Here’s How Boom Crane Accidents And Injuries Can Be Successfully Avoided
The boom cranes are essential machines for many industries, especially for the construction sector because without them, the tasks that involve lifting and moving heavy items from one place to another would seem impossible. Designed with few durable parts, the boom cranes enable the operators to perform various lifting tasks quickly and efficiently. However, like any other heavy-duty machine, the boom cranes can be extremely dangerous if not operated properly. Many reports state that the number of crane accidents on the Australian construction sites is still high. The main reason for this is because proper actions and instructions are not followed by the employers, crane operators and all other workers who work near the boom cranes. The following text will highlight how boom crane accidents and injuries can be successfully avoided. The section below describes what actions need to be undertaken and the main responsibilities of all on the construction site whose work is somehow related, directly or indirectly, with the boom cranes.
Employers
- The employers should make sure that the construction site is safe and appropriate for boom crane operations. This is very important, especially when multiple lifts need to be performed from a single location. The condition of the ground bellow the boom cranes should be properly inspected. This will ensure that the boom cranes will remain stable during the lifting operations.
- Since only skilful workers can operate boom cranes, the employers should hire only persons with enough skills and experience. Furthermore, they should prohibit workers bellow 18 from operating or assisting the boom crane operators.
- They should organize special training programs in order to ensure that the operators will know how to safely use the boom cranes on the construction site. Although simple lifting machines, the boom cranes are used for performing different lifting tasks.
- For maximum safety on the working site, the employers need to prepare safety programs that should be easy to understand by everyone whose work is directly and indirectly connected with the boom cranes.
Boom crane operators
- The boom crane operators need to be properly trained to perform the lifting tasks which are required by the employer.
- Operators need to follow and respect the manufacturer’s load chart. This means that they should never exceed the lifting capacity of the boom cranes.
- Each operator needs to know how to calculate the total weight of the load that needs to be lifted and moved form one place to another.
- For some tough lifting tasks, the operators of the boom cranes should seek an assistance from a spotter who will provide important information from the ground level.
- Just like the employers, the boom crane operators need to inspect the ground conditions before every lifting operation.
- Another major responsibility of the operators is to check for overhead power lines and other ground obstructions.
- The boom crane operators must avoid performing lifting actions over the workers on the working site.
- A well prepared safety plan needs to be followed for every critical lifting task.
Ground workers
- All ground workers need to be informed where the lifting operations are going to be carried out on the construction site.
- They should never work under suspended loads.
- The workers who are involved in the assembling process of the boom crane should follow the assembling and disassembling procedures in order to ensure that the boom crane will function safely and properly.