There are dozens of tragic crane-related accidents that take place across the U.S. every year. And more often than not, strong winds play at least a small role in many of these accidents. It can be very dangerous for a crane operator to use a crane when it’s windy outside, which is why operators need to be careful after using them when the winds are whipping around. There are also some other steps crane operators need to take to fight strong winds and protect themselves and others. Check them out below.

See what you’re up against.

The first thing crane operators can do when it comes to fighting strong winds is monitor what they’re going to be up against daily. Any time they plan on using a crane, an operator should check the weather first and pay close attention to the projected winds. They should also look at the forecast at the end of their shifts to see if a crane is going to be subjected to strong winds while it’s parked. This will allow them to take the proper precautions to prepare the crane for windy conditions.

See what you’re up against.

The first thing crane operators can do when it comes to fighting strong winds is monitor what they’re going to be up against daily. Any time they plan on using a crane, an operator should check the weather first and pay close attention to the projected winds. They should also look at the forecast at the end of their shifts to see if a crane is going to be subjected to strong winds while it’s parked. This will allow them to take the proper precautions to prepare the crane for windy conditions.

Position the crane’s hook block properly.

When it’s very windy outside, it’s not uncommon for a crane’s hook block to start swinging back and forth. If it’s positioned near the cabin of a crane, it could very well swing right into it and do damage to the cabin. It could also seriously injure anyone who is in the cabin or somewhere down below. Crane operators should position a crane’s hook block so that it can’t come into contact with the cabin of a crane when it gets windy.

Release the crane’s parking brake.

Some crane operators make the mistake of leaving the parking brake for a crane on when high winds are in the forecast. They assume this will keep the crane in place and prevent it from moving, but in reality, it could put a crane into a precarious position if the winds get to be bad enough. Instead, crane operators should leave the crane in what’s called free slew when it’s windy. This will allow the crane to move slightly with the wind instead of fighting against it. Crane operators just need to make sure that there isn’t anything surrounding the crane when they leave it in free slew since the crane’s jib could damage objects left in its path.

Need some more advice about operating a crane in strong winds? Astro Crane can provide you with crane hoisting services and set you up with the information you’ll need to know about using a crane in windy conditions. Call us at 978-429-8666 to get started.