Gantry Cranes and Safety
Portable gantry cranes are a great help in the workplace. If you are using a crane properly rated for the amount of weight you need to move, all is well most of the time.? But there have been gantry crane slippage issues in cases where an "underweight" load is not secured properly. Lighter loads need the same amount of attention as the heavier loads.
Gantry cranes, trolley hoists and other equipment are regulated in many cases by state and local safety standards--including pre-inspection, routine maintenance and training issues. For new employees, an on-site safety manual and mishap checklist for each piece of equipment may be good insurance. Nobody can claim ignorance when the rules are posted at each machine.
Fixed or Adjustable Gantry Cranes?
Gantry cranes come in many shapes and sizes, but the basic use is for lifting and transporting bulky objects. These cranes have wheels which give them mobility over most surfaces that permit hand trucks, dollies and similar wheeled transport.
Fixed height gantry cranes are quite versatile and can be used in a wide variety of situations, but like their fixed-height counterparts, you'll need to determine clearances both horizontally and vertically for the type of work you need to have done. Additionally, check to see whether the gantry crane is rated for the weight of the materials you'll need transported.
Some gantry cranes are rated for as little as 500 pounds, and others are rated for as much as 8,000 pounds. While the fixed height gantry cranes would seem to be rated for higher weights than their adjustable counterparts, fixed height gantry cranes are actually the models which start at the 500 pound range! When in doubt, ask your workers which version would perform best in your work area.
Financing Gantry Cranes and Other Equipment
Your gantry crane purchases, along with other equipment, can be financed by the company selling the merchandise if you and your company meet certain conditions.
If you are the company owner and have good personal credit, plus trade references from other vendors you do business with, your gantry crane purchase can be financed for amounts up to $75,000 in some cases. You can also?obtain approval within 48 hours with a simple one-page application.
In many cases you'll need to submit detailed information for loan amounts from the company in excess of $75,000. This includes financial statements and tax returns from the last two years. It is best to prepare such a package before submitting your order and requesting a line of credit. Doing so will make your purchase and credit approvals go much more quickly.
Gantry cranes, drum handling equipment and other purchases can all become part of an ongoing purchasing relationship if your credit is sufficient and you have the required paperwork!
Extra Travel Tip-Post Jib Cranes; Questions to Ask
The extra travel tri-post jib allows you to lift heavy material from a cart to the workbench. The hoist, cart and trolley are not included, so if you're looking to buy a tri-post jib, keep in mind that you will need to purchase these items separately.
Some questions to ask your sales rep:
- Will the unit work with an eye manual trolley?
- How much weight are these cranes rated to support?
Many will carry up to 2,000 pounds, so keep in mind the average weight of the equipment or materials you'll need to transport with the jib. Once you have purchased and assembled a jib crane, it is important to keep in mind that OSHA requires a daily inspection of jib crane operating mechanisms for maladjustments and other hazards; as well as a periodic inspection for deformed, cracked or corroded parts, excessive wear and loose bolts or connections. It will be necessary to add these jib crane inspections to your list of other OSHA-required activities.
What Your New Hires Need To Know About Portable Cranes
Portable gantry cranes are often used in maintenance or installation applications, where an overhead crane system may be impractical. Fixed height cranes are just as useful as adjustable height portable gantry cranes, but there's an additional safety issue with adjustable models.
An employee should never stand below the top beam while adjusting the height, even while wearing a safety helmet. The risk for injury is too great. Is your portable gantry crane on operation with casters? Do your new employees understand the limitations of your portable gantry crane equipment with regards to unintended rolling, shifting or movement of a crane equipped with casters?
Important topics to bring up when training new hires in operations that require a portable gantry crane.
Performing Tests on Gantry Cranes
OSHA regulations require any new aluminum gantry cranes to be tested prior to use on the floor or at your worksite. These required tests include hoisting and lowering operations, trolley travel, and locking device testing.
Your aluminum gantry crane comes "knocked down" and must be fully assembled in the work space before use. An aluminum gantry crane should not be considered operational until all OSHA required tests have been conducted properly. It's vital that your new equipment pass inspection.
Floor Mounted Jibs
Floor mounted jib cranes or mini gantry cranes can be a huge help in the work area. They can be used for palletizing materials as well as transporting material from one workstation to another. It's important to remember that you may need a concrete pad for the installation of a floor mounted jib.
If you don't currently have the space available to install the pad, you may wish to examine your current building plan to see where you can rotate storage and work activity to make room for the installation process. It's very important to contact the factory for installation instructions with regard to the concrete pad.? You should also?follow factory recommendations word for word, as an error or miscalculation can result in your jib crane improperly handling the weight of the loads.
Sometimes, mishap prevention is most effective at installation time--be sure your workers know the exact specs the factory requires for the installation and use of the jib crane.
Safety Stickers--Buy Extra When You Order
Aluminum gantry cranes, like their steel counterparts, are rated for a maximum load capacity. As with any crane, an aluminum gantry crane is required to display the proper warning labels and have readability from a safe viewing distance. Some models have five or more locations where various warning labels must be affixed in order to be in compliance. These labels include a safety inspection instruction sticker, a conductivity warning and the typical 'use with caution' warning. You should order replacement labels at the same time you order a new aluminum gantry crane so you can spot-update any model that needs a replacement or additional label depending on your needs.