7 Crane Body Safety Guidelines You Should Observe

In 2016, the crane market value was about $31.58 billion, and it is expected to continue growing due to the many projects that depend on cranes. If your business uses cranes, you already know that you need a crane truck to transport and provide a foundation for your equipment.

However, you need to be careful when using crane bodies to avoid accidents. The following are seven crane body safety tips to keep in mind.

Your crane body should not carry more than the recommended weight. Overloading could damage the body, cause mechanical problems, or reduce the efficiency of the crane. Therefore, if you need many things for a project, carry them in a different truck instead of improvising storage on the crane body.

You should confirm the maximum weight your crane body can hold from the manufacturer's load chart. Ensure your employees know about the limits and adhere to the manufacturer's recommendations at all times.

You need to have a qualified crane operator who understands how to protect the crane body and avoid accidents. Despite the user manual giving directions on how to operate the crane body, don't use it without professional training.

Therefore, before you train your in-house employees, hire an operator certified by the National Commission for Certification of Crane Operators. During the training, they will learn safety guidelines and how to operate, inspect, and troubleshoot the equipment.

You should always position your crane body strategically to have a clear view of the load. If you park your crane truck wrongly and don't have someone to guide you, you might cause an accident. This is particularly necessary if your worksite is close to a bridge, electrical wires, building, or other delicate structures.

Your crane body may develop issues that could increase the risk of an accident if not fixed immediately. Thus, you should inspect the equipment for any defects, such as cracks, loose bearings, and faulty rigging. You should replace damaged parts, tighten loose nuts, and lubricate moving components.

Ensure the equipment is in good shape before driving the truck or operating the crane. You should get a professional inspection periodically for extra protection.

With the different types of crane bodies available, you should choose one whose features match your specific application. The crane bodies fall into two categories: electrical and hydraulic. Electrical crane bodies are efficient since you don't need to run your truck during operation. However, they hold cranes that lift light loads.

Hydraulic crane bodies are powered by a hydraulic system and hold cranes that can lift heavier loads. Generally, they are expensive than electric crane bodies, but their performance is outstanding. However, you should ensure the vehicle size that the body is attached to has a high towing capacity.

The crane professionals can help you choose the right crane body type for your projects. In some instances, the experts may ask you to purchase attachments to enhance safety.

Knowing how to operate your crane body is quite important, but you and your employees should also learn about your crane. Hence, you should know its lift height, maximum weight, and horizontal moving distance. During the operation, ensure you pay attention to potential obstructions and find the best ways to avoid them.

When operating your crane, no one should be near the crane body or under the crane. If you run construction with many employees, you need to have a way to communicate with everyone to ensure cooperation.

Quality crane bodies make work more manageable for crane operators. At Diamond Truck Body MFG Inc., we build custom crane truck bodies for different applications. If you need our services, contact us right away.