Is your company getting ready to take on a major construction project? If so, there’s a strong chance that you’re going to need to bring in at least one crane to your worksite to help get the job done. Cranes are invaluable tools when it comes to tackling large-scale construction projects as they’re capable of lifting extremely heavy objects and moving them around from one place to another. It would be impossible to move many of these objects on a construction site without the use of a crane.
Outside of welcoming a crane onto your worksite, though, you also need to have a good understanding of what crane rigging is and how it can help you. Crane rigging refers to the process that you’ll need to go through in order to prepare your crane equipment for a lift and then execute your lift according to plan. Let’s take a closer look at some of the steps that will be involved when you utilize crane rigging services as part of your next construction project.
Finding the right crane for your specific project
Before you can take advantage of crane rigging services on your construction site, you need to determine what type of crane you’ll need in order to carry out lifts. There are a variety of different types of cranes available, including everything from mobile cranes to tower cranes. If the loads you’re going to be lifting are going to be on the relatively lighter side, something like a simple truck-mounted crane might work. But if you’re going to be dealing with very heavy loads, something more heavy-duty is going to be required to ensure crane rigging services can be performed.
Having the crane delivered to your worksite and setting it up
Once you know which type of crane you want to bring onto your construction site, you should rent it and arrange to have it delivered. When it arrives, you should have the area in which you want to set it up all picked out based on what you plan to use it for. From there, a crane rental company can help you set up a crane safely so that you can start using it right away. It’s important for you to take the proper precautions when assembling a crane since you could put a crane operator into a tough spot if a crane isn’t safe and sound right from the start.
Analyzing the load you’re going to be lifting with your crane
After you have a crane all set up and ready to go, you’ll want to analyze whatever it is that you’re going to be lifting on your construction site. You should take the weight of your load into account as well as the dimensions of your load and the center of gravity. You should also consider how high you’re going to need to lift the load and how far you’re going to be lifting the load. The more information you can get about your load, the better things will go once you start lifting and moving it.
Making sure your crane is equipped to handle the load it’ll be lifting
At this point, you should feel confident in your crane’s ability to lift the weight associated with your load. But there are some steps you can take to ensure your crane is 100% ready to manage the load that you’re asking it to lift. The jib on your crane should be long enough to pull off the lift that you’re going to attempt. There should also be counterweights in place to balance out your crane. Additionally, the ground underneath and surrounding your crane should be evaluated as part of the crane rigging process.
Using the right rigging equipment to connect your load to your crane
Do you feel like your crane is prepared to lift the load that you need to move? One of the last things you’ll need to do is use the right rigging equipment to connect your load to your crane. Some examples of rigging equipment are wire ropes, clevises, turnbuckles, slings, shackles, jacks, and more. An experienced crane rigger should pick out the crane rigging equipment that your company will use to complete a lift.
Figuring out the right angles to use when lifting and moving your load
The angles that are used when picking up a heavy load on a construction site and moving it around are of the utmost importance. If a crane operator uses an angle that’s even slightly off, it could be catastrophic. This is yet another reason why it’s so important for companies to plan out crane lifting and rigging in advance. There needs to be a detailed plan in place as far as which angles a crane operator is going to use when moving a load from point A to point B. These angles will allow a crane to do its job while keeping a load steady throughout the course of a lift.
Keeping an eye on weather conditions when crane rigging takes place
The weather can obviously wreak havoc on crane rigging and force your construction company to postpone lifts in certain instances. If there are high winds in your area or enough precipitation to make it hard for a crane operator to see, you should seriously consider calling a crane lift off. You should also try to do it before a load has been connected to a crane with crane rigging equipment. It’ll keep your worksite safe and allow you to perform crane rigging services at a better time later on.
Could your construction company benefit from crane rigging services in a big way right now? Astro Crane can provide you with the crane rigging services you need to pull off even the toughest lifts on your worksite. Call us at 978-429-8666 for additional information on our crane rentals and crane rigging services.
