Heavy lifting and Cranes Safety – Interarch's Best Practices!

There is a tremendous potential in India for power generation/petro chemical products, nuclear plants, ports, steel, cement etc. Success of the country is based on quick and efficient erection of infrastructure, which will reap good future for the country for another 10 years. There is always a synergy between erection and heavy goods. Cranes and Heavy lifting works mainly takes place at Ports, rigs and heavy construction sites. These are heavy equipment and one needs to be extra cautious while operating or working in and around the area where these machines are being used. So goes without saying that the training here needs to be of world class and of the best standards. At Interarch, we provide the best as per the industry standards and take extra care for on-sight trainings.

Crane Safety:

• Before starting the lifting operations an authorized person should hold a toolbox talk with all personnel assigned to carry out the lift and must discuss about the risk assessment for different lift types
• Cranes are to be operated only by qualified and trained personnel
• Area specific Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) should be used by the team while working.
• A designated competent person must inspect the crane and all crane controls before use.
• Be sure the crane is on a firm/stable surface and level
• Cranes with out riggers or stabilizers must have extended and locked with proper support under them
• Watch for overhead electric power lines and maintain at least safe working clearance from power lines
• Inspect all rigging prior to use; do not wrap hoist lines around the load
• Be sure to use the correct load chart for the crane’s current configuration and setup, the load weight and lift path
• Do not exceed the load chart capacity while making lifts
• Raise load a few inches, hold, verify capacity/balance, and test brake system before delivering load
• Constant supervision to be ensured and lifting area to freeze for any unauthorized movement
• On subsequent inspection any condition found during the trial lift that creates a safety hazard must be corrected before lifting the load
• Tag lines must be used when necessary to control the movement of the load
• No movement to be allowed under the hoisted load
• In poor weather condition all lifting operations must be stopped as they impact the visibility of the lifting crew
• Be sure to follow signals and manufacturer instructions while operating cranes
• Once the lifting operation is complete, it must be reviewed, any improvements or feedback suggested must be recorded, and appropriate action should be taken.