AR ENGINEERING

Crane Accidents
Crane Support Failure (31%)
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•
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Ground giving way beneath outriggers
Soft footing with crawler crane
Outrigger blocking fails Crane slips off blocks

Safety Failure to Use Outriggers (22%)

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•
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Machine setup
Lifting boom without outriggers
Changing boom and counterweight without outriggers

Mobile Crane Safety Absolutes

• Plan the lift
• Assign qualified lift supervisor and operator
• Complete and document daily crane inspection/ensure annual complete
• Calculate the total lifted load weight which includes adding auxiliary lifting devices and
rigging weights
• Ensure the crane and rigging capacity exceeds total load weight for crane configuration and
lift radius
• Evaluate access and the site conditions
• Configure the crane to lift over or towards its greatest capacity
• Extend the outriggers fully and place them on stable auxiliary pads (matting)
• Lift the cranes wheels clear of the ground and level the crane
• Barricade the crane swing radius and secure the lift zone
• Locate the hoist line directly above the load’s center of gravity
• Ensure the load is properly rigged and signaled by qualified personnel
• Assembly/disassembly director is required during A/D operations and during changes to
crane boom configuration (e.g. adding a luffing jib; adding section to the boom length; or
setting up a mobile crane to function as a tower crane)

Effect of Out of Level

Setting Up
The chart below shows the reduction in capacity as
calculated by one manufacturer for a lattice boom.

Chart Capacity Lost

When Crane Out of
Boom Length and
Level By
Lift Radius

1o 2o 3o

Short Boom,
10% 20% 30%
Minimum Radius

Short Boom,
8% 15% 20%
Maximum Radius

Long Boom,
30% 41% 50%
Minimum Radius

Long Boom,
5% 10% 15%
Maximum Radius
AR ENGINEERING
The minimum approach distance to power lines is 20
Electrical Safety feet for less than 350 kV and 50 feet for more than 350
kV. When the cranes maximum working radius falls
Auxiliary
within these distances the following applies:
Outrigger
If “Power Line Clearance Distance” chart is used,
•
apply all requirements of Firmenich Pad
• Have utility de-energize and visibly ground power
lines
• Have utility move power lines to the safe working
• distance
• Have utility install insulated sleeves on power
lines*
Power Line Clearance Distances • Install flagged warning lines to mark horizontal
Voltages Minimum Distance and
vertical power line clearance distances
≤ 50 kV 10 feet (3 m) • Use non-conductive tools and materials
200 kV 15 feet (4.6 m) • Use a Wire Watcher*
• Use an insulated link, if applicable*
350 kV 20 feet (6.1 m)
• Use a boom cage guard, if applicable*
500 kV 25 feet (7.6 m) • Use a proximity device, if applicable*
750 kV 35 feet (10.7 m) • Install rider posts or goal posts under power lines
• Install warning signs at driver’s eye level
1000 kV 45 feet (13.7 m) * These options do not allow the operator to work
closer than the lineclearance distance.
Wedge Socket
Termination

Three methods of securing the dead end of wire

rope are shown.
A) the Crosby Terminator Device
B) a short stub of rope is clipped to the dead end
with one or two clips.
C) a method which is in many safety regulations,
but creates a problem in that the loop can interfere
with the boom and can snag on projections in
confined spaces.

APPROXIMATE SOIL BEARING CAPACITIES

Approx.
Soil Type Bearing
capacity

Hardpan - cemented sand & gravel 135 PSI

Compact 110 PSI

Gravel - sand & gravel Firm 81 PSI
Loose 54 PSI
Compact 81 PSI
Sand - coarse to medium Firm 60 PSI
Loose 40 PSI
Compact 54 PSI
Sand - fine, silty, or with
Firm 40 PSI
trace of clay
Loose 27 PSI
Compact 40 PSI
Silt Firm 33 PSI
Loose 27 PSI
Compact 54 PSI
Clay Firm 33 PSI
Loose 13 PSI