You are responsible for working with the Crane Users to plan the work, ensuring the Crane, Operators and Dogman remain safe at all times while getting the job done.
Crane safety is a team effort. It involves complete co-operation & communication ​between all personnel involved with the crane and lifting operations.
Your responsibilities are specified in:
- Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
- Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations 2016
- Pressure Equipment, Cranes and Passenger Ropeways Regulations 1999
- Approved Code of Practice for Cranes
- Approved Code of Practice for Load Lifting Rigging
- Approved Code of Practice for the Transportation and Erection of Pre-cast Concrete
- Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) for safety and health in arboriculture
- The Crane Safety Manual
The Controller
As the Controller you must ensure that your management and supervisors ensure that your workers who prepare the crane and ancillary equipment, maintain it, operate it and work with or around it are well trained in both safety and operating procedures.
A responsible crane owner develops and fosters a programme of accident prevention measures and controls including:
- effective operator training in equipment familiarity
- effective instruction in how to prevent crane accidents
- effective equipment preventive maintenance.
Your attitude as the owner has a tremendous impact on how “tight a ship” is run by crane personnel on the job. In companies where the owner tends to have a lax attitude towards equipment maintenance and safety, other people involved – being all too human – tend to reflect the same attitude.
CRANE SAFETY IS EVERYONE’S BUSINESS
THE MANUFACTURER,
THE OWNER,
THE USER,
THE OPERATOR,
THE DOGMAN/RIGGER.
Operators
As the Crane Owner it is essential to have competent and careful Operators who are physically and mentally fit and possess good judgement, vision and co-ordination.​Any person who lacks these basic essential qualities should not be allowed to operate a crane. Operators must be thoroughly trained in the safe operation of the equipment and the handling of loads.
Key Elements for Crane Safety are
- Safety
- Planning
- Training
- Maintenance
As the Controller you have overall responsibility for safety, planning, training and maintenance.
Safety
Safety starts with understanding your responsibilities. There are a number of resources available listed on this page. But the most valuable resource as an owner is to develop relationships with your peers. The Crane Association of New Zealand (Inc.) was created by owners for this purpose.
Planning
Planning is critical in safe crane operation. As the owner your planning should cover:
- Crane Inspection and Certification
- Rigging Inspection and Certification
- Record Keeping & Reporting
- Preventative Maintenance
- Operator Training
- Lift Plans
Training
PlE ducation is vital for a safe operation. As the owner you are responsible for training. There are a number of resources available to help in this process, the most important ones being:
- Crane Inspection and Certification
- Rigging Inspection and Certification
- Record Keeping & Reporting
- Preventative Maintenance
- Operator Training
- Lift Plans
As the owner you must ensure that all Workers dealing with or operating cranes are adequately trained.
Maintenance
The maintenance of your crane is critical to the safe lifting of loads. As a responsible owner, operation and maintenance manuals must be readily available and followed by Workers in charge of the safe operation and maintenance of the crane.