2 Dangerous Crane Misconceptions That Could Affect Your Safety
If you are new to working in an industrial setting, you are probably trying to figure out how to use all of the different machinery on the job. Cranes are often used to handle lifting large loads and getting them from one place to another. However, it takes a certain amount of training and knowledge to make sure you know how to operate them properly. Attempting to operate cranes without undergoing extensive training could end up putting your safety on the line, as well as everyone else in the area. Don't ever assume you know what you are doing with this new piece of equipment. Just check out some of the misconceptions below of people who were new to using cranes in the workplace.
You can't overload a crane.
Many people assume that you can load as much as you want into a crane, but that isn't the case. They have limits just like everything else in life. While some parts of the crane have a built-in safety feature, that isn't the case with the entire system. Another thing to consider is that a crane that is attached to a building isn't going to be equipped with all of the same safety features. Pay attention to whatever the load limits are for the crane and stick with them. Don't attempt to go above and beyond what the crane can handle. That is a recipe for disaster.
Hoists have secondary brakes, so you don't have to worry about being injured working underneath them.
Hoists do have both secondary and primary brakes. Electric hoists are equipped with a fail-safe brake. If the power goes out, your brake will keep the load securely in place until you get the power back online. Some secondary brakes are mechanical load brakes. A mechanical brake is far different than a fail-safe brake. While this will hold the load when your main brake goes out, it is only going to last for so long. The brake will produce a significant amount of heat and could end up failing. As such, you should never attempt to walk underneath of the load. Always walk around the load to make sure you are safe in the event the brake does give out on the machine.
Your best bet is to spend some time going through all of the different safety precautions to make sure you don't make a costly mistake that could cause someone to be severely injured or wind up dead. Cranes are large pieces of machinery that have to be treated with the utmost care and precaution. Anyone new to the industry needs to make sure they have a thorough understanding of how to work these machines before stepping into it and causing someone to get hurt. For more information about cranes, contact a company like Lockwood Brothers Inc.