Crane maintenance is an essential part of owning and using lifting equipment
June 14, 2018
Crane maintenance is an essential part of owning and using lifting equipment. It doesn’t just keep your equipment in good working order, it also makes sure that it is safe to use, so the people who operate cranes and lifting equipment on site will be protected.
Crane maintenance is an essential part of owning and using lifting equipment. It doesn’t just keep your equipment in good working order, it also makes sure that it is safe to use, so the people who operate cranes and lifting equipment on site will be protected.
Crane maintenance should always be the responsibility of the equipment owner or site supervisor. The operator is responsible for ensuring they carry out lifting processes safely, but if the crane they are using is faulty or damaged, then this indicates poor planning ahead of the lifting operation taking place. Usually the owner will take full responsibility for ensuring the crane is well maintained and for assigning responsibility for different maintenance tasks, even if the crane is rented out. However, the person renting the crane will need to take some responsibility, such as making sure the people operating the crane are competent and fully trained.
Good crane maintenance prevents breakdowns, making your sites more efficient. A full crane service will include:
• Inspections. These are used to identify risks and potential issues to make sure they are mitigated during future operation.
• Routine maintenance. Your cranes will be adjusted and lubricated so they are working as well as they can. This helps keep them in good condition.
• Compliance. The inspector will make sure your crane is operating within safety guidelines and is legal for you to use on site.
It is important you keep up with your maintenance schedule – make sure you retain all important paperwork and logs so you know when your next service or inspection is due.
Different cranes come with different maintenance requirements. You must understand these fully whenever your purchase a crane or rent one out. LOLER and PUWER are sets of regulations that outline how cranes should be maintained and inspected, amongst other things. Do be aware that these are minimum requirements – many crane owners choose more regular maintenance and inspections to be sure that their cranes are working to their full capacity.
At Cranes UK, we can offer you full servicing packages for your overhead crane. Please enquire with our team for further information.