OVERHEAD

CRANES
Rev 2016

Approved By:
Chad Lacour
Technical Training Manager

1
This Class does
not Certify you
for the API
RP2D Rigger
Certification

2
OVERHEAD CRANES
C Cranes Are Everywhere

• Cranes, derricks, and jib

hoists are
used in almost every industrial
setting
• Cranes can be found on most
construction sites

3
Required Training

• Before an employee,
temporary employee, or
contractor may operate a
crane on Company property,
he/she will complete the
Overhead Crane Training
module

4
Supervisor Responsibilities

• The department supervisor is

responsible for training
employees designated by the
department to operate
overhead cranes safely

5
Employee Responsibilities

Employees are responsible for

learning the safe operating
procedures presented in the
training module and to apply
these techniques while operating
cranes

6
Crane Hazards

• Crane, sling, or hook could fail

if overloaded
• Load could flip, turn, or
release suddenly if not
attached correctly
• People or objects could be
struck by the load

7
Crane Capacity

• Rated capacity clearly marked

on each side
of the crane
• If more than one hoisting unit,
each hoist
must be marked with rated
capacity
• Markings clearly legible from
the ground

8
Daily Crane Inspections

• Daily Inspections Include:

– Operating mechanisms to ensure
proper working order
– Air or hydraulic systems for
leaks
– Hoist chains/ropes for wear,
twisting, distortion
– Brakes, cracks, hook and safety
latches

9
Monthly Crane Inspections

• Inspect hooks, load

attachment chains, and end
connections for:
 deformations
 cracks
 excessive wear
 twists
 distorted links that may interfere
with proper function
 stretch beyond manufacturer's
recommendations
 worn chain drive sprockets

10
Monthly Crane Inspections

• Inspect the wire ropes, rope

slings, and the associated end
connections for:
 excessive wear
 broken wires
 stretch
 kinking
 twisting.

• Check for loose bolts or rivets

11
Monthly Crane Inspections
• Look for worn, cracked, and
distorted parts, including
deformations
 pins
 bearings
 shafts
 gears
 rollers
 locking devices
 clamping devices
 sheaves
 drums

12
Monthly Crane Inspections

• Check for excessive wear on

the brake system parts,
including deformations
 linings
 pawls
 ratchets
• Load wind and other
indicators over their full range
to check for any significant
inaccuracies

13
Monthly Crane Inspections
• Check power sources for
malfunction or non-
compliance with applicable
safety requirements. These
sources can be:
 gasoline
 diesel
 electrical
 hydraulic
• Check electrical apparatus for
signs of pitting or any
deterioration of:
 controller containers
 limit switches
 push-button stations
14
Monthly Crane Inspections

• Verify that crane block,

bridges, and jobs can be read
easily by anyone using the
equipment

• Verify that any modifications

made to the crane had the
prior written approval of the
manufacturer

15
Annual Crane Inspections

• Comply with OSHA Standards

:

• Complete Inspection
• Normally done by outside
Qualified and Authorized
Vendor
• Document and Maintain
Accurate Records

16
Required Documentations
• Maintain inspection reports in a
permanent file for five years. The
file must include:
 monthly inspection reports
 OSHA inspection reports
 yearly minute-particle
inspection and testing reports
 maintenance, repair, and
service records
 written approval from the
manufacturer for any
modifications made to the
crane

17
Required Documentations
• To simplify documentation:

number each crane or

hoist
record the crane or
hoist's number, location,
type, and capacity on the
inspection record
organize the files by
crane or hoist number

18
General Operating Rules

• Only trained, authorized

operators
are permitted to operate
cranes
• A crane must not be loaded
beyond
its rated capacity
• Follow all safe operating
procedures

19
Attaching the Load

• Hoist chain/rope free of kinks

or twists
• Do not wrap hoist chain/rope
around the load
• Attach the load to the load
block hook with slings or other
approved devices

20
Foot Walks
• Where foot walks are located
in no case shall less than 48
inches of headroom be
provided
• Foot walks shall be of rigid
construction and designed to
sustain a distributed load of at
least 50 pounds per square
foot
• Foot walks shall have a
walking surface of anti slip
type.
NOTE: Wood will meet this
requirement
21
Bridge Bumpers
• A crane shall be provided with
bumpers or other automatic means
providing equivalent effect, unless
the crane travels at a slow rate of
speed and has a faster deceleration
rate due to the use of sleeve bearings,
or is not operated near the ends of
bridge and trolley travel, or is
restricted to a limited distance by the
nature of the crane operation and
there is no hazard of striking any
object in this limited distance, or is
used in similar operating conditions

22
Bridge Bumpers

• The bumpers shall be capable

of stopping the crane (not
including the lifted load) at an
average rate of deceleration
not to exceed 3 ft/s/s when
traveling in either direction at
20 percent of the rated load
speed

23
Hooks

• Safety latch or clip

• Load in center
of hook’s curve
• Picking up load with
the hook’s tip causes
it to open up and weaken
• Replace hooks that are bent
open or twisted

24
Hoisting Safety
• Avoid sudden acceleration or
deceleration
• Watch for obstructions
• Never leave controls with load
suspended
• Do not use cranes for side pulls
• Never lower the load below the point
where less than two full wraps of
rope remain on the hoisting drum
• Minimum of 3 inches overhead and
2 inches laterally between crane and
obstructions

25
Hoisting and People

• Never carry loads over people

• Do not hoist, lower, or travel a load
when
an employee is on the load or hook
• When two or more cranes are lifting
a load,
put one qualified person in charge

26
Hoisting and People
• Clearance between parallel
cranes. If the runways of two
cranes are parallel, and there
are no intervening walls or
structure, there shall be
adequate clearance provided
and maintained between the
two bridge
• Fire extinguisher: Carbon
tetrachloride extinguishers
shall not be used

27
 Hand
Signals

28
Raising The Hoist
• Hold your
forearm in a
vertical
position with
your
forefinger
pointing up
• Move your
hand in small
horizontal
circles

29
Lowering The Hoist
• Extend your arm downward
with your forefinger pointing
to the ground
• Move your hand in small
horizontal circles

30
Use Main Hoist
• Tap your fist on your head
• Use the regular signals for
raising or lowering the hoist

31
Move Slowly
• Use one hand to give any motion
signal.
• Place the other hand motionless in
front of the hand giving the signal

32
Dog Everything
• Clasp hands in front of your
body.

33
Stop
• Extend your arm to the right
with the palm down
• Hold the position rigidly

34
Emergency Stop
• Extend your arm to the right
with the palm down.
• Move your hand rapidly right
and left

35
Sling Types

• Eye to eye versus endless

• Steel chains
• Wire rope or steel cable
• Metal mesh
• Fiber rope (natural or
synthetic)
• Synthetic mesh

36
Operator Sling Inspections

• Each day before use by a

trained operator
• Check slings and attachments
for damage
• Immediately remove damaged
and defective slings from
service

37
Thorough Sling Inspections

• At least annually, recorded in

a log
• Chains
• Wire rope
• Metal mesh
• Fiber rope
• Synthetic web

38
Sling Rules

• Never load beyond rated

capacity
• Label properly
• Never shorten with
knots, bolts, or any other
device
• Protect from sharp edges
• Attach securely to the load

39
Sling Rules (cont.)

• Protect hands and fingers

• Use care when pulling a sling
• Never drag a sling
• Do not use a damaged or
defective sling

40
Sling Storage

• Hang slings on a wall

• Never leave on the ground
• Never expose to water, welding
sparks, chemicals, etc.

41
Sling Hitches

• Vertical

• Choker

• Basket

42
Summary
• Only trained and authorized
operators allowed to use a
crane
• Inspect both crane and slings
before use
• Properly secure the load and
try to keep slings vertical
• Keep all people away from a
load while
it is being hoisted or moved

43
OVERHEAD CRANE

Test

44
1
1.PROPER TRAINING IS
NOT VERY
IMPORTANT
BECAUSE CRANES
WILL ALWAYS BE
OPERATED BY A
LICENSED CRANE
OPERATOR

A. TRUE
B. FALSE 45
2. A RED DANGER: DO
NOT OPERATE TAG
MEANS YOU CAN USE
THE CRANE ONLY
AFTER GIVING IT
BOTH A VISUAL AND
OPERATIONAL
INSPECTION

A. TRUE
B. FALSE 46
3. THE DISCONNECT
SWITCH FOR A HOIST
OR CRANE SHOULD
CUT POWER ONLY TO
THE HOIST OR CRANE

A. TRUE
B. FALSE

47
4. IF THE UP AND
DOWN BUTTONS
WORK BUT ARE
REVERSED YOU
SHOULD SWAP THE
WIRES IN THE
CONTROL STATION
A. TRUE
B. FALSE
48
5. IF A LIFTING
DEVICE HAS A HOIST
LIMIT SWITCH ON IT
YOU DO NOT EVER
NEED TO BE
CONCERNED ABOUT
THE LOAD BEING
LIFTED TOO HIGH
A. TRUE
B. FALSE
49
6. DO NOT PUT A
LONGER LATCH ON A
HOOK TO MAKE UP
FOR A STRETCHED
HOOK

A. TRUE
B. FALSE

50
7. IF THE SAFE
WORKING LOAD IS
NOT INSCRIBED ON A
WIRE ROPE SLING
CALL THE
MANUFACTURER OR
CHECK A STANDARDS
CHART FOR WEIGHT
LOAD TEST
A. TRUE
B. FALSE 51
8. IF YOUR FIBER
SLING HAS NO SAFE
WORKING LOAD
LABEL, REMOVE IT
FROM SERVICE AND
GET ANOTHER SLING
THAT HAS THE LIMITS
INSCRIBED

A. TRUE
B. FALSE 52
9. A SUCCESSFUL LIFT
OCCURS WHEN THE
LOAD IS PLACED
WHERE IT IS NEEDED,
NOTHING IS
DAMAGED AND
NOBODY WAS
INJURIED

A. TRUE
B. FALSE 53
10. SLINGS NEED TO
BE INSPECTED EACH
DAY BEFORE THEY
ARE USED

A. TRUE
B. FALSE

54