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Inspection and service are a part of the maintenance of truck-mounted cranes. When the cranes are not inspected properly it can be highly dangerous. According to reports from 2011 to 2017, 297 deaths are crane-related. It is one of the reasons why inspection and service procedures must be done regularly.
What is a Crane inspection?
To improve the quality of work in a job site and reduce any damage or severe accident due to breakdown of crane, timely inspection is required. Daily usage of the crane leads to wear and tear. Needless to say, breakdown or system failure is common due to the wearing of the crane's equipment. Crane inspection is the process conducted by a supervisor who has experience of above 2000 field hours, checks components of the crane, and inspects the job site for safety.
How Often a Truck Mounted Crane Should Be Inspected
There is three level of inspection of cranes at the construction site. In addition to the crane's advisory guidance, it is important to inspect the cranes often.
Inspection before Use
The mobile cranes must be inspected thoroughly before use. The initial inspection is visual documentation which is done after installation of the hoist or the new crane. In this, it is inspected if any alternation or modification is required after the installation
For truck-mounted cranes, or any overhead crane the equipment shall be installed and inspected thoroughly by an authorized person who is eligible to make a written report confirming load systems. The load rating of the equipment must be above 80% to qualify for working on the job site.
Functional Test Inspection
Before using the truck-mounted crane in any shift, it must be well inspected. These are the things which have to be inspected on regular basis.
1. Checking of any leakage in lines, tanks, valves, drain, and air pumps and the functioning of hydraulic systems.
2. The hoist chains, the connection of the lines, distorted links that interfere with the functioning of the crane, or stretch beyond the manufacturer's recommendation is checked every day before the shift.
3. The functional mechanism of the system and checking for maladjustment interference.
4. The wear of components of all functional machines at daily to monthly intervals.
5. Monthly checking of hoist chains of the crane by any authorized person with a certification record that includes the date of inspection, the signature of the performance inspector, and the serial number or the identifier of the hook inspected.
6. Crane Operator must check all safe5ty devices and interlock systems are in working conditions.
Periodic Inspection
The periodic inspection of the telescopic crane includes.
1. Deformed, corroded, or crooked component.
2. Loose bolts or rivets.
3. Checking of any distorted part like bearings, pins, rollers, gears, clamping, and locking device.
4. Maintenance and inspection of the crane should be done as prescribed by the owner or manufacturer.
5. The supervisor should inform about any problems that need maintenance or repair.
How to Service Your Crane?
According to guidelines set by the government, your cranes should be inspected frequently. Daily to monthly, or periodic inspection of telescopic cranes can save lives and keep the productivity optimum at any job site.
The key to proper servicing of any crane is regular inspections and monitoring of the usage of the crane. You can recruit any knowledgeable person or another option is Viva's customer service. The track past data from the control system and sensor and help in the complete servicing of the crane.
Conclusion
Inspection and servicing of the crane have a direct impact on the people at a job site and productivity. The truck-mounted crane or telescopic cranes are crucial for any construction site, so it is important to have a proper inspection and servicing with review reports and Audit findings so the inputs can be checked during the breakdown of any component.