Behaviour in the event of a crane accident

What are cranes used for?

Surely everyone has seen a construction site at some point. On it, there is a lot of specialised equipment such as cranes. They are used to transport heavier materials vertically. Cranes are machines used in specific conditions with enormous loads. In such work, it is inevitable that equipment breakdowns or faults will occur. If these occur, it is necessary to use the services of a company that maintains and repairs cranes.  

Mobile service 

The size of the cranes makes it impossible to transport them on a trailer to the service centre. The best service technicians have an extensive range of repair services with travel to the customer. Once a breakdown has been reported, specialist mechanics arrive at the site at the agreed time. They have the right equipment with them to repair the machine. Regardless of the type of fault, you can count on the problem being diagnosed and rectified. 

Repairing a crane is not worth delaying. Downtime due to machine failure can be costly for the general contractor. To prevent this from happening, it is worth choosing services offered by professional service technicians.  

Service and maintenance work 

Repair and maintenance of cranes should be carried out by people who are qualified to do so. We must always inform the operators of the machine and appoint a person in charge of the work before we begin.  

What not to do in the event of a crane breakdown? 

It is forbidden to carry out any service or maintenance work when we have a suspended load. We must remember to switch off the engine and all components where maintenance work will take place. These components must be at a standstill. This rule can only be disregarded for service and maintenance work that can only be carried out with the diesel engine switched on. 

It is not permitted to climb on machine parts. Cranes and cranes are equipped with special handholds that allow the use of fall protection during service work at heights.   

What needs to be done before we start servicing?  

When carrying out service and maintenance work on the electrical system, it is necessary to remove the ignition key and disconnect the battery. The possibility of unauthorised people starting up the crane must be safeguarded. Warning signs can also be erected and, if necessary, the area where work will be carried out cordoned off.  

If it becomes necessary to dismantle safety devices during repairs or maintenance, they must be reinstalled immediately after completion of the work and checked for proper operation.  

When carrying out maintenance work, safe and environmentally sound disposal of working and auxiliary materials must be ensured.  

Welding and grinding work  

We will only carry out welding, grinding or gas-cutting work within the crane when the working conditions and the site will allow it to be carried out safely. It is not possible to carry out this type of work before contacting the customer service department of the service provider we have selected.  

Failure to carry out welding work correctly can result in serious consequences and exposure to danger. Difficult and often very costly repairs may be required.   

When to perform inspections and periodic surveys of cranes? 

Crane inspections must be carried out regularly and be properly documented. Cranes are handling equipment, which means that they need to be inspected every 30 days. Periodic inspections of cranes are carried out once a year.  

Service staff experience  

Material handling equipment, such as cranes, is subject to inspection by the Office of Technical Inspection. We should choose professional and certified service centres for their repair or maintenance. Before leaving a particular service centre for repair, it is a good idea to check the UDT certificates it holds and whether it has the necessary experience to carry out repairs. The guarantee of original spare parts is important. This is important for the correct and safe functioning of the repaired equipment.