Cranes play an important role in the operational process for many businesses. They are great for moving really heavy items, making them widely used in construction and in other industries. Since these machines operate under incredibly high pressure, their regular inspection and maintenance is essential. The items that must be examined during every crane inspection are as follows:
Hoist and Cabling System
Without its strong metal cable, the crane wouldn’t be able to perform its job and if it's not maintained properly, would easily break. This can cause serious damage on the crane's mechanisms and can even cause accidents with workers on the job site. The metal cables must be examined on regular basis and in case there are any signs of weakness, they need to be replaced immediately. Here are several other cases when the metal wire must be replaced:
- Decrease in the metal wire's diameter lower than the nominal size of 1/32 inch. This often indicates core failure.
- Noticeable discoloration of the wire caused by excessive heat.
- Crushing, kinking and other distortion.
The Hydraulic Engine
The hydraulic engine can be considered the heart of every operating crane out there. It must maintain high levels of performance to ensure seamless operation of the entire crane. During crane inspection, the specialists will examine the engine entirely to ensure that there are no leaks and all mechanical parts of the engine operate properly.
Safety Equipment and First Aid Kits
Safety is the most important factor examined during regular crane inspections. It's important for all workers on the job site to wear protective helmets, vests and understand all safety procedures according to the license regulations.
Inspection on all of these crane items is required at least once a year, otherwise the safety could be compromised. Crane inspections are not performed only by licensed inspectors, but by the operators or other knowledgeable workers on daily basis. Here is what they must examine every day, before they work with the crane:
- Load charts
- Safety and warning labels
- Safety devices
- Control mechanisms
- Hydraulic system
- Crane's hook
- Metal cable
- Connecting and retaining pins
- Lights and alarms
- Remote control devices
- Anti-two-block device
- Electrical systems and wiring
While, to replace and repair most of the items is not expensive, if they don't undergo daily crane inspections, they could lead to damage to the crane and property surrounding the work site. Overlooking a missing pin, which costs on average around one dollar could lead to dropped load and the expenses could go way over few thousand dollars.
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Shared by fieldengineers.com.au
