Cranes are important for our day to day tasks of lifting heavy objects. This is more so in the construction industry. The industry entails lifting of heavy building equipment hence the need for cranes. The use of cranes is also important in the transport industry for lifting of containers. Due to the importance of cranes it is important to ensure that they are well maintained.
Inspection of cranes is something that you should always strive to do. The first thing is that different countries and states have regulations to be followed in crane maintenance. It is mandatory for any machine being used anywhere in the world to be in good condition. Hence you should follow the guidelines and maintain the crane. However, the law should not be the only reason you inspect cranes. There are many other reasons for doing it as well as ways of doing it.
First you should always inspect the design of the crane. Remember that the manufacturer made each crane type suited for a specific job. Ensure to be well advised on correlation of your crane on specific tasks to be carried out. The second thing is to always inspect the spectrum of maintenance on all parts of the crane. This is very important for it could show you indications of whether the crane can carry out the task without risks. Conditioning is a general indicator of efficiency of any mechanically moving machine.
Crane inspection helps in noting any problems related to its mechanically moving parts. It is advisable to use the services of an expert in carrying out the inspection. An expert in the context of a person having about 2000 field hours of field experience repairing cranes. This is a requirement by the Crane Manufacturers Association of America. Repairs should be effected immediately if any defaults are noticed during inspection. A defective crane is very dangerous to use.
There should be a routine check of the crane prior to undertaking any task as per the directives of CMAA. This is a routine check that is not very detailed. CMAA however advises crane owners to inspect their cranes for mechanical damage either weekly or monthly depending on usage. Records of inspection should be well kept so as to guide the next phase of maintenance of the crane. There are many advantages of adhering to these rules and regulations. Well maintained cranes have minimal hazards related to injuries suffered by workers. The second is that the crane will always operate at its optimal best. The last advantage is that if your crane is well maintained then any work that you put it on will be done efficiently and with finesse.