Emergency Procedures, Incident Response and Shutdown
Be ready before it happens
Know the emergency stops, isolation points, fire equipment and evacuation routes before you operate. Emergency procedures cover power failure, brake failure, load drop, collision, fire, electrical contact and personal injury.
Response steps
- Stop - release controls, press emergency stop if safe.
- Secure - lower the load if possible; if not, barricade the area and keep people clear.
- Alert - notify the supervisor, first aid and emergency services as needed.
- Isolate - lock out and tag out the crane so it cannot be restarted.
- Preserve - do not move equipment after a serious incident until authorised; preserve the scene.
- Report - record the incident, notify the regulator where required (notifiable incidents), and participate in the investigation.
Traps
Questions test whether you try to "fix" a runaway crane by hand, whether you leave a suspended load during an evacuation, and whether you know notifiable incidents (death, serious injury, dangerous incident) must be reported to the regulator. Another trap: restarting a crane after an incident without inspection.
Worked example
Power fails while a load is suspended. You keep people clear, barricade the area, apply manual brakes if fitted, notify the supervisor, and do not attempt to lower the load until power is restored safely or a controlled lowering procedure is authorised.
Rule of thumb
Stop, secure, alert, isolate, preserve, report. Never restart after an incident without inspection and clearance.