Truck crane hire is a very useful option if you have a project to complete but don’t want to invest a significant amount of capital in purchasing a truck crane outright.
To ensure that your truck crane hire experience is a positive, successful one, here are several common mistakes to avoid once the equipment is in your possession.
Not Setting Up Your Site Properly
Before you bring the truck crane on site and deploy it for usage, it’s important to conduct a thorough site inspection to avoid any setup issues. This site assessment will help you identify any potential hazards and determine the stability of the ground, which is important for safe crane operations.
If you haven’t properly prepared your site, the crane could be at risk of tipping over, particularly if you are dealing with heavy loads. In this regard, it’s crucial to ensure optimal crane performance by establishing a level and compacted surface before bringing the crane on site.
Overloading
The crane that you hire will have a specified lifting capacity. It is important that this lifting capacity is well understood and not ignored. The lifting capacity is based on factors such as the crane’s radius and boom length, among other things, and should be thoroughly reviewed before you take possession of the crane.
Overloading cranes is one of the most common causes of crane accidents, with tip-overs or mechanical failures being possible outcomes. Operators should therefore be sure to follow the load charts and ensure that the crane’s specific limitations are adhered to.
Certified operators who understand and have experience with load management are essential to prevent these risks from causing problems.
Ignoring Weather Conditions
Although it might not always be at the forefront of your mind, it’s important to pay attention to the weather on the days you plan to use your crane. This is crucial for ensuring safety, especially in high-wind and/or low-visibility situations.
Wind-sensitive operations can be affected by wind speeds over a certain limit, which can compromise the crane’s stability, particularly when lifting heavy loads very high.
Heavy rain and poor visibility can also create potentially hazardous conditions and make it difficult to safely position and move loads without bumping into objects as a result of uneven ground like mud for example.
Therefore, it is important to monitor weather forecasts and to have a plan in place to potentially suspend operations if needed until better weather conditions come around. This will help ensure the safety of not only your personnel but also the equipment itself.
If you are looking for a truck crane hire specialist you can count on, contact Top Gun Cranes today.