Why Cranes Should Undergo Thorough Testing By A Crane Inspection Company

By Heidi Carver


When working closely with heavy machines, the safety risks are always doubled. More and more cases of freak accidents involving huge equipment are being reported, so operators of heavy duty machinery should follow certain safety rules and procedures to ensure smooth sailing work. Just to be sure, it is best to acquire the services offered by a crane inspection company in Tennessee.

Cranes are one of the basic equipments in most construction, shipping, and cargo tasks. It is a machine that functions mainly to assist in lifting heavy materials and placing them from place to place. There are three main types of this machinery, which are the overhead kind, the mobile kind, and the fixed kind.

Overhead models can lift from two to nine hundred tons. They are further subdivided into different kinds. One of these is the stacker crane that has a forklift type mechanism which is most commonly used in warehouses. Generally, overhead types consists of parallel runways with traveling bridges to span that gap.

Mobile types can be transported to areas where they are badly needed. One example is the mounted crane which is on a wheeled carrier for optimum mobility. Side lift kinds transport ISO standard containers. Aerial kinds are helicopters designed to lift large loads. Floating kinds are special barges that can lift up to ten thousand tons and can transport even sections of bridges.

Fixed models, as suggestive of their names, do not move around from location to location. In fact, they are planted to the ground at the beginning of construction and will only be disassembled once the constr4uction project is done. They are usually found in the construction of tall buildings and can lift materials weighing from 3 to 900 tons.

In compliance with safety regulations, cranes need to be installed, tested, operated and maintained in accordance to rules and laws. This is exactly why equipments such as these also need periodic inspection. Crane inspectors are there to ensure the safety of the one operating the machine and the people working closely with the equipment.

Inspections take on two well known types. The first kind of inspection is the frequent testing. This can be done by the operator himself. He just needs to check the ropes, the chains and the hooks to ensure that everything is in its proper place and that every nut and bolt are tight. The second type requires a certified crane inspector. He will have to do a complete and thorough checking of the equipment. This is known as the periodic testing, which can be done from one to four times each year.

Many people, however, can claim to be expert crane inspectors just because they work most of the time with this particular equipment. This should not be the case. When you get an inspector, make him produce proof such as certification and other important paper works.

The best option is to hire a certified inspection company. After all, safety is not an issue to be taken likely. To avoid accidents, it will not hurt to spend money. Just think, if you do not invest in a quality inspection, you will need to spend more in paying for the damages caused by the defective machine. Most companies offer quality services at affordable rates, so the expense is not really much of an issue.




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