5 Common Causes of Crane Accidents and How To Avoid Them
Moving large and heavy loads is crucial to today’s building industry, making lorry loader drivers and crane lorries indispensable. Despite advancements in technology to make working with cranes safer, there is always the chance of accidents occurring and machine faults when using heavy machinery.
At HGMS, we work with lorry loader drivers across the UK, delivering a range of goods to industry leading building distribution companies. Our team have a duty of care to protect our drivers against workplace injuries and to provide comprehensive safety training when working with heavy machinery. To help provide further information about crane safety and how to avoid common accidents, we have put together the below guide.
1 – Exceeding Load Capacity
Every lorry loader has a load capacity which should never be exceeded. Attempting to lift goods which exceed the capacity of your crane can cause the crane and its load to tip over, or the boom to collapse. Not only do these incidents cause expensive damage to your equipment, but a falling boom or load could strike an employee and cause serious injury, or even death.
2 – Improper Training
When working on site with lorry loader vehicles, it is imperative that everyone is aware of the risks and how to operate safely, even if they are not involved directly with the lifting operation. Failure to comply with health and safety regulations such as keeping a safe distance from the equipment could lead to serious accidents if a person found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time.
3 – Misinterpreting the Load’s Centre of Gravity
Each lorry loader is balanced to offset the weight of the load it is lifting. If the centre of gravity is miscalculated, there is a risk of the crane toppling over and causing seriously injury.
4 – Mechanical Failure
Just like any piece of equipment, a crane truck needs to be maintained regularly to ensure it continues to operate smoothly and safely. Failure to sustain regular checks and inspections could lead to problems being missed which could cause serious damage to the equipment and increase the risk of accidents.
5 – Contact With Electrical Lines
One of the most common causes of death from crane-related accidents is electrocution. Being aware of overhead power lines when working with extending equipment such as a lorry loader is extremely necessary, and could save your life.
About HGMS
HGMS Specialist Driver Resourcing is a recruitment and employment agency specialising in the HGV sector. Providing a managed service to industry leading building distribution companies supplying UK wide temporary and permanent HGV drivers, HGMS works closely with their clients on the recruitment and placement of drivers. If you are an HGV driver looking for work, contact HGMS today by completing our contact form.