Did you know that 27% of crane-related incidents are due to poor rigging practices? Even worse, crane-related incidents have led to 249 fatalities over the last ten years – many of which had to do with improper rigging.
These alarming statistics illustrate the importance of rigging safety. The last thing any contractor wants to deal with is thousands of dollars in OSHA fines or a fatality at the hands of their negligence.
Today we’re going to go over the top five rigging safety tips that’ll help you steer clear of any costly OSHA fines and keep your employees safe on the job site!
Ensure Your Workers Are Trained to Handle the Job
Any worker participating in crane operations should be educated on rigging safety. There are many rules and regulations when it comes to rigging procedures and equipment handling. Knowing the different types of rigging hardware and capacity limitations is a critical aspect of rigging.
In addition, your workers should undergo rigging safety training to recognize unsafe rigging conditions and understand proper equipment usage. Having this knowledge will help prevent accidents and maximize efficiency.
Secure and Balance the Load
Securing the load refers to securing bundled materials to prevent them from falling from the bundle. Because securing and balancing the load is a fairly straightforward task, it is often overlooked.
To balance the load, you should find the center of gravity prior to operating the crane. This will prevent it from flipping or rotating. An unbalanced load could cause the bundled material to fall or, even worse, cause the entire crane to collapse.
Always Have a Spotter on the Ground
Having a qualified spotter on the job site is imperative when it comes to lifting and rigging safety. There will be times when the rigger doesn’t have a clear view of the load or surroundings.
Trained spotters should effectively communicate to the rigger through hand signals or voice communication to ensure everything runs smoothly. This is particularly important when dealing with forestry cranes as there can be numerous obstacles such as adjacent trees, hanging limbs, and unlevel terrain.
Understand Shock Loading and Equipment Limitations
Shock loading is when the operator lifts, lowers, rotates, or stops the load at an irregular velocity. This can damage the internal equipment within the crane and reduce its lifespan. Because rigging material under shock load will stretch to some degree, the exact shock load is difficult to predict.
A competent operator should maneuver the load slowly and cautiously. They should also be aware of equipment limitations and stay well within these limits. Using under-capacity rigging components can increase the likelihood of shock loading.
Always Double-Check Your Equipment
It’s important to always inspect your rigging equipment before usage. Even minor damage to the rope structure or sling could result in a fatal accident. Some of the essential things to be wary of include:
- Missing or illegible load rating identification
- Distorted, bent, stretched, or cracked load-bearing components
- Excessive nicks or corrosion
- Missing bolts, nuts, snap rings, cotter rings, or other fasteners
You should also apply this checklist to your chain hoists, hooks, and all other related components. It should be noted that different types of cranes will have different components. OSHA requires inspections to be performed by the crane operator.
The Importance of Rigging Safety
Rigging safety should be any contractor’s number one priority when it comes to crane operations. By following these five simple tips, you’ll be sure to reduce your chances of costly OSHA fines, equipment repairs, and workplace accidents.
Whether you’re looking for more information on rigging safety or you’re on the hunt for your next crane, be sure to send us a message, and we’ll be happy to assist you!
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