Must-Have Crane Safety Equipment For Construction In 2021

Posted by Edward Grey on September 30th, 2021

Cranes play an important role in different industries. From warehouses and seaports to construction sites, they help lift and move bulky weights.

However, they can be quite dangerous to work with. Crane operators, riggers, spotters, directors, and other personnel employed at a construction site have to stay extremely vigilant. An operational crane can lead to accidents if it\'s not equipped with necessary safety equipment.

Crane Warning Systems Atlanta is a leading crane safety equipment supplier in the US. The company encourages crane owners to invest in the latest crane safety equipment to enhance workplace and employee safety.

In this detailed post, we\'ve talked about different types of crane safety devices that are must-haves in 2021.

· Invest in an Electric Chain Hoist

Modern cranes are very different from the counterparts that existed a few decades ago. They\'re powered by electric motors that offer quality, durability, decreased downtime, and fuel efficiency. The first thing to pay attention to when upgrading your crane\'s safety is the chain hoist.

An electric chain hoist is a powerful and popular tool that has surpassed the expectations of crane operators. This component allows project managers to avoid unexpected breakdowns while keeping project efficiency at an all-time high.

While an electric chain hoist may not be directly considered safety equipment, its robustness enables cranes to work more efficiently. As a result, operators can prevent crane accidents and downtime. An electric chain hoist usually comes with a limit switch and motor brake that enhances safety and heavy load sustenance.

· Get All the Category I Operational Aids

Working with cranes makes construction site workers vulnerable to many types of hazards. A recent study shows that the most common types of crane accidents include electrocution and load imbalances.

This is where crane operators and owners must buy the Category I operational aids that take them one step closer to enhanced crane safety.

Here are all the crane safety devices considered as category I operational aids:

· Boom Hoist Limiting Device

Crane owners must install a boom hoist limiting device on all cranes manufactured on or after December 16, 1969. This device comes with shut-off and disconnection features that close valves and sets breaks to prevent the boom from lowering too much after the power is turned off.

· Luffing Jib Limiting Device

Luffing Jib refers to the vertical lifting of a load on a crane. It\'s usually powered by a hydraulic motor that sets the crane arm at a working angle to lift the load upwards. Therefore, a luffing jib limiting device is necessary to prevent angle or control issues during this process.

· Automatic Anti-Two Blocking Device 

An Anti-two blocking system, AKA ATB or A2B device, is a necessary safety feature required on telescopic boom cranes manufactured on or after February 28, 1992. Operators also have to install an A2B system on lattice boom cranes, derricks, articulating cranes, and digger derricks.

An A2B warning system is perhaps the most efficient and value-additive safety device for cranes. It timely alarms and notifies the operator about two-blocking the crane. Two blocking is a situation wherein the boom tip and the hoist comes in contact. It\'s an extremely dangerous collision and can lead to severe imbalance.

· Crane Load Indicators

As the name suggests, a crane load indicator is a device that helps operators and crane directors monitor assess, and track the load lifted by a crane. The latest versions of load indicators can also track the radius, angle, and weight on the crane hook.

These indicators are driven via a cam on the Jib. As it moves, the indicator points to the exact load within an acceptable radial distance. If the load or distance increases to an alarming point, the load indicator\'s alarm goes off, enabling the operator to take prompt action.

Crane operators, however, must choose a reliable crane safety equipment supplier such as Crane Warning Systems Atlanta to buy crane load indicators. This allows them to maintain and upgrade the device whenever required. It\'s important for the indicator to match and correspond with the jib angle and length, otherwise, it won\'t show correct readings.

Crane load indicator can be directly installed on cranes, or you can invest in a hook-in load indicator that is exclusively designed for remote load measurement and tracking.

More Crane Safety Devices You Should Have

Other than the operational aids, other crane safety devices are essential to ensure safer crane operations. These devices include:

•  Boom Stops
•  Pedal locks
•  Crane camera systems
•  LMI and RCI systems
•  Two-way radio for correspondence between operator and director
•  Crane anemometer
•  Portable links and shackles

At Crane Warning Systems Atlanta, you can buy the best quality RaycoWylie crane safety equipment at great prices. Their expansive range of products includes i4500 LMI for Telescopic Boom Crane, RaycoWylie Portable Load Links, load moment indicator, and more.

About the Author

Jake Gibson is an experienced crane safety expert currently working as a manager for several construction projects in the US. He regularly contributes to the CWSA website, sharing his tips and tricks to enhance crane operations safety.