crane safety Essay

401 Words2 Pages
Hoist and crane safety is one of the most important issues of safety on the construction site. A crane’s primary objective is to raise and lower objects that way up to 1000's of pounds to extreme heights. These enormous objects being suspended into the air makes crane inspections critical. If a crane is not inspected properly, there could be a number of damaging outcomes, including an object falling on the structure, causing serious damage and weeks of delay, or even the death of a worker. According to www.ncsu.edu, there are two general classifications based on the inspection intervals performed. These classifications include: frequent and periodic inspections. The majority of failures or malfunctions on a crane can be detected before any tragedies. These problems often dealing with deterioration or leakage in lines, tanks, valves, or drain pumps can be discovered in frequent inspections. Frequent inspections must occur everyday looking over all parts of the crane. Every month inspections are done with a certification record which includes the date of the inspection, the signature of who performed the inspection, and a serial number or other identifier of the inspector. For hooks with cracks or having more than 15 percent in excess of normal throat opening shall be discarded. Hoist chains, are visually inspected everyday for excessive wear, twist, distorted links interfering with proper function, or stretched beyond manufacturer’s recommendations. Periodic inspections are performed in 1-12 month intervals. These inspections are more detailed observing the parts of the crane that are not easily visible. The following are some of what periodic inspections include: a) Deformed, cracked, or corroded members b) Cracked or worn sheaves and drums c) Loose bolts or rivets d) Worn, cracked or distorted parts such as pins, bearings, shafts, gears,
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