Today's Safety Sunday Tip is: Look up and Live!
Moving large, heavy loads is a central part of today's maritime industry. Advanced technology has been developed to improve safety onboard vessels, and careful training with extensive workplace precautions are in place.
Our employees should always be mindful of significant safety issues, both for the operators of the diverse "lifting" devices and for personnel in proximity to them. This blog post only scratches the surface of safety information about these pieces of lifting equipment and their operation.
As you could only imagine, to a crane operator, few experiences may be as frightening as when a crane becomes unbalanced while a load is being lifted or when the crane collapses under the weight of an excessive load. I hope the following recommendations help our employees recognize and evaluate hazards in a port yard or marine operations.
As I mentioned, a few things our employees should keep at the forefront of their minds whenever in the proximity of overhead crane lifts include:
- Verify, whenever possible, if a documented crane and hoist inspection has been completed. If it has NOT been completed, I highly recommend the employee either stay far, far away from that operation or apply "Stop Work Authority" if it's our client's operation. It's better to be safe than sorry!
- Do not engage in any activity that will divert your attention while swinging loads are occurring.
- If a load is being lifted, lowered, or transported with the crane or hoist, make sure you and others are clear of the load and the load's path.
- Remember to "Look Up and Live" whenever a load, crane, and hoist is attempting to clear obstacles. If a crane operator accidentally hits something, the load could quickly become a dropped object.
- Never, ever engage in an activity where a crane operator offers to lift, lower, or transport you by means of the crane, hoist, trolley, hoist hook, or load.
- Keep a watchful eye when a crane operator is unnecessarily inching or making quick reversals of direction.
Again, I've only scratched the surface on crane safety, but at least you get the drift to Look Up and Live whenever you're out at a rig yard or port.