How to avoid crane hazards

In our highly mechanised world, cranes have become the workhorses that help raise productivity and output of those who make use of them.

Cranes have become a permanent accessory to our development. Their number has increased dramatically and they are seen to protrude unexpectedly out of unimaginable places.

Modern cranes have become more sophisticated, are capable of lifting heavier loads and may access further areas due to their technology and versatility.

Cranes can become dangerous pieces of equipment due to the hazards they can pose during normal working circumstances. This is reflected in the two crane incidents that occurred not so long ago in Sliema and Pinto Wharf respectively and that of last Thursday at Birkirkara.

Without going into the merits of these particular cases, certain issues need to be tackled, by owners, operators and local authorities alike.

The safety of crane operators, of those working with cranes and of people who may be in the vicinity of a working crane is of utmost importance. There is sometimes little planning for crane use in a particular set of work circumstance, which could spell disaster.

Crane upset can occur when an operator does not extend the outriggers (jacks). It is quite normal that certain operators voluntarily fail to make use of crane outriggers as in doing so they will not obstruct traffic in tight roads. In doing this, they will not therefore need the presence of the police or wardens to direct traffic as required.

A mobile crane on rubber tyres with retracted outriggers (jacks) is completely unstable. To add insult to injury, it is not unheard of that a mobile crane travels from one point to another with a suspended load.

This further increases the possibility of toppling. Besides, not fully extending the outriggers seriously reduces the lifting capacity at side angles.

Furthermore, some local crane operators normally deactivate or bypass safety and overload devices in order to achieve over-maximum output from their machine.

An obstructed view for crane operators and lack of awareness of other workers to crane movement may lead to unintentional death, injury or property damage. A simple lift may lead to a catastrophe if the proper understandable language of hand signalling is not used.

Maltese workers who guide crane operators in such blind lifts do not always use the appropriate signals to the operators and more often than not resort to giving their instructions by shouting orders across the site. This leads to confusion that may easily result in an accident.

Improper crane maintenance is sometimes the cause of accidents. Our laissez faire culture leaves much to be desired in the maintenance of heavy goods vehicles and machinery. The lax attitude by operators combined with the sparse legislation governing the use of cranes, other heavy goods vehicles and machinery has contributed mostly to this current situation.

The remedy lies in upgrading the existing legislation and giving adequate training to prospective operators. The days of total reliance on the operator are finished. Man's responses aren't fast enough to meet the sudden changing circumstances involved in crane operation. Today well-qualified crane operators are a must but one really doubts how many certified operators exist in Malta. Basic training to these operators should at least tackle the following issues:

The responsibilities of crane operators, riggers, signallers and area supervisors; the knowledge of proper crane safety requirements; the capability to determine the crane configuration for specific use; increasing the awareness of the limitations and use of crane operator aids; the ability to determine the ground conditions and outrigger requirements for optimum stability and safest operation; power source clearance and upset when manoeuvring loads; signalling and communication;

Assessing weather conditions during erection, dismantling and operation, particularly where tower cranes and other access machinery are involved; inspection of the crane and attaching, holding and moving the load.

The Occupational Health and Safety Authority needs to introduce stringent tests which every crane and heavy plant operator should undergo before he is given a licence. Such certification procedure should at least help in reducing accidents caused by negligence or through lack of knowledge. Enforcement of the health and safety regulations at the place of work needs to be stepped up to ensure a safer and more productive environment for all concerned.

Likewise, local authorities, such as the Malta Transport Authority, must introduce rigorous periodical tests for cranes, heavy goods vehicles and other mobile heavy plant to ensure maximum safety operation of such vehicles.

A holistic effort by all those concerned is necessary if we want to eliminate once and for all the present hazardous situation in our heavy industry and, thus, make the necessary leap forward in safety standards. It is only through a combination of training and education coupled with adequate legislation and enforcement of the legislation that this objective will be reached.