Crane Repair and Overhead Crane Safety Tips from Overhead Crane Engineer, Informative and Practical

 

Crane repair signs for your overhead crane and hoist

Crane repair and maintenace 

crane manufacturer repair should be conducted regularly and efficiently to guarantee no signs of wear that may endanger the crane operator or crane related workers. At overhead travelling crane working shop, it is always busy, crowded and short of time, the following checklist is given for your reference to make the detection of the most common signs more efficiently that your overhead crane and hoists needs repair.

Corrosion

Corrosion is one of the problems of overhead crane repair that can creep on you until it demands serious attention. Rust starts small, often goes ignored, and does not appear to affect the performance of the overhead crane and hoist equipment, especially in wetter regions or places with higher moisture.

Corrosion may result in bad consequences, such as electrical shorts, compromised lifting systems, loss of mechanical strength, and overhead cranes or hoist systems that are in danger of dropping their loads due to compromised integrity.

In order to prevent the happening of the above overhead crane accidents, it is vital to detect corrosion which tells you that overhead crane repair is needed or a crane parts need to be replaced.

Crushed chain links

Crushed chain links are another common problem when working with chain based hoist systems or similar parts or components. If heavy loads are lifting during the project hours, the chain links are easy to get crushed or broken.

To prevent crushed chain crane accidents, it is obliged to make frequent chain inspection and maintenance a regular practice in these situations. Don’t turn a blind eye on the crushed chains which is very different from a completely broken chain links and more difficult to be detected, especially from a distance.

Do repair your overhead crane and hoist when the crushed chain links detected.

Bent or cracked hooks

A crane hook is designed to hold load weight in a particular and precise direction. A crane hook is a comparatively delicate component, which can be bent by misapplied weight, compromising its internal integrity. The bent crane hook has high possibility of braking off in the future use.
Crane hooks should be inspected regularly to make sure they have not been damaged slightly.

Pad wear

Pads are widely used on lifting cranes and hoists as stabilizer, outrigger and slider pads, which are used to take the brunt of the brunt of the force and make the lifting equipment travel smoother. Naturally, the pads wear out much quicker than other crane parts and components. Inspect the pads for shining and wear which means replacement is needed. Abnormal noisy in the lifting crane or hoist should be noticed for it may be caused by the wearing pads.

Rated load capacity is unknown

Rated load capacity is unknown to all which is not really a physical of needed repairs, but it is a clue that repair work may be needed in your future. Every component you use is rated for a specific load capacity and testing is required. If there are crane parts or components, likely used for handling heavy loads, the rated load capacity of which are unknown, they may put a dangerous stain on keys.

Dry ropes and slings

Heat, cold, and constant work play havoc with the more flexible parts of your lifting crane and hoist, particularly the ropes and slings. Ideally, a regular maintenance such as oiling should be conducted according to schedule to preserve them in the right conditions.

Without adequate maintenance, it will result be dry, brittle fiber that stretches and cracks well ahead of its time. If your crane rope or sling fibers are looking ancient and ragged, then repair and replacement may be needed.

Long-term abrasion

Since abrasion happens slowly, it may sneak up on work crews. However, the consequence will be dramatic when a component breaks.

Check your crane wire, joints, and all moving parts for the tell-tale, shiny surfaces that signify abrasion. Keep your eyes on those places.

5 overhead crane safety tips

Overhead crane safety is always the top concerns. However, overhead crane accidents still took lives and resulted in damages in the last year. In the following, the fiver overhead crane safety tips are presented for your reference.

Overhead crane safety tips to prevent crane accident

Keep the trolley and hoist maintained

Regular maintenance of hoists and trolley is key to safety. Crane load testing maintenance will keep you informed the lifting capacity of your trolley and hoist can handle, ensuring that your hoist, trolley and overhead crane stay in good condition.

For heavy machine like overhead crane, maintenance is not optional but obligated. Serious crane and hoist damages may be caused if any of the moving parts gives out, wears, out or breaks down.

For the sake of crane safety, hoist safety, and smooth operations, make sure the electric hoist, trolley, and overhead crane in good condition by regular maintenance.

Crane slings or attachments should be secured properly

Improper securing of crane slings is one of the leading causes of crane accidents. If the crane slings are not properly secured, the loads may slip out, tip until they are off balance, and eventually crash to the floor below.

If hook latch is used, please make sure the crane hook latch is closed completely before the travelling of the hoist and overhead crane. The attachments for the particular overhead crane must be properly sized and be sitting securely in the hook saddle before you move. Otherwise, the crane attachments could become disconnected, resulting in disastrous results.

Make sure the load is clear of obstructions.

Overhead lifting crane have to move the loads straight into the air before shifting it in any lateral direction to make sure the nothing is clinging to the underside of the load. Extra weights would be added to the lifting crane if the cables, boxes or other objects attaches.
The loads should be hoisted high enough to be free from any obstructions otherwise serious damage may be resulted due to knocking with other objects. Make sure the load will be easily clear any obstructions before you move it laterally.

Be sure employees are fully aware of the risks

When operation the hoist lifting crane, any employee should not be in the dangerous area where the “Overhead Crane Danger” signs should be marked. Related employees should be alert to the working plan and route of the overhead crane.
Workers should stay clear of the hoist, and never walk under any loads suspended in the air. And the personnel should never be lifted or transported by a hoist or a crane.

Operate the lifting crane carefully and seriously

The crane operator should take full responsible for managing the lifting crane. Extra careful with his or her actions is needed to the operation of the overhead crane and hoist. The crane operator should not be too quickly and be careful not to jerk the hoist and crane if heavy loads is lifted.

Quick reversals of direction can cause heavy loads to spill and swing, which are very risky. The controllers should always be focus on what they are doing, and any distraction may result in extreme dangerous.

Overhead crane is used to make heavy loads handling easy however it may endanger life. Regular and proper crane maintenance should be necessary to keep your overhead lifting crane and hoist in good condition.

Crane Repair and Overhead Crane Safety Tips from Overhead Crane Engineer, Informative and Practical