Sunday, June 1, 2014

Details On Tower Crane Inspections

By Lila Bryant


A large number of tools as well as equipment will be found at all construction sites present today and are applied in carrying out the various activities involved in establishing the intended structures. One of the most important machines found in places where structures are being set up is a crane. According to the current statistics, the largest number of machine related accidents result from cranes. It is thus required that constructors ensure that tower crane inspections are performed as required so as to reduce accidents and damages.

Advancement in technology has made it possible for manufacturers to produce lifting machines which are lighter and stronger. Over the last two decades, there has been much improvement on factor like effective radius, capacity and speed. This has made the use of cranes to be endorsed by many constructors. Since there use is inevitable, it is important for all people that take part in construction to acquire knowledge regarding the use of the same.

All people who take part in inspections should undergo training on regular basis so as to keep in phase with the ever changing technology. The aim of refresher training is to ensure that the assessor can work on both old and latest models of machines. Problems that lead to unsecure conditions can be eliminated if inspections are done properly. Corrections are supposed to be done as soon as faults are noticed so as to eliminate the chances of accidents taking place.

Poor preventive maintenance for hoists is what leads to most mechanical related failures. On the other hand preventive maintenance may fail to be done as required if the workers involved in assessments do not have adequate training and experience. Also if the process is not performed on regular intervals as required, the crane is very likely to experience unexpected mechanical failures.

In the market today, there are cranes that are meant to handle general jobs while there others tailored for a specific purpose. In addition, cranes are of different sizes depending on the load they are intended to lift. The fact that there are many kinds of cranes utilizing different kinds of controls calls for the need of inspectors to undergo specialized training.

Inspectors are not only required to have knowledge regarding on how to assess machines but they should be conversant with rules that govern activities in a certain site. It is also required that anyone working in the site gets to know the restrictions that have been set by the inspectors for the sake of safety. It is important that an inspector understands how activities are conducted in the site before he commences his job.

The guidelines provided by the manufacturer regarding the operation of hoists should be adhered to the letter. In case the manufacturer did not define the limits of a given machine, then a qualified engineer should be hired to do so. The engineer will specify operating speeds and load capacities while the inspector will ensure that they are obeyed.

It is not possible to identify the exact conditions under which a machine will operate. This is why the manufacturers only give an estimate of the duration that an equipment can go without inspection. Machines that are used for long hours are supposed to be inspected more often.




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