Cranes are one of the most crucial pieces of equipment on any job site. Keeping them in working order is important to ensure that your team stays safe, and that the work gets done effectively.
While it may seem like a hassle to keep up with inspections, it’s far more cost-effective than having a crane break down and disrupting production. You can research crane servicing in Glasgow for affordable servicing.
Loose Parts
When a crane is not maintained regularly, it may experience issues that can put your employees at risk. These issues could include a hoist chain with deformation, loose pads or brakes, wire rope damage and other issues. Performing preventative inspections can catch these problems and allow them to be addressed before they cause significant damage or injury.
Even a small area of rust on a crane can corrode and affect its load capacity. This can potentially cause injuries to workers in your facility, and it is something that you should not ignore.
Corrosion
Despite their seemingly unbreakable construction, crane hooks aren’t immune to damage. Each one is designed to hold a load in a specific way, and if the load isn’t secured correctly or the hook is bent, it could break off during lifting. This puts your employees at serious risk and can cause major issues in the workplace.
Rust is another problem that can be detrimental to your cranes. Cranes need to be regularly inspected to spot corrosion and have it treated promptly. Otherwise, rust can weaken the steel and cause a significant failure in your equipment.
Damage
A damaged crane can result in equipment failure, productivity loss, and expensive repair costs. Having your crane regularly inspected helps you spot smaller issues and fix them before they turn into catastrophic problems. It also prevents employees using or working near the equipment from sustaining job-related injuries.
For example, if your crane has a bent hook, it could drop the load and damage cargo, equipment, or even your building structure. Likewise, if your cranes’ electrification system is blowing fuses, it’s time to call in a specialist to inspect the wiring.
Safety Concerns
Cranes are very heavy and often operate above dangerously high heights. A crane that isn’t serviced regularly might break or become unstable, putting people below it in danger. The best way to prevent this from happening is to have regular inspections.
A third-party inspector will give you a detailed, unbiased report. This can help you correct problems before they cause serious damage. It will also ensure that the crane you use meets federal standards and requirements.