Gantry Crane and Lifting Hoist Safety Training 

1.	Personal Safety

Hands and fingers are most likely to be injured when a person attempts to adjust a sling as it tightens on a load.  Manually adjusting a sling as it tightens is an unsafe work practice.  It should not be allowed under safe work procedures.
Most accidents involving gantry cranes are the result of incorrect slinging procedures and unsafe lifting attachments.  Loads slipping sideways and falling are a common hazard.
Failing to use a shackle over the hook when using multiple sling or chain ends can lead to the slings or chains slipping from the hook.

2.	Safe Work Procedures

1)	Ensure that safety glasses and hard hats are used

2)	Keep hands and fingers away when slack is being taken up by the sling

3)	All personnel are clear of the load when the lift is made 

4)	Use a bow shackle if all the slings or chains do not fit inside of the hook properly

5)	Always use a ‘pull line’ to guide loads.

3.	Lifting Prerequisites

1)	Determine the weight of the load to be lifted and ensure it is within the safe working load (SWL) of the crane

2)	Ensure that the load is correctly balanced

3)	Ensure that all slings, chains, shackles etc. are within the safe working load (SWL)

4)	Select the correct sling and attachments for the lift

5)	Inspect each item of lifting equipment before attachment to the load

6)	Balance the load to avoid overstress on any legs of the sling

7)	Protect slings from damage by padding sharp edges with corner saddles or wooden blocks

8)	Use a bow shackle if all slings or chains will not fit inside of the hook properly

9)	Lifting devices are fully seated in the saddle of the hook before the load is moved

10)	Moving crane controls smoothly, and avoiding abrupt, jerky movements of the load

11)	Do not pass a load above people in the workplace, including the operator

12)	Ensure that the load is high enough to clear all objects in the path of travel

13)	Always position the crane directly above the load to ensure the load is not being dragged

14)	Always carry a load on the point of the hook, or insert the point of the hook into a link of the chain.

15)	Do not Raise loads higher than necessary to clear objects

*16)	Always ensure the lifting hoist is on level firm ground and will not topple sideways of forwards.

4.	Unsafe Work Practices

1)	Allowing a part of the body or a person to be under the load

2)	Using steel wire rope slings that are kinked, worn, corroded or damaged

3)	Using fibre rope for slinging purposes
 
4)	Using bolts or shackles for joining or shortening lifting chains
 
5)	Shortening a chain with knots
 
6)	Using chains with links worn more than 10%

7)	Using chains with elongated links
 
8)	Using a slinging chain that does not have the approved SWL tag attached

9)	Hammering a sling into place.

* Operation of lifting hoists applies to Staff only.