A site-specific installation
Height, jib length, counterweights, ties and foundations form a defined configuration. They cannot be changed for convenience without technical assessment. Ground capacity, nearby excavations and the way the building will grow around the crane also matter.
In Spain, ITC MIE-AEM-2 sets erection, commissioning and maintenance conditions for cranes within its scope. The installation company and its responsible technician have specific duties. Having the crane physically on site is not equivalent to having completed the requirements for using it.
Control the working envelope
Planning for Cranes and lifting equipment must address the sweep of the jib and counterjib, loading and landing positions and potential interference. Adjacent cranes require coordination; an anticollision system does not remove the need to organise operations.
A load route should not turn pedestrian routes into exposed areas. Communication and signalling must be arranged when the operator loses sight of the load. Side pulling or trying to free a stuck load introduces forces different from those of the planned lift.
Wind matters when parked too
Operating limits depend on the manufacturer, configuration and wind area of the load. A large lightweight component may restrict a lift before a heavier compact load would. Weather forecasting should allow enough time to stop work and place the crane in a safe condition.
Out of service, the design may require free slewing. The mechanism that allows this must be maintained and checked as instructed; improvised restraints to prevent inconvenience are not an alternative. Added signs or accessories change wind exposure and require the relevant technical approval.
Traceable checks
Inspection records should identify the crane, its configuration, defects and their resolution. When components move between machines, retaining their identity and maintenance history prevents relevant information being lost. A defect in brakes, limiters, ropes or structural parts requires assessment of whether the crane must be taken out of service.
Site management needs to know who controls the installation, who directs lifting and how faults are reported. These points support prevention planning. They do not replace the installation design, manufacturer instructions or operator training, and overseas guidance does not substitute for the law applying at the site.
