Overhead traveling cranes are typically used in industries to move heavy objects that other material handling methods can not move. Overhead traveling cranes are the type of crane that have railed support structure, called a bridge, and a wheeled trolley that travels across the bridge. There are several types of overhead traveling cranes available for industrial use, but there are safety rules that must be followed. OSHA regulates these inspection and safety rules, thus outlining general requirements when operating overhead traveling cranes.
In order to ensure the continued proper function of overhead traveling cranes, and to ensure the safety of the employees near the overhead traveling cranes, there are some general inspection regulations that should be followed. After an initial inspection of the overhead traveling cranes, there are two different types of inspections that can be required, a frequent inspection and a periodic inspection. A frequent inspection is performed anywhere from daily to monthly, while a periodic inspection is performed from monthly to yearly. These inspections are necessary to detect problems and potential problems to the overhead traveling cranes, which may cause safety hazards to those around it, as well as to evaluate normal wear and tear to the machine.
To insure safety to the people around the overhead traveling cranes, there are some general operation regulations as well. The instructions in the manufacturer’s handbook must always be followed when operating the overhead traveling cranes to maintain good safety. The horns or warning siren on the overhead traveling cranes must be in working order, and it must be used when a load comes near or directly over someone. And it is always a good safety practice to use hand signals when operating the overhead traveling cranes.
There are many industrial uses for overhead traveling cranes, such as lifting loads too heavy for other equipment to move. When inspection and operation regulations are followed, safety hazards are minimal, and proper function of the equipment is maintained.
