Crane Hydraulics Safety Tips

Cranes are a necessity at most construction sites. When you need to move heavy objects, a crane is an invaluable piece of equipment and likely the only choice to move many objects. Crane use can pose some safety hazards to construction workers. As one crane expert put it, "[F]or most job sites, a crane is the biggest and most expensive piece of equipment out there, and most days things go well — but on the day it doesn't, it can be really bad."

By understanding common crane hazards, following important safety procedures and opting for top-quality crane hydraulic systems, you can proactively ward off construction equipment safety issues and enjoy a lower risk of property damage and injuries or fatalities. Cranes are powered using hydraulic, electric and mechanical power. These types of energy supplies have special considerations for safety and their usage.

How Do Crane Hydraulic Systems Work?

Hydraulic power uses pressurized fluid to generate mechanical power. A hydraulic system works by using the following hydraulic system components:

• Reservoir: The reservoir holds the liquid that will be pressurized, which is usually a type of hydraulic oil.
• Pump: To move the liquid, you need a hydraulic pump. The pump pressurizes fluid and creates hydraulic energy.
• Valves: Valves open and close to control the pressure, flow rate and direction of the liquid moving within the system. You can control hydraulic valves through various means, including mechanical, manual, electrical, pneumatic and hydraulic.
• Actuators: Actuators turn pressurized fluid into mechanical energy so it's usable for work applications. Actuators come as cylinders that produce linear motion or motors that produce rotary motion. Various subtypes of actuators are available to fit numerous applications.

Crane Accidents

Since construction cranes rely on hydraulics to function, a problem with the hydraulics can become hazardous. Crane accidents can also occur because of other problems that do not involve hydraulic failure.

Overall, the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries found that from 2011 to 2015, an average of 44 workers in the U.S. were killed by crane accidents every year. This doesn't count all the workers and civilians who receive nonfatal injuries from crane accidents.

Data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) shows one of the most common ways workers are killed by cranes is being struck by a part of the crane or its load.

In addition to killing and injuring workers and bystanders — which is reason enough to prioritize crane safety — these accidents can also be incredibly costly to construction companies. Cranes can weigh tens or even hundreds of tons on their own. Add in the weight of the load they're moving, and you have something akin to a wrecking ball if you lose control. You could experience significant property damage from even a minor accident that doesn't injure anyone.

Most crane accidents trace back to unsafe conditions or operator error and are, therefore, preventable. An article in Equipment Today highlighted some of the most notable crane accidents in 2019, noting that OSHA and other authorities found contributing issues in every case that came back to poor safety practices. In these cases, you can expect to pay hefty fines in addition to many other costs.

You may accept that many safety issues with cranes are avoidable, but what about hydraulic failures? Are these preventable too? Fortunately, you can take proactive steps to prevent problems with a construction crane's hydraulics. Before we share our tips, let's look at some of the most common causes of hydraulic system failures:

• Component wear, damage or failure
• Human errors pertaining to maintenance or operation
• Air and fluid contamination
• Machinery running too hot or cold
• Fluid quality, level, or leaking

Human errors can involve issues like installing components incorrectly, using incompatible parts and using or maintaining the system improperly. Not maintaining your system could facilitate an undetected leak, resulting in a low fluid level and can result in pressure changes in the hydraulic system that will cause unplanned load movement.