Safety Precautions and Best Practices
Recommended safety precautions and best practices to protect employees from the hazards associated with operating cranes and derricks before and during operation are listed below.
Safety Precautions Before Operation
Take the following precautions before heavy equipment operation.
- Check all crane controls to insure proper operation before use.
- Inspect wire rope, chains, and the hook for any damage.
- Know the weight of the load that the crane is to lift.
Know the weight of the load that the crane is to lift.
- Ensure the load does not exceed the crane's rated capacity.
- Fully extend outriggers.
- Barricade accessible areas within the crane's swing radius.
- Check all rigging before use.
- Do not wrap hoist ropes or chains around the load.
- A competent person must inspect slings and all fastenings and attachments for damage or defects.
- Verify cranes and derricks will not be operating within 10 feet of any electrical power line.
- Post illustrations of hand signals for crane and derrick operators on the job site.
- Test and correctly set overload limits.
- Perform and maintain initial and annual inspections of all hoisting and rigging equipment.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
6-2. When hoisting a load, make sure the _____.
You forgot to answer the question!