Cranes are a necessity in the construction industry. By using their hooks and booms, cranes help transport large and heavy materials at the work site. Cranes are created to help lessen the load of the workers and make their jobs easier, transporting things that are too heavy or dense for the workers to transport otherwise.

Essential to work site safety procedures

Without proper safety protocols in place, and without proper safety procedures, cranes can be dangerous to workers and passersby.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 44 people die in crane-related accidents in the U.S. each year. Crane accidents occur equally at construction sites (24%) and factories or plants (24%), with nearly 70% of crane accident fatalities occurring in the specialty trade, heavy and civil engineering, and construction industries.

More than half of the reported fatal crane injuries involved the worker being struck by an object or equipment. Also, cranes can pose a risk to pedestrians, cyclists, and passing motorists.

Reports indicate that 90% of crane accidents are the result of human error, so they could have been prevented. It is imperative for those working on or around cranes to undergo the proper safety training, so accidents can be avoided and injuries can be prevented.

ATS offers training for crane operators and also offers safety courses as well. Call today to learn about the available programs.

Construction Worker Dies After Falling Down Shaft in Florida

According to Miami news stations, a construction worker died after falling down an elevator shaft while working on a building in Hallandale Beach, Florida. According to the news reports, the worker was working inside a large building being constructed in the vicinity of Southeast Third Avenue in Hallandale Beach on Friday, May 3, 2019, when he fell down the elevator shaft. This is why ATS teaches safety training.

According to the authorities who responded to the accident scene, the construction worker was helping build an addition for the building when he fell to his death. Police reports indicate that the fall was at least 10 stories. Hallandale Beach Fire and Rescue got help from the Broward County Sheriff’s Fire Rescue in recovering the body of the construction worker.

Crane Collapse in Seattle

On April 27, 2019, a construction crane that had been working on an office building for Google in Seattle, Washington, collapsed onto Mercer Street below. Four people were killed, and four others were injured. Many experts believe that the pins or bolts were prematurely loosened or removed from the crane and that made the crane’s vertical mast more vulnerable to the wind pressure that day, allowing the crane to topple. Many experts say the crane collapse was because of human error during the disassembling process.

In this case, it is believed that the workers prematurely removed the pins that secured sections of the mast to one another, and that caused the crane to topple. While sometimes workers remove the pins prematurely, that practice doesn’t coincide with the instructions of the manufacturer for the crane disassembly process. There is an investigation into the incident, and five companies that played a role in the construction project are being reviewed.

The Importance of Safety at Construction Sites

Construction workers must adhere to safety training guidelines when working on construction sites. Many workers are injured on the job every year, and often, these injuries can be avoided when the proper safety gear is used, and the proper protocol are followed.

Every course we teach includes a section that refers to safety on site, and it is something that is incredibly important for every heavy equipment operator, every day. However, part of that dedication to safety includes the clothes we wear, but what do you need to look out for to get the right safety clothing when on-site?

Boots

Having good boots is important, not only for protection but for comfort too, there is nothing worse than a pair of boots that hurt when you have a long day ahead of you. Steel-toed boots are of course essential, but also look for quality leather that will wear in and provide real comfort, good grippy soles are important too, and always ensure that the lacing is strong and sturdy too.

Gloves

The right gloves are a balance between protection and flexibility, you don’t want gloves that get in the way too much, as they just become annoying after a while, but very thin gloves don’t really offer enough protection. For winter, insulated gloves, especially those that use effective but light insulation such as Thinsulate, are a wise choice, and for all seasons, goatskin gloves provide strength and abrasion resistance without adding weight.

Safety Glasses

Glasses should be of the right kind, for instance, made specifically to fit over your ordinary glasses if you wear them. All glasses should conform to government safety standards.

Hard Hat

There are two things you need from your hard hat, that they conform to safety standards, and that they fit well. Fit is a personal thing, but make sure it’s comfortable to wear, it can become really annoying over a long period if it’s not.

Hearing protection

Again, make sure yours complies with regulations, and today many incorporate radio systems so that you can stay in contact with site supervisors.

High-Visibility Clothes

Having a high-visibility jacket is essential on most sites today, and it is something you shouldn’t ignore. It can be the difference maker and save you from disaster, especially on sites with multiple pieces of heavy equipment operating at the same time.

Finally, think about the rest of your clothing, you want to avoid anything particularly loose, as that has the potential to get caught in mechanisms, and make sure in the winter that you have appropriate warm clothing as needed. It may not always seem too cold, but after a day on-site it can creep up on you.

What is NCCCO? is an acronym that stands for National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators. The organization was formed in 1995 to administer the nationwide program for certifying crane operators.

The key here is nationwide. Once you’ve been certified by NCCCO, then you can go to any state and work as a crane operator.

All program guidelines and training initiatives meet OSHA guidelines for safety. That’s very important because the last thing any employer wants is a crane operator who is operating unsafely. The liability is too great. That’s why training and certification are so important.

NCCCO has spent a lot of resources to serve crane operators and employers nationwide by ensuring safety standards in training and on the workforce. These include:

• Reducing the risk of losses to employers on the work site
• Ensuring there are fewer accidents
• Maintaining a consistent training environment for crane operators
• Increasing job opportunities for crane operators

The organization enjoys support from a wide variety of industries and employers within the various industries, including training schools like ATS. Construction companies, crane rental companies, utility companies, energy companies, steel erection organizations, petrochemicals manufacturers, pulp and paper manufacturers, and government agencies at all levels support NCCCO.

NCCCO is a non-profit organization that operates within the private sector to ensure crane operators are trained safely and certified to operate cranes on any type of worksite in any state. They administer both written and practical tests to ensure proficiency in crane operations.

If you are ready to be trained and certified as a crane operator in the U.S., then look no further. ATS has the perfect training class for you.

One of the more dangerous pieces of equipment on a construction site is a crane. Not only is it a true monstrosity of a machine, but it is also usually carrying a large amount of weight in its basket that can also be hazard to workers. Because of these dangers, crane safety must be a constant, almost second nature, mentality on all work sites. When dealing with a crane and its load accidents can do more than harm workers; they can be deadly.

The first step to proper crane safety is an inspection of the machine prior to starting it. After the inspection, it is essential that the crane is on a level and solid surface prior to use. The crane operator must also ensure that the crane is not near power lines and that the load will not be moved over workers. The load chart must also be followed at all times to ensure crane safety. Lastly, before actually moving the load, the crane operator should lift it a few inches to ensure the crane is balanced. The load can then be lifted and moved to its final destination.

When using a mammoth piece of heavy equipment like a crane, safety must be job one for the operator. Crane safety must be all workers on the site’s first priority, and all workers must be aware of where the crane is at all times. By maintaining crane safety at all times, the work site can work efficiently and accident free.

Mobile crane operator training is quite indepth and covers a range of topics. These topics include various safety aspects along with various operating requirements. Electrical grounding has actually got two definitions when it comes to mobile crane operations.

The first is, as the name suggests, a technique to ground the crane in case of electrical contact. One of the hazards of operating any type of crane, but mobile cranes in particular, is the risk of coming into contact with overhead power cables. This contact can have a life threatening impact on the operator and those around them.

By utilizing an electrical grounding system the harm from any contact can be minimized. When a crane comes into contact with overhead power cables, electricity flows from the cable into the crane. This passes through the operator as well as anyone who happens to be touching attached to the crane in any way, either through direct contact with the crane itself or through any wiring such as a communication system. Grounding directs the current to the ground bypassing the operator.

The second form off electrical grounding is a system that grounds the crane in the real sense. It is a stabilizing system that ensure the crane is balanced on uneven ground. Mobile cranes have a series of ‘feet’ that are lowered to the ground in much the same way we use car jacks to raise a cars wheel off the ground.

An electrical grounding system lowers these feet sufficiently to ensure the crane is sitting firmly and is well balanced – and important safety aspect when it comes to lifting heavy weights. The next time you see a mobile crane in use, have a look to see whether or not the crane has been balanced using an electrical grounding system. As I mentioned at the start, mobile crane operator training covers a lot of topics – electrical grounding is just one of them.

Crane operator training is essential if you wish to work in the industry as a crane operator, even the smaller mobile cranes. You may feel that learning to operate a crane is fairly simple. It goes up, it goes down, it swings left, it swings right. Nothing complicated there, surely? Operating a crane can be a complex task and knowing the controls is only the start.

When working on most construction sites a crane operator rarely works alone. They are generally accompanied by an off-sider whose role it is to hook and unhook loads. They also have the role of being the operator’s eyes on the ground. They communicate using a basic set of hand signals – signals that all operators need to learn if they wish to work in the industry.

Safety is a big issue on any work site and it is the crane operator’s off-sider who guides the operator into how and where the load is moved – safely. Yes, it is important to learn the controls for without that knowledge the crane would be useless. Knowing the hand signals is an integral part of getting the job done. Add to this other components of crane operations such as ensuring the crane itself is balanced on firm ground before attempting any lift and you will come to some understanding at how much training is required.

Have I scared you off yet? I hope not because that is not my intention. Most people can complete the required training fairly quickly. Once completed, you can develop and build on your new skills in the workplace. Experienced crane operators are highly skilled and amongst the highest paid workers on a construction site. Is this the right career for you? If so, check out your crane operator training options today.

A mobile crane, by its very name, can normally be driven to the work site. It doesn’t need any special transport vehicles and if generally treated pretty much like a truck. However, as an operator/driver, there are some tasks that need to be undertaken prior to driving on the open road.

The open highway of course is open to all vehicles that meet requirements for registration. For this reason, crane operators need to ensure that all other vehicles and property are safe from the crane. Comedy movies may make fun at a swinging boom that knocks over pedestrians, shatters windows and causes all sorts of damage, however, in reality a driver that allowed that to happen would most likely wind up behind bars.

Cranes often have special legs to maintain stability while lifting big weights. The crane operator needs to ensure that these are retracted and locked away until required. Likewise, the crane arms need to be lowered and locked into place to prevent any unwanted movement.

Most cranes have a manual which describes how the cranes various components are locked down prior to moving to a new site. The operator needs to ensure there are no loose components that may fly off while traveling down the highway.

Being a crane operator is an interesting job with every load lifted being different and bringing it’s own challenges. ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools can provide comprehensive training in crane operations to give you a head start as a safe crane operator.