31 Jul Crane Safety – Avoid the Crush

Crane Safety – Avoid the Crush

Crane operations create serious caught-between and crushing hazards. Workers can be crushed between moving equipment and stationary objects, struck or pinned by swinging loads, caught between a load and another surface, or injured by unexpected equipment movement. These incidents can cause fractures, amputations, permanent disability, or death.

The most effective way to prevent crushing injuries is to recognize danger zones and stay out of them. Never place yourself or any part of your body where movement of the crane, load, rigging, or other equipment could trap or crush you.

Stay Clear of Moving Equipment

Crane operators have limited visibility, and cranes can move unexpectedly due to operator actions, mechanical problems, shifting loads, or changing site conditions.

• Stay out of the crane’s operating and swing radius unless your work requires you to be there.
• Never position yourself between a crane’s rotating superstructure or counterweight and a fixed object.
• Barricade or otherwise control access to areas where employees could be struck or crushed by rotating equipment.
• Maintain adequate clearance from moving equipment and never rely on the operator to see you.
• Make eye contact or otherwise establish communication with the operator before approaching equipment.
• Follow the instructions of designated signal persons.
• Never walk between a moving load and a wall, vehicle, structure, material stack, or other fixed object.
• Remain alert to changing crane and equipment movements throughout the operation.

Stay Clear of Suspended Loads

A suspended load can shift, swing, rotate, or fall without warning. Never position yourself directly beneath a suspended load.

Workers should:

• Stay outside the fall zone whenever possible.
• Never walk or stand beneath a suspended load.
• Keep unnecessary employees away from areas where loads are being lifted or moved.
• Never attempt to stop a swinging load with your hands or body.
• Use tag lines or other approved methods when necessary to control a load from a safe distance.
• Never wrap a tag line around your hand, arm, or body.
• Plan the load path before beginning the lift.
• Stop work if personnel enter an unsafe location.

If it’s in the air, stay clear.

Avoid Pinch and Crush Points

Hands and fingers are especially vulnerable during rigging, landing, and positioning operations. Keep hands, feet, and other body parts away from areas where loads can shift or settle.

When positioning or landing a load:

• Keep hands out from between the load and the landing surface.
• Use appropriate tools or tag lines to position loads when practical.
• Do not place feet underneath a suspended or partially supported load.
• Make sure the load is stable and adequately supported before releasing rigging.
• Never place yourself where an unexpected load movement could pin you against another object.

Maintenance and Unexpected Movement

Never perform maintenance, adjustment, repair, or clearing activities on equipment that could unexpectedly move or become energized.

Before beginning this work:

• Shut down the equipment.
• Isolate hazardous energy sources.
• Apply required lockout/tagout procedures.
• Block or otherwise secure components that could move, fall, rotate, or release stored energy.
• Verify that hazardous energy has been effectively controlled before work begins.

Simply turning equipment off is not sufficient when unexpected startup or movement could cause injury.

Remember

Crushing injuries happen quickly and often leave workers with no opportunity to escape. Never put yourself between a moving object and a fixed object, beneath a suspended load, or inside the swing radius of operating equipment.

Know where the crane, load, and other workers are at all times. If you cannot determine where the load or equipment may move, stay clear until the hazard is controlled.