Crane Operation and Load Handling
Smooth is safe
An overhead crane is a rigid structure with a swinging load on the end. Smooth, gradual acceleration and deceleration keep the load under control; snatching or jerky starts shock-load the rope and structure, and abrupt stops make the load swing into people or equipment. Travel with the load as low as obstructions allow and the hook block clear of the floor.
Prohibited moves
No side pulls, no dragging a load across the floor, no using the crane to pull a stuck item, and no lifting beyond the rated load. Do not use the upper limit device as a working stop - it is a backup, and repeated contact risks two-blocking. Do not carry people on the hook, the load, or a sling. Do not let anyone stand or pass under a suspended load, and never leave a load hanging unattended.
Control technique
Keep the hook plumb over the center of gravity. Use tag lines handled by a person standing clear of the fall zone, not hands on the load. Watch the load, the hook block, and the signalperson; if you lose sight of any of them, stop. Slow down near personnel, doorways, and the set-down point, and sound the warning device as you travel.
Traps and a rule of thumb
Questions reward the operator who stops when unsure and punish the one who inches an overload or jogs a limit just this once. Reverse plugging to stop a load is for emergencies, not routine control. A vertical lift is the only lift the crane was designed for, so any horizontal component is a red flag.
Rule of thumb: the load should never move faster than you can stop it in the distance you can see.