Shutdown after a shift in a shared yard
You finish a day of unloading at 17:15 on a site where the crane will not be used again until the following week. During the day you noticed the boom creeps down slowly when parked with the boom raised, and the parking brake warning light flickered twice on a slope. The yard is unlit at night, is used as a thoroughfare by other trades, and the truck is parked on a slight cross-fall. The crane is fitted with a boom that must be stowed in its transport rest. The key is on a hook in the cab, and the cab does not lock reliably. Another operator will use the truck for general driving tomorrow, without the crane. Your company requires a post-operational check and a handover record.
1. Set out the shutdown sequence for the crane and truck, and explain the reasoning behind each step.
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Land and stow the load and boom. Lower the boom fully into its transport rest and secure it as the manufacturer requires. A boom left raised relies on holding valves to stay up; you have already seen it creep down, so leaving it raised over a thoroughfare overnight is unacceptable. Retract the boom and stow the jib if fitted.
Retract outriggers and stow floats/pads. Fully retract the outriggers, fit the locking pins if fitted, and stow pads and mats so they cannot be struck or tripped over.
Park safely on the cross-fall. Apply the parking brake, select a gear or park position, and chock the wheels if the slope or brake warning warrants it - the flickering brake light suggests the brake should be treated as suspect, so chocking is prudent. Note the cross-fall in the handover.
Isolate and secure. Switch off, remove the key, and secure it - not on an open hook in a cab that does not lock. Lock the cab if possible; if not, report the lock defect.
Post-operational check and report. Walk around for leaks, damage, and security; record the boom creep and the brake warning as defects so they are rectified before next use, not carried into the next shift. Complete the handover record and notify the supervisor.
2. The other operator will drive the truck tomorrow without using the crane. What must be communicated, and what would you do about the two defects you observed?
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Handover content. The next driver needs to know: the crane is stowed and must not be operated; the boom creep and the intermittent parking brake warning are open defects and the vehicle should not be treated as fully serviceable; the truck is parked on a cross-fall and the wheels are chocked; the cab lock is faulty and the key is held by [named person]; and any load or securing arrangements. I would put this in writing in the handover record, not just verbally, and brief the driver directly if possible.
Boom creep. Slow boom descent with the boom parked indicates a leaking holding valve or cylinder seal. It is a defect that affects the crane's ability to hold a suspended load and must be inspected and repaired by a competent person before the crane is used again. I would report it and tag the crane controls as out of service for lifting until cleared.
Parking brake warning. An intermittent brake warning light is a safety-critical defect on a vehicle that will be driven. I would report it immediately so it is checked before the truck goes on the road; if it cannot be rectified, the vehicle should not be driven. I would record both defects with time, description and who was notified, and follow up to confirm they were actioned rather than assuming the handover was enough.