Tuesday, 23 October 2012

Best Ways of Dealing with Overhead Crane Safety

Overhead cranes are an integral part of the modern industrial operations. They are used to life massive loads that cannot be done manually or by any other machines. These cranes are designed to perform safely in the most demanding circumstances and care is taken to design them in a way to make them as safe as possible for the laborers who operate them on a regular basis. Any negligence in the safety measures can prove costly to property as well as human lives. Therefore, overhead crane safety occupies a very important position in the overall operational activities of any industry that uses their services.

These cranes find their most wide-spread use in the transportation and manufacturing industries besides many others. Overhead cranes are simple in structure and built in such as way that they are safe and easy to use and handle. They are composed of two main parts namely a railed bridge and the hoist.

Safety of the overhead cranes is a major issue as not only valuable equipment but also the human lives in the form of the machine operators and inspectors are dependent on it. Overhead cranes can bear a certain amount of load and if that limit is exceeded inadvertently it can cause the crane to lose its balance or breakdown altogether. Therefore it is imperative to take care not to cross these limits under the name of efficiency or faster work. Inability to know the amount of weight being lifted can be a major factor behind overhead crane accidents. In the name of efficiency and getting the work done rapidly, an operator often tends to overestimate the weight lifting capacities of an overhead crane. This can spell disaster not only to the equipment and property but also to those who are operating or supervising the machines.

Regular checking of the various components of the machines needs to be an integral part of the safety routine. Another major issue regarding the security of the overhead cranes is the possibility of collisions between cranes and other machines, buildings, objects or products that are being transported over the crane. These collisions can prove very costly and protecting the cranes from them becomes an important part of the safety measures. A Collision Avoidance system offers the much needed protection to the crane and save innocent lives.

Effective anti-collision systems possess a number of failsafe features. In case of a power-failure the interfaced motors are immediately made inactive. They incorporate self-diagnostic functions in order to monitor the system. These systems are widely used a number of industries where there are very high value and unstable loads to deal with. Collision avoidance systems are use microwave technology which makes it suitable for certain environments like harbors or steel industries. These operate as stand-alone units and are extremely accurate in their performance. They are used both indoors as well as outdoors.

For Further Detail about crane safety systems and electronic crane scale please visit the website.http://www.saf-lift.com

Using Crane Safety Systems as a Safeguard Against Crane Accidents

Using cranes is not a new phenomenon. People have been using these equipments from a very long time to lift massive loads that are beyond the strength and capacity of manual labor or any other type of machinery. These cranes have been of different types and designs and they have been modified from time to time to suit the needs of the changing demands of the various industries. The extensive use of Overhead Crane Safety is a relatively new occurrence which has been triggered due to the various unfortunate incidences around the globe regarding crane operations.

In spite of the care that has always been taken by the overhead crane manufacturers to make their equipments the safest and most convenient for the operators, there have been accidents from time to time. Although many of these mishaps could well have been due to the human errors made by the crane operators, it has also been acknowledged that another hidden factor has been instrumental in bringing these misfortunes that not only damaged valuable property and machinery but also robbed away the lives of many innocent crane operators and other technicians who happened to be in the vicinity.

This led to more research into the possible causes and the ways to prevent these accidents from happening which led to the evolution of the various crane safety systems that are used widely nowadays. These are proving to be a great boon to the crane operators and also to the overall efficiency and growth of the industries. After all, a safe and secure environment is one of the most important components affecting the productivity of the employees and laborers in any industry or organization.

There are many types of overhead crane safety systems used to ensure that the crane operator is properly and promptly informed about anything going wrong in the equipment he is working with. These are indicators that closely monitor different variables about the operations of an overhead crane such as the weight of the load or the angle of the boom etc. and alert the operator about any changes sensed and registered by them. This makes it easy for the operator to take immediate and proper action to avoid any possible calamity.

Crane load cell is one such device that comes in various types including tension load cells, compression load cells, beam load cells, etc. Besides these load monitors, electronic crane scale, load momentum indicator, wind speed indicators, boom angle indicators etc. are some other devices used for overhead crane safety.

The training of the crane operators cannot be overlooked. Afterall, they are the ones who operate and use the cranes as well as the above mentioned sophisticated devices. This is where extensive training of the operators regarding the safe practices of using their equipments is vitally important. This way they are able to steer clear of any untoward incidents that can take place due to ignorance and carelessness.

For Further Detail about crane accidents and crane load cell please visit the website.http://www.saf-lift.com

Monday, 17 September 2012

Avoiding Overhead Crane Safety must be ensured!

With a hoisting system which glides atop a fixed overhead runway, an overhead crane is a crane having a movable bridge. It is not a child’s play to operate an overhead crane. Capable of moving enormous weight and heavy objects from one place to another, these cranes are robust machines.

If the operator doesn't know the proper safety options on bridge cranes, even a second's inattentiveness or carelessness can lead to gruesome accidents. Contractors must ensure Overhead Crane Safety to avoid such incidents.

Additionally, the safety of overhead cranes, there are vital maintenance procedures which play a crucial role in ensuring. While operating these monstrous machines, it is therefore imperative to be very careful and operators must follow all safety procedures correctly.

While operating the crane, following safety options must be followed-

The correct safety options can help you avert costly injuries and life-threatening disabilities, while working an overhead crane. Read the operating manual thoroughly as each crane has its individual specifications, before you begin to use the bridge crane. Even then, during use of any overhead crane, there are certain general procedures applicable. • While operating or working near overhead cranes, wear personal protective gear and head protective gear. • To clear any obstructions below, before moving the load, always ensure that you have a clear line of visibility all around and lift the load high enough. • The load is to be moved and never allow anybody to ride the load or the hook, warn colleagues beforehand so they clear out the area over. • Without sudden jerks in any direction, move the load as smoothly as possible. Position the hoist directly above the load before lifting it and lower it directly below the hoist, to lift load vertically and gently. To ensure a smooth movement, always keep two complete wraps of ropes on the hoist. • Except for emergency stop signals; which can come from any direction, respond to signals only from the personnel operating the lift. • The lifting capacity of your overhead crane must never be exceeded. By lifting the load a few inches off the ground before lifting it further, always test for balance.

Another vital area about which most of us become complacent over time is maintenance. In terms of time, money and health, this can be a fatal mistake which can cost you.

Every time you think of using your overhead crane, thorough inspections are a must. To check for any loose ends or hanging components, take a quick look at the outside of the machine.

For any abnormal sounds or movements from the hoist, bridge or trolley, start the crane and check. In consistence with the control buttons, ensure that the hoist is moving smoothly in all directions. Moreover, while inspecting the crane, always wear standard harness and protective clothing.

For Further Detail about Load Limiter and Collision Avoidance please visit the website.http://www.saf-lift.com