Crane safety training should be a holistic program encompassing crane assembly, inspection, operation, and risk mitigation. All 50 states in the US require employers to hire licensed and certified crane operators. However, they don’t provide any exemption on training regardless of an operator’s experience.
Crane safety training is an ongoing process. It should be considered a cornerstone of operational site safety. With over 250,000 crane operators working with and around crane equipment, it’s a no-brainer that employers must take full responsibility for worker well-being and safety.
That’s when the OSHA code 1926.1427 comes in. This crane operator training manual focuses on the importance of conducting new crane operators and refresher training to improve on-site crane safety. It talks about the correct and relevant strategies to prepare crane workers for emergency response and also outlines crane operators, riggers, spotters, and signaler hiring requirements.
Let’s dig deeper and learn more about crane safety training in detail.
The Most Critical Elements of Crane Safety Training
Here are the ten most critical elements of any crane safety training program:
Visual Inspections
All the members of your crane operation team must know how to inspect crane equipment. Inspections must be mandatory in regular crane operations as they’re your only way to detect and mitigate mechanical and hardware faults. Crane safety training should include on-paper and practical inspection lessons about hoist, jib, boom, crane engine, and control panel inspections.
Operators must also be given proper instructions about crane warning indicator calibration and functioning.
Floor Hazard Inspections
The next part of on-site crane safety training should be floor hazard inspections. It entails a detailed visual assessment of on-ground surroundings and safety measures.
OSHA recommends employers must hire riggers and signalers to help crane operators stay vigilant and well-informed. Floor inspections must also include equipment stability testing and stabilizer installation to prevent tip-overs and overloading.
Rigging Inspections
Rigging inspection training should start with a masthead assessment. You should teach the workers how to detect corrosion, cracks, and breaks of any kind. This phase should also include a detailed inspection and operational assessment of critical crane parts like backing plates, toggles, and wiring.
We highly recommend crane owners and supervisors invest in quality crane systems such as the CCS2 and CCS4 to promote remote inspections and improve operator visibility during a lift.
Load Chart Reading Lessons
A load chart is a crane operator’s best friend. It’s a detailed manual of a crane’s operational and capacity limitations. This chart provides information about the maximum boom length range, full extension range, and jib-attached load capacities.
Since most modern-day cranes are operated via computerized systems, crane operators must know about load chart integration with load monitoring software tools. You should also train your crane personnel about using crane load indicators and Load links. These devices are designed to help crane teams prevent overloading and limit extensions.
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All of the above on-site crane safety training elements must be followed to avoid crane damage, worker injuries, and hefty fines. OSHA regularly inspects and analyzes businesses and penalizes the ones that don’t meet basic and advanced crane safety training requirements.
Four Types of Crane Safety Training Programs
An all-encompassing crane safety training program must have the following four types of programs;
Classroom Training
A crane safety training program should commence with a classroom module. Your new and experienced crane operators should be taught about the fundamentals of crane safety and basic equipment handling procedures. Classroom sessions should also focus on various types of cranes, their components, and their applications.
In addition, crane operators should be informed about the current market best practices, OSHA codes and crane safety standards, and emergency/risk preparedness and response strategies.
Practical Preparation
Next, your crane operators should receive practical AKA hands-on training. They should be given a chance to operate certain types of cranes they’ll be required to operate. This stage should not just inform them about crane controls but also emphasize pre-use checks and maneuvering safety.
We recommend employers and trainers include riggers and signalers in practical training sessions to help crane operators learn the ABCs of communication during crane lifts.
Evaluation
Once crane operators have completed the classroom and practical training, you must test and evaluate their competence, skills, and operational knowledge. Successful individuals must be awarded training certificates to help them stay compliant with the OSHA codes.
Refresher Training
Refresher training is the most critical aspect of on-site crane safety programs. These must be arranged periodically to keep crane operators informed about crane safety standards and OSHA requirements.
Elevate Your On-Site Crane Equipment and Operator Safety with Crane Warning Systems Atlanta
Crane Warning Systems Atlanta is a well-known, trusted, and reliable crane safety product distributor in the US. Our team has been providing advanced crane warning devices and RaycoWylie products since 2001.
The pioneer of range-limiting system manufacturing, RaycoWylie has now transformed into a world-renowned developer of crane safety instrumentation. It specializes in load limit indicators, rated capacity indicators, and ATB systems, among more. If you’re looking for authentic RaycoWylie crane warning devices in the US, Crane Warning Systems Atlanta has got your back!
Equip your crane operators with the best-quality crane camera systems. You can buy the CCS2 and CCS4 systems available at Crane Warning Systems Atlanta. You can also check out high-precision RaycoWylie crane overload systems, crane load indicators, crane scale, and other RaycoWylie crane products on our website.
You can also check out product manuals and free troubleshooting guides on our website or learn about the specs and features of advanced crane indicator systems. Contact us for more details or request a quick quote now.
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