One of the most commonly used pieces of machinery on most construction sites, cranes are large, heavy and potentially dangerous appliances that, if not properly maintained, checked and serviced, could potentially be the cause of a serious injury occurring on site. Crane inspection and crane maintenance are both essential in preventing this risk from turning into a reality, helping to reduce the threat of incident or injury across the construction industry. Here, we take a closer look at the essential steps you must carry out, to ensure your crane is safe, efficient and ready for use.
Check Your Alignment
Over an extended period of time, and after several uses, your crane may become susceptible to misalignment and start to lean to one side. This will have a lasting impact on the crane itself, causing excess tension, which in turn, will dramatically reduce efficiency and raise the risk of accident or injury from happening onsite. Checking your crane’s alignment frequently will ensure you are constantly aware of its condition, whilst thorough inspections and safety checks are paramount and should be considered, at the very least, an annual occurrence.
Carry Out Inspections
As suggested, carrying out routine crane inspections on your crane will further reduce the risk of your crane losing its efficiency, or potentially becoming a hazard on site. When carrying out a crane inspection, you should check your crane’s chains and connections that help compromise the hoist component, if they have become rusted, damaged or worn, they’re no longer fit for use. Equally, evaluating the hook component of your crane is crucial, with many construction workers relying on the hook element to help lift otherwise impossible loads. We recommended hiring a professional crane inspection company to carry out these inspections, as they can both identify and suggest recommendations for any outstanding issues.
Assess The Hydraulics
Due to a crane’s reliance on air and hydraulic systems to function as they should, assessing these systems daily is absolutely vital. We recommend having your crane operators carry out these checks as part of their daily inspections before they start working for the day, to ensure the machinery is operating correctly and safely. Remember; carrying out regular checks will only reduce the risk of accident or injury in the long term, whilst also preventing the threat of serious repairs and crane maintenance costs from occurring further down the line.
Replace The Wheels
Whenever your crane’s end truck wheels begin to show obvious or serious signs of wear and tear, they must be replaced at the earliest opportunity. Worn down tyres will prevent your crane from operating effectively, therefore they must be inspected regularly to ensure they are in good condition before any work can begin.
For professional and reputable crane repair and maintenance services for your UK worksite, choose the engineers at Crane & Lifting Services Ltd. We offer everything your contractors need for exceptional performance, including crane inspections, servicing and comprehensive repair works, to avoid delay, accident or injury. Contact us today.