Crane safety has for the most part been maligned in the United States. There have been serious efforts in the past three years to bring harsher penalties for construction projects operating without crane insurance in place, and clear, uniform guidelines for all states to follow and crane operators to follow. But, crane safety practice is still lax throughout American construction sites, and the crane operators more than often work at break-neck schedules in order to fall under-budget or on-budget. Money seems to be the motivating factor behind many CEO?s decisions not to insure their cranes and heavy equipment. This is the paradox of the American construction industry; we have the most advanced cranes but the worst safety practices at construction sites. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has devised new rules to prevent accidents involving cranes in construction. These changes will have a wide sweeping influence upon the construction industry here in the United States. The much-anticipated federal rules could save at least 50 lives and prevent 100 injuries a year, according to OSHA. It would supplant a rule promulgated from 1971, which has seen few revisions despite changes in how crane work is done.

This “comprehensively addresses the hazards associated with the use of cranes and derricks in construction, including tower cranes,” says Edwin G. Foulke Jr., OSHA’s Assistant Secretary of Labor. “This draft rule will both protect construction employees and help prevent crane accidents by updating existing protections and requiring crane operators to be trained.” Under the current rules, legal responsibility for accidents is unclear, leaving crane operators, owners, users, lift directors and site supervisors confused of their liability. Even though there is significant crane insurance coverage options available to crane owners and operators-even the insurance industry must review the changes taking place in the OSHA guidelines to anticipate the amendments to the liability in their insurance policies. Several fatal crane accidents this year have led to increased state and local regulations. Usually, a crane falls onto a site worker or the crane operator is crushed by a crane. The cost of additional safety would pay dividends, according to OSHA estimates. The construction industry would spend about $123 million a year in compliance costs, such as worker training and testing — but employers would save $406 million in accidental deaths and injuries, a net benefit of $283 million per year. OSHA estimates the average cost of a life at $7.5 million and an injury at $50,000. Coincidentally, More than ever, cranes are being set up by unlicensed riggers with the lack of crane insurance , operated unsafely and used to hoist loads far heavier than what they were built to support, records show. Unlicensed construction projects are not a rare occurrence, but often is the case?uninsured projects are quite prevalent since the economic crisis of 2008 that left many medium and small size construction companies cutting corners to save money on their construction projects; usually crane insurance is the most expensive outlay of insurance for any size project. Because of the lack of crane safety obligation and lack of crane insurance the number of crane related accidents and deaths has increased not only in the United States but also around the world in general. Why? Because the need for more residential infrastructure has increased-specifically for apartment complexes and office high-rises. In the last serious accident In New York USA, before the tragedy on E. 51st St., an overloaded 200-foot crane buckled and partially collapsed at a residential construction site at 450 Washington St. in Tribeca, New York forcing the temporary evacuation of some close by homes. That was Feb. 1. 2008 The next day, two workers were injured in a fall as they were attempting to disassemble the crippled crane. Neighbors claimed that work had been progressing at breakneck speed at the site since January.

The operator was issued a violation for working in an unsafe manner with a “grossly overloaded” crane. But months will pass before any action will be taken. He is not scheduled for a hearing before the city’s Environmental Control Board, which adjudicates serious building violations, until April 17. Unfortunately, fines usually are low and punishment haphazard. Such is the case with most states in America.

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Posted By: freetraffic
Last Edit: 18 Jul 2010 @ 03 32 PM

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 10 Dec 2009 @ 3:50 PM 

Cranes are lifting machines that have been around since the time of the Ancient Greeks. They were created because there are frequent situations when there is a cargo which is heavier than humans are able to lift. Because there always such instances, the art of building cranes has only gotten better over the years to satisfy the huge variety of jobs which require this machine. Although cranes are relatively simple in design, they are multifaceted machines which are used in industries such as manufacturing, transport, and construction.

While it is true that many industries have lifting requirements, they do not all require the same model of crane. The construction sector for instance needs a mobility that other sectors do not. For instance, people that work in the construction industry frequently must construct in difficult terrain|landscapes. In order to lift certain apparatus or supplies at the work site a crane is often essential. However, only the rough terrain type of crane is suitable for this task because it is mounted on an undercarriage with rubber tires with the ability to travel across treacherous ground. Construction sites where the terrain is not a problem will still in all likelihood need some variety of mobile crane such as a truck crane or a boom truck. In these situations possessing a machine capable of greater load capacities is extremely helpful.

Although transportability and lifting capacity areimperative in the construction industry, they are not the only issue a person should have when choosing a crane supplier. At any work location safety should always be a top priority. Despite the progress made in crane technology, there is always the chance of a mistake. In the context of cranes and the construction industry, mistakes can be huge in terms of equipment cost and, even worse, the danger to workers? operator most problems can be avoided. A knowledgeable operator is a person with a deep understanding of the capabilities of the machine. Furthermore, individuals that are certified by the SC & RA (Specialized Crane and Rigging Association) will have the essential training to ensure the job is completed safely.

So no matter what construction job you have there is always a crane available to satisfy your needs, regardless of whether you are dealing with difficult terrain or if you simply need heavy machinery or supplies lifted. However, it is imperative to select a company with adequately trained operators so that all of your jobs are completed without a a problem.

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Posted By: freetraffic
Last Edit: 10 Dec 2009 @ 03 50 PM

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 12 Nov 2009 @ 10:18 PM 

Cranes play an important role in today’s society. Hydraulic cranes give power and mobility that is unparalleled.

Hydraulics Explained

Hydraulics uses force applied at a particular location to move force to another point using an incompressible liquid like oil. Hydraulic systems are almost always used to increase force, so the amount of force applied to the end location is greater than the force needed to be generated start the operation. A common hydraulic example is in a car?s brake system. When you press the brake pedal, a pump transfers fluid through the line, which squeezes the brake pads against the wheels of the car. Hydraulics are also commonly applied in lifting.

Hydraulic Crane Trucks

Crane trucks use the idea of hydraulics to lift and move a number of heavy loads. The trucks differvary in size and specialty. Some trucks are designed the heaviest lifting, others for applications requiring a great deal of height, and some even have all-terrain capabilities. The trucks are named according to the loads they are able to lift, for example, a 20 ton crane is able to lift 20 tons.

Boom

A boom is an extending arm that extends for a longer reach, or to raise the pulley. A boom is usually separated into sections and a hydraulic pump will fill each section with fluid, causing the boom arm to become rigid. Fire ladder trucks, crane trucks, and some utility trucks use a boom arm. Some boom arms are large enough to require a jib, a latticework structure that adds support and length to the boom arm.

Rotex Gear

While the boom arm is responsible for raising and lowering the crane, the rotex gear, usually found underneath the cab, moves the crane from side to side. The rotex gear seems like a giant clock gear, and works in largely the same way to move the crane from side to side with ease.

Outriggers

Tires alone couldn’t offer the support needed to stabilize the crane truck. Without additional support, the trucks would tip or at least be unable to work. Outriggers give the crane truck more/additional strength by extending several feet in each direction from the truck. Hydraulics are used in the outrigger system in addition, the entire truck is lifted and all weight is transferred to the legs of the outriggers. Counterweights are also used to also balance the truck during the operation.

Now when you see a crane working on a project, you will have a better appreciation of the technology that make a crane work and how important they are to our cities and lifestyle.

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Posted By: freetraffic
Last Edit: 12 Nov 2009 @ 10 18 PM

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