Vehicle Loading Crane Safety

Vehicle loading crane safety is an important OHS issue within the extractive industry. Below is a Health and Safety Solution provided by WORKCOVER TASMANIA.

DETAILS

Recently a person was fatally injured as a result of being crushed by the boom of a vehicle loading crane. The crane was mounted on a vessel. Workplace Standards Tasmania is aware of a significant number of other incidents that have occurred involving these types of cranes.

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS

Factors that contribute to these incidents include:

• Inappropriate positioning of the operator, which can lead to injury as a result of crushing between the crane and the support vehicle
• Inappropriate positioning of operator’s assistants, which can lead to inadvertent contact with the crane boom and the supported load
• Inadequate assessment of surroundings, which can result in contact or entanglement of the crane with power lines, plant and people.

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Operators must ensure they and their assistants are positioned so they won’t come into contact with the crane or its load, even if there is unintentional movement. They should also have safe escape routes established.
• Operators must follow manufacturer’s instructions at all times.
• Operators must review the site before entry to ensure adequate clearances to power lines and structures, during the entry and exit of the vehicle and during unloading operations.
• Operators should be appropriately trained before they are allowed to operate any vehicle loading crane.
• Where a crane has a capacity greater than 10 metre tonnes (that is, they can lift 1 tonne at 10 metres, or 10 tonne at 1 metre), operators must hold the appropriate license to perform high risk work.

This material reproduced from Workplace Issues, a publication of WorkCover Tasmania. For more information go to www.workcover.tas.gov.au

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