If you are an amateur house builder like me, sometimes you need to call in the big guns to help you with your construction project. If you need to excavate a large hole, dig a trench or to drill boreholes on your property, you will probably need to hire some heavy equipment. I will be posting lots of useful tips on this blog which I hope will help you to get the best deal when it comes to hiring heavy construction gear. I will review the best types of kit for different jobs, transporting the gear to your site, and providing you with information which will help you to keep your workforce safe.
Using a crane on a construction site can come with a lot of risk. It is vital that you make sure you have the right team in place during your lifting operation. You will of course need someone to operate the crane, but there are also a number of other important roles to consider. Read on to find out everything you need to know about the various roles your lift team will perform.
Operations Director
The operations team works to make sure that any access routes are big enough to facilitate the transportation and construction of the crane.
The crane operations director has overall control of the crane. It is the operations director who will sign off following each inspection conducted prior to its use. The operations director will also be responsible for ensuring that the rigger is properly qualified to carry out the work.
It is also the operations director's job to co-ordinate the movements of the crane with all other activity occurring on the worksite. For example, the operations director will work closely with the team which receives new materials so the materials can be lifted and moved into position as soon as they are delivered.
Crane Rigger
The crane rigger is a person who is responsible for attaching loads. This is a highly skilled job which requires an eye for detail and precise knowledge of the lift capacity of the crane and how to balance objects. The rigger will first assess the local weather conditions such as wind speed and direction, rain or fog. All of these things can present hazards when lifting loads using a crane. The wind can cause the load to swing mid-lift, and rain and fog can impair visibility.
The rigger will also ensure that each load is properly strapped into place and attached to the hook. This will prevent loads from falling mid-lift. Finally, the rigger will use a handheld radio to communicate with the person operating the crane to help guide them during each lift.
Maintenance Crew
The maintenance crew will work to keep your crane in a safe condition. This will involve conducting regular inspections of the equipment so any faults or damage can be identified and repaired. The maintenance crew will also check that the crane has been constructed properly before lifting operations begin.
If you are interested in finding out more, you should get in touch with a company which supplies crane riggers and related things. A member of the team will be happy to offer you further help and assistance.