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Important Safety Tips When Using An Overhead Crane

17 March 2016 by Ramona Lawrence

Overhead cranes are often used in warehouses and industrial applications, providing precision when moving materials through the space. It is important that you and your employees know the right safety precautions for using this machine.

Avoid Overloading the Crane

As with any type of warehouse equipment, you need to make sure you are not overloading it. The overhead crane you are using should have a limited load capacity, which is the total amount of weight it can handle. Make sure you are very careful to not overload it by weighing all items before they go on the crane. If you have too much weight or too many items on the crane at one time, it can cause failure of the crane and an incident that may cause property damage or injury to the crane operator. Also pay close attention to the overall shape of the load, making sure the boom can handle the radius required to move that type of load. The operator should move the crane slowly, making sure it does not seem to be struggling with the amount of items being lifted with the crane at this time.

Provide Adequate Training to Employees

An overhead crane is a complicated piece of equipment that can potentially do damage to items in the warehouse, and to the employees using them. It is essential that only trained employees use the crane. However, even those who will not be operating it need to be trained on procedures when it is in use. They need to make sure they are not in the way of the crane. The operator will be trained to look around them continuously and use sounds to alert others that the crane is in use, but they do have some blind spots. People on the ground should also be aware of the crane when it is moving, making sure they stay out of the way and alert the operator if they are standing nearby.

Have the Crane Inspected Regularly

All equipment used in your warehouse or industrial business should be inspected on a routine basis, including the overhead crane. By doing so, you ensure that it is working properly and will not cause an incident or injury to the operator or others that are in the proximity of the crane. These regular inspections should not only be done by a professional on a routine basis, but the operator should do a quick visual inspection before they use the equipment. Contact a supplier, like American Equipment Inc, for more help.

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