Shutdown, securing, maintenance and record-keeping
Shutdown is a procedure, not an afterthought. Lower the load, land and secure it, retract the boom to the travel position, stow the jib, retract outriggers, engage travel locks, apply parking brake, chock wheels, and shut down per the manufacturer. Park clear of traffic and hazards, with the boom down and the hook secured. Isolate and lock out where required, particularly before maintenance.
Maintenance keeps the crane fit for purpose. Operators perform pre-start checks and report defects; competent persons perform scheduled inspections. Major inspections are required at defined intervals and after certain events such as modification, repair, or an incident. Defects are classified by seriousness and the crane must be withdrawn from service until rectified if safety is affected.
Record-keeping is evidence of compliance: logbooks, inspection and maintenance records, lift plans, risk assessments, pre-start checks, training and licensing records, and incident reports. Records must be accurate, legible and retained as required.
Traps: parking with the boom elevated, leaving the hook unsecured, operating with an unrepaired defect, and backdating or omitting records.
Rule of thumb: leave the crane in the configuration you would want to find it. Worked example: a broken wire strand is found in the hoist rope. Correct action is to tag out the crane, record the defect, notify the supervisor, and not return it to service until a competent person assesses and repairs it.
Emergency procedures, incident response and first aid
Emergencies in crane work include powerline contact, crane collapse or tipping, dropped loads, rigging failure, fire, structural failure, and medical emergencies. Your response must be planned before the lift, not improvised during it. Know the emergency stops, the isolation points, the assembly area, the first aid arrangements and the emergency contacts for the site.
If the crane contacts a live line, the operator should stay in the cab if it is safe, warn others away, and not allow anyone to approach or touch the crane. If evacuation is essential because of fire, jump clear with feet together and shuffle away without touching the crane and the ground at the same time. If someone is injured, isolate the area, make it safe, call for help and provide first aid within your training.
Incident response includes making the scene safe, preserving the scene for investigation, notifying the regulator where required, and reporting internally. Do not resume work until the cause is understood and controls are in place.
Traps: touching a crane in contact with a line, resuming work after a near miss without investigation, and attempting first aid beyond your competence.
Rule of thumb: make it safe, raise the alarm, treat the injured, preserve the scene. Worked example: the load contacts a live line and the dogman is injured. Stay in the cab, warn others, have the line isolated by the network operator, then evacuate and render first aid only after the scene is confirmed safe.