If you’re in the material handling industry, you’re familiar with various types of heavy-duty equipment. You’ve probably heard of cranes as an option for warehouses and most manufacturing facilities.
Most people associate crane operations to the glamorous tower cranes on skyscrapers—while not as impressive, overhead cranes, jib and gantry cranes all fulfill the same purpose, but in different environments. Perhaps tower cranes require more expertise and a lot more precaution during operation, but general best practices can be applied to any crane you might utilize in your workflows.
Listed below are basic “guidelines” to ensure safe and efficient crane operations:
- Understand Safety Measures: Safety is composed of persistent precautions taken during every step of operation. Keep your operators trained on proper operating procedures and get them into the “safety mindset”.No amount of alarms, emergency stop functions or other safety features are equal to preventative safety actions taken by your operators.
- Maintain a Care Routine: Every manufacturer provides (or should provide) a suggested maintenance schedule for any type of equipment, especially heavy-duty machines. Ensure that your team is actively inspecting the equipment prior to use and have a trusted service and inspection provider for quarterly or yearly maintenance.
Having a reputable service provider is key– especially when you’re audited by OSHA.
- Stay Up to Date on Operating Practices: Many regulatory bodies keep manufacturers in check when it comes to the quality of the equipment they produce. OSHA and ANSI are the two most influential bodies governing the safety and reliability of equipment and work environments. Be familiar with updates to their policies and train your staff accordingly.
MHS Crane can educate your team on best practices for material handling operation. Check out our services here.