What is a Crane Inspection Checklist?
A crane safety inspection checklist is used to conduct a thorough inspection of a crane before, during, and after each shift. An inspection can diagnose a problem early and prevent any fatal work accidents from happening. It also ensures the safety of workers and bystanders. It also gets the crane to function at its optimum performance.
Conducting regular crane inspections not only prevents accidents but also mitigates costly fines and repairs. Most of all, it ensures that it complies with legal standards and regulations issued by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Crane inspections are conducted by trained and experienced safety officers.
In this article, the following points are explained:
1. The types of crane inspection
2. The two common crane safety hazards
3. Advantages of digital crane inspection checklists
The Types of Crane Inspection
According to OSHA and the Crane Manufacturers Association of America (CMAA) standards, designated managers and supervisors must perform three different types of inspections using an OSHA crane inspection checklist. These check-ups should be done as long as the crane is in use.
- Initial Inspection
All new and altered cranes are required by OSHA Standard 1910.179 to undergo inspection before it can be put to use. Appointed personnel will inspect the installation and functions of each component of the crane. - Frequent Inspection
Frequent inspections are conducted on a daily, weekly, or monthly intervals depending on how often the crane is used. If a monthly inspection was done, make sure that it bears the date and the inspector’s signature. Some of the things that will be checked include:- Maladjustments that affect the crane’s optimal performance
- Deterioration or leakage in various parts like hydraulic systems, drain pumps, valves, or tanks
- Damages, like a cracked or deformed hook
- Deformities and damages in the hoist chains
- Excessive wear of components
- Wire rope reeving system if it is still working according to the manufacturer manual
- Periodic Inspection
Periodic inspections are similar to frequent inspections because they also depend on how often the crane is used. For example, cranes that haven’t been used for a month but used within the last six months must undergo a thorough periodic inspection before they can be used again.
Some of the things that will be inspected are also included in frequent inspections. However, there are additional steps:
- Inspection of cracked, deformed, or corroded parts
- Check any loose bolts or rivets, worn or distorted pins, cracked or worn sheaves and drums , clamping devices, bearings, gears, rollers, and shafts.
- Check if there’s any excessive wear on the brake and clutch system, ratchets, and paws.
- Look out for inaccuracy in different indicators
- Ensure that there are no faulty or unsafe parts like leaking exhaust.
The Two Common Crane Safety Hazards
According to statistics, crane accidents have resulted in 25 serious injuries and nine deaths since 2001. Knowing the hazards involved in operating or working with cranes can save your or your colleagues’ lives with a high-risk probability.
Here are three of the most common safety hazards and their causes:
1. Electrical Hazards
Fifty percent of accidents that involve overhead cranes are due to their metal part touching a power source, such as a high-voltage power line. When moving materials underneath or nearby, there’s a high probability that a crane’s hoist line will touch energized power lines.
Such situations are hazardous to both the crane operator and the people working nearby. If any metal part of the crane touches a high voltage or live wire, anyone near the machine is unlikely to be electrocuted. Around 200 crane-related deaths are due to contact with power lines. That’s why pre-planning is very crucial before doing the job.
2. Falling Loads
Falling loads are not only the most common, but they are also the most dangerous hazards. A falling load can incur injuries and death. It can also damage buildings and properties. Worse, it can cost the company huge amounts of money and time.
Falling loads are a result of:
- Incompetence
Crane operators should receive adequate training so they can do their jobs safely and competently. - Mechanical Failure
Prevent mechanical failures through regular and thorough inspections done by qualified safety officers. - Two blocking
It happens when an uppermost hoist line part comes into contact with the upper block boom tip. It increases the tension on the line resulting in falling loads. - Slipping
It happens when the loads are not secured properly. - Overloading
Most of the crane’s mechanical failures are a result of overloading. If the load exceeds the equipment’s operational quality, it is subjected to different structural stresses that can damage the machine.
Advantages of digital crane inspection checklists
Safety officers who perform crane inspections have a lot to consider to ensure safety for workers and the environment. They must do their jobs reliably because if they miss even a single detail during an inspection, it can lead to disaster.
By switching from paper forms to digital crane inspection checklists, they can better meet these requirement. Lumiform, the powerful app and desktop software for inspections and audits, allows them to meet the strict inspection standards while saving time on the administrative part of the inspection. This allows companies to keep up with increasing demands and continue to maintain their growth.
For inspectors using our crane inspection software, inspections and safety checks will now look like this:
- Access to pre-uploaded, standardized digital crane inspection checklists, accessed via a mobile device, offline or online.
- If there are any damages or hazards, the inspector uses his device to take photos or write notes that are automatically attached to the checklist.
- Corrective actions can be assigned immediately on the mobile app and status tracked via the dashboard.
- Inspectors and other responsible parties receive real-time data at the touch of a button.
- After the inspection is complete, a comprehensive report is automatically generated and immediately sent to key recipients.
- The entire inspection process becomes more streamlined, from scheduling the inspection to generating the reports.
