Cranes are mighty machines that lift heavy weights with ease, but as they make certain tasks extremely easy on construction sites, they also pose high risks of damage and injury to property and workers.

There are many precautionary measures that can be taken to reduce the chances of on site crane-related accidents, including safety training for operators and workers and upgrading the crane with technologically advanced safety devices.

While the risk of misfortunate events caused by human error can be reduced with these techniques, what about the risks posed by factors that are outside your control; such as heavy rain, lightning, wind, heat and cold?

According to statistics, poor weather is one of the most common causes of cranes accidents in the United States. Weather conditions can go awry unexpectedly, so what does that mean for your crane operations? Keep reading to find out!

1. Lightning

The chances of your crane getting hit by lightning aren’t as low as you might think. The machine being at such a great height makes it the perfect spot for the lightning to strike. If you ever hear thunder, make sure you stop all operations right away! Use a lightning detector to find out the location of the lightning, if it’s near your construction site then turn off the electric power to the crane and lower its boom. Ask all your workers to get away from the metal equipment and take shelter. You can resume operations when the weather gets better.

2. Wind

Strong winds can make you crane swing and put extra strain on it, causing it to drop loads and damage property in close proximity. Before you power up your crane in windy weather, make sure you know the machine’s wind rating i.e., the highest speed of wind the crane can endure.

Moreover, pay close attention to the direction the wind is blowing in. If it’s hitting the underside of the boom, the crane’s backward stability can be compromised and if it’s hitting the back part of the boom, then it can affect the crane’s forward stability.

3. Rain

Rain has to be one of the greatest enemies of a crane! Water seeps into different parts of the crane and renders the mighty machine useless. A crane is a huge investment so you have to be really careful when it rains as moisture poses a risk to the functioning of the assembly.

Get In Touch With Crane Warning Systems Atlanta

In bad weather conditions, you can minimize the risk of crane-related accidents and maximize on-site safety by getting in touch with Crane Warning Systems Atlanta.

We’ve been providing crane warning systems for nearly two decades in Atlanta and offer a wide range of safety equipment including ATB warning systems, crane load monitoring system, camera systems, and more.

Contact us today!