When working with heavy lift cranes, care needs to be taken to avoid accidents and injuries. Keep the following tips in mind so that you can ensure a safe work site for yourself and others.

Assess the Work Site

Before you start working with the crane, you need to ensure that the work site is safe for working with a crane. For instance, you need to make sure that the ground and soil are stable enough to support the weight of a crane; you may need to send a soil sample to a local lab for analysis to make sure the crane won't sink. 

You also need to look for branches, power lines and other overhead obstructions that could make crane work difficult. If possible, remove any such obstructions or determine how best to complete your project without causing problems for the crane operator.

Inspect the Crane 

It is a good idea to ensure that the crane you'll be working with is in good shape. Do a walk-around inspection to check out the condition of the hooks, ropes and other parts, looking for signs of fraying, rust and other problems. This kind of inspection is necessary every time you are about to operate the crane so that it can perform its function safely.

Remember to also inspect the vehicle part of the crane on a regular basis. Make sure that the brakes work properly, as well as the engine, electrical switches and other components.

Know and Respect Load Limits

Overloading the crane can cause the crane to drop some items during transport, which can lead to injuries, as well as equipment and site damage. To avoid this problem, it is important to consider the load limit of the crane you are using.

Usually, the load limit can be seen on the side of the crane as well as inside the cab. However, it is not enough to know how much weight can be lifted; while operating the crane you need to respect those limits. You might consider bringing a scale on site to ensure that you do not exceed load limits.

Now that you have some ideas for avoiding injuries and accidents while using heavy lift cranes, use the suggestions in this article to keep your work area safe. Check with the manufacturer of the cranes or heavy rigging services, such as Lockwood Brothers Inc, you're using for additional information that might help you work well with the cranes on your site.

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