structural
integrity
 Load Example – 30 Ton Crane
• Will lift 60,000 pounds at 10 feet from
the center pin of the crane
• Based on level surface, no wind, and
outriggers fully extended
• At 25 feet from the center pin with an 80
foot boom, the capacity is only 14,950
pounds
• At 74 feet from the center pin, the
capacity is only 4,800 pounds
Communication is Key
Hand Signals
 Standard and Alternative Signals
Hand signal charts must be either posted on the
equipment or conspicuously posted in the vicinity
of the hoisting operations.
When using non-standard hand signals, the signal
person, operator, and lift director (where there is
one) must contact each other prior to the
operation and agree on the non-standard hand
signals that will be used.
Hand signal charts must be either posted on the
equipment or conspicuously posted in the vicinity
of the hoisting operation.
Maintenance, Inspection and
Crane Certification
 Inspections - Each Shift

✓A competent person must begin a visual inspection prior to

each shift the equipment will be used.

✓The inspection must consist of observation for apparent

deficiencies.
✓Taking apart equipment components and booming down is not
required as part of this inspection unless the results of the visual
inspection or trial operation indicate that further investigation is
necessary.
✓Determinations made in the inspection must be reassessed in
light of observations made during operation.
At a minimum the inspection must include all of the following:

• Control mechanisms for maladjustments interfering with proper

operation.
• Control and drive mechanisms for apparent excessive wear of
components and contamination by lubricants, water or other foreign
matter.
• Air, hydraulic, and other pressurized lines for deterioration or leakage,
particularly those which flex in normal operation.
• Hydraulic system for proper fluid level.
• Hooks and latches for deformation, cracks, excessive wear, or damage
such as from chemicals or heat.
• Wire rope reeving for compliance with the manufacturer's
specifications.
• Electrical apparatus for malfunctioning, signs of apparent excessive
deterioration, dirt or moisture accumulation.
• Tires (when in use) for proper inflation and condition.
• Ground conditions around the equipment for proper
support, including ground settling under and around
outriggers/stabilizers and supporting foundations, ground
water accumulation, or similar conditions.
• The equipment for level position within the tolerances
specified by the equipment manufacturer's
recommendations, both before each shift and after each
move and setup.
• Operator cab windows for significant cracks, breaks, or
other deficiencies that would hamper the operator's view.
• Rails, rail stops, rail clamps and supporting surfaces when
the equipment has rail traveling.
• Safety devices and operational aids for proper operation.
In summary:
• Knowledge on crane safety is a must for anyone working
in a project site where there is crane operations.

• One must understand that not all workers are allowed to

operate a crane. He/she must have complied with all
competency standard requirements like having a training
certification from TESDA (i.e. Crane Operator NC 2, has an
appropriate and valid driver’s license, etc.).

• The greatest risk for cranes is coming into contact with

power lines.

• Cranes should be inspected regularly, before and after its

use.
End of Module.