Crane and Rigging Fundamentals

When it comes to rigging equipment into or onto a building with a crane, there are a number of fundamental procedures that must be followed. 

* Safety is priority #1.  Crane operators and rigging crews must fully understand the abilities and limitations of the equipment and hardware, how to perform the operation, and must follow proper safety procedures to the letter. 

* There are two DOE lift categories, ordinary and critical, and critical lifts have additional requirements that must be met.  A lift is classified as critical if there is increased personnel risk, or an accident could result in significant impact to a project, facility or the environment, or if there are other unusual factors such as size, weight, or confined space. Perform critical picks before- or after-hours during daylight, if possible, and avoid lifting over buildings or sensitive equipment.  Strict precautions and procedures must be followed when working near power lines. 

* Inspect equipment daily.  Slings, shackles, spreader bars, wire ropes, eyebolts, hooks, etc. should be fully checked before each use for damage such as kinks, broken wires, cracks, and corrosion. Equipment showing damage should be immediately removed from service. 

* Rigging teams must accurately determine load weights and sizes before a lift can occur, and equipment and accessories should be selected according to precise calculations.  The site should be surveyed for hazards, and barricades must be used to block access to areas within the swing radius of the crane.  A pick plan should be developed and approved where required and whenever possible.

* Cranes must be positioned on ground that is sufficiently stable and large enough to accommodate the crane, outriggers, and the load.  Rigging teams must take additional precautions when there are strong winds and lifts should be avoided beyond certain speeds.  . Most cranes are equipped with devices to determine wind velocity, ground stability, and load weight.

* Each rigging team must have a designated leader and signal person. Once riggers have properly placed and connected the appropriate lifting equipment, the operator will lift the load a few inches to make sure it is well secured and balanced and crane brake function is operating properly.  The crane operator will then carefully lift and move the load over the planned route while avoiding sudden movements.  Taglines allow riggers to control the load and prevent spinning while maintaining a safe distance.  Once at its destination, riggers detach the load and the boom is returned to the pick point and readied for the next load to be picked and delivered.

R. Baker & Son’s expert team of in-house master riggers, professional engineers, and skilled rigging tradesmen are equipped with state-of-the-art rigging equipment to handle any challenging industrial / commercial specialized rigging project. We handle heavy rigging of equipment and machinery, rigging delicate and sensitive pharmaceutical and manufacturing equipment, rigging and dismantling  equipment and process lines, equipment salvage and removal, match marking, reinstallation, and millwrighting.  For more information visit our website at www.rbaker.com or see OSHA’s Crane Safety Quick Card. 

About R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services

R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services is the premier specialized contractor in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.  The Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) has been in business since 1935, has over 100 employees, an exemplary safety record (We have been directly involved in four (4) sites that received VPP OSHA Safety Awards) and is financially strong (bonding capabilities over $10 Million).  Capabilities include industrial and commercial demolition, rigging, machinery & plant moving, dismantling, decommissioning, plant and equipment relocation, interior demolition, wrecking, selective demolition, demolition contractors in NJ and warehousing.