How Overhead Cranes Work

Overhead cranes are used in various different industrial purposes. These cranes are usually equipped with bridges and runways made out of metal to lift heavy industrial equipment. These cranes are also equipped with a hoist to pick up the heavy materials which are intended to be placed from one place to the other. These can be rented from crane rentals, but many businesses buy overhead cranes also.

While these cranes come in different capacities, almost all of their types are used in industrial applications to lift up heavy equipment. In order to operate an overhead crane, specialized training is needed. That is why there are specialist crane operators which are hired by the industries using overhead cranes in their operations.

In order to make sure that these cranes are operated safely, certain safety guidelines must be followed. Here is how overhead cranes work.

Doing Inspections Before Using The Crane

Any type of material which needs to be picked up by the overhead crane is first checked thoroughly to remove any loosely hanging parts. This way, you will be able to get rid of any parts falling off from the pick up material while the crane is still working. Before starting the lifting process, you should also check the maximum capacity of your overhead crane, and should also check the condition of the hoisting rope to ensure safety in the process.

You should make sure that the weight of the materials being picked up with the overhead crane or under the maximum weight limit of that crane. Every type of security measure should be taken to ensure your safety during the whole process.

Operating The Crane Smoothly

Once the material is perfectly attached with the overhead crane, you should then make sure that the crane is operated smoothly. Any type of sudden movements can cause the material to fall off from the crane.

Moreover, when any type of heavy material is being lifted up by the overhead crane, you should inform everyone working in the area about not getting closer to the crane. The area through which the material will be passed should also be clear to avoid any obstructions. There should be clear signals indicating that the crane is working. These signals should be followed unless there is an emergency requiring the crane to be stopped immediately.

There are also lots of considerations you will need to make according to the type, shape and weight of the material or equipment you are picking up by using the overhead crane. For this, you should hire a good crane operator with years of experience.

You should never let the heavyweight hang in the year for too long. Whenever any problem is encountered while lifting and transferring the goods, the operator should be quick enough to detect the problem and turn the crane off after lending the goods to a safe location. Moreover, whenever there is a sudden power outage, the operator should be instructed to reset all the switches to their original state to avoid anything from going wrong whenever the power comes back.

Managing The Crane After Lifting

Once the concerned goods have been transferred to their needed location, put them down and disconnect them from the hoisting mechanism of the crane. After the hoisting mechanism is reset, you should then reposition the crane to its original and designated position. Lastly, you should also reset every switch to its original position before turning the crane’s engine off.

Mistakes To Avoid When Using Overhead Cranes

If any control in your crane seems broken, you should not use the crane unless that control is repaired. That is because the crane can go out of your control when a heavy material is attached to it, and this can cause lots of destruction in your facility.

Never try picking up the heavy load from outside, because that will cause the load to start swinging dangerously. So, you should center the hoisting mechanism of the overhead crane properly over the center of the material before picking it up from the ground.

You should keep your workers away from climbing on the weight which is being carried by the overhead crane, as this can be very dangerous, and can cause serious injuries. So, operate your overhead crane wisely and keep yourself away from liabilities. You can hire crane services VA for guidance and renting cranes.