NEWS

No matter the job or the location, it’s important to strive for safety at your worksite—and this includes when operating new and used cranes. Cranes can be especially dangerous to use when not handled properly or used during risky conditions. These safety tips can help ensure you and your employees stay safe on the job.

Tip #1: Know the Potential Hazards

Cranes can be dangerous in multiple ways, but the three most common include accidents that arise because of miscommunications or a lack of specialized knowledge—while this can happen with any piece of equipment or machinery, this can prove especially dangerous for used cranes—a load falling from a high distance because of strong winds or the line snapping, and the crane collapsing, Knowing about these potential hazards can help you better prevent them, which can include ensuring your employees have the knowledge needed to operate a crane and not using the equipment during severe windy conditions.

Other hazards to be aware of include:

• Electrical hazards
• Overloading the crane
• Issues with the brakes
• A strong side pull

Tip #2: Mind the Weather

If you operate in El Paso, you know just how crazy the winds can get, especially in March. Like we mentioned, operating a crane in windy conditions can cause the load to fall or the line to snap, making it a hazard. But it can also be dangerous to operate a used crane in the rain as well. Rain can impair your vision, make things slippery and hard to handle, and can make it difficult to drive. If it’s raining hard, it may be best not to use a crane.

Operating a crane can also be dangerous in frigid cold weather. The cold weather can have a dramatic impact on multiple parts of the crane, including the hoists, hydraulics, and load capacity. To ensure your safety, be sure to mind the weather before working.

Tip #3: Follow OSHA’s Guidelines

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has set forth safety guidelines for crane operation. By following these guidelines and ensuring your employees are trained to follow them as well can help keep your company safe on the job. You can find OSHA’s guidelines online.

Tip #4: Purchase Used Cranes from an Authorized Business

The last thing you want is to purchase a faulty crane that puts you and your employees at risk. At FMI Trading, LLC, we sell and trade high-quality, thoroughly inspected used cranes. Check out our inventory online or stop by today!