Overhead Crane Training: Why It’s Crucial for Your Employees

If you own or manage a sheet metal business, or any other type of business that would require the use of heavy machinery, you know how important it is to maintain a safe and efficient workplace for your employees.

One area that often gets overlooked is the use of overhead cranes.

These powerful machines are essential in moving and positioning heavy materials in your facility, but they can also pose serious safety risks if not operated correctly.

That’s why overhead crane training is a critical component of any metal fabrication business.

In this article, we’ll discuss why overhead crane training is so important for your employees and what you should consider when choosing a training program.

Why is Overhead Crane Training Necessary?

Overhead cranes are powerful machines that require specialised training to operate safely. Without proper training, employees can make costly mistakes that can cause injuries or even fatalities.

Some of the risks associated with overhead crane operation include:

1. Struck-by injuries: When an object is dropped or improperly secured, it can strike a worker.
2. Crush injuries: Overhead cranes have the potential to crush workers who are in the wrong place at the wrong time.
3. Overloading: Can lead to irreversible damage. Overloading can result in a load swinging or dropping suddenly.
4. Swinging loads and collisions: Occurs when a hoist is used in a manner other than for a vertical lift. When an operator does not centre the hoist over the load before lifting, the load will swing towards the load’s centre of gravity.
5. Dropped loads: A load that is not secured correctly could slip and cause significant damage to workers and property in the area.

To prevent these risks, it’s essential to ensure that all employees who operate overhead cranes are properly trained and certified. Training will help employees to:

1. Understand the risks associated with overhead crane operation.
2. Identify potential risks in their work environment.
3. Use the correct safety equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) for their job.
4. Follow proper procedures for safe crane operation.
5. Identify and respond to emergencies that may arise during crane operation.

Choosing an Overhead Crane Training Program

When choosing an overhead crane training program for your employees, it’s essential to consider several factors:

1. Accreditation: Ensure that the training program is accredited by a recognised institution or organisation.
2. Content: Look for a program that covers the specific types of cranes used in your facility and the hazards associated with them.
3. Delivery: Determine whether the program is delivered in-person or online and whether it’s flexible enough to accommodate your employees’ schedules.
4. Certification: Ensure that the training program includes certification that meets your requirements.
5. Cost: Consider the cost of the training program and whether it fits within your budget.

Conclusion

Overhead crane training is an essential component of any sheet metal business.

By providing your employees with the training they need to operate overhead cranes safely, you’ll be able to prevent injuries, reduce downtime, and improve the efficiency of your operations.

When choosing a training program, be sure to consider factors such as accreditation, content, delivery, certification, and cost to ensure that you choose the program that’s right for your business.

At ADS, personal development is at the heart of our People strategy. We are constantly upskilling our team to enable a more efficient workforce.

We carry ongoing training on-site, with our in-house trainers Ant and Michal who organise courses every 2 to 3 months and renew their own trainer’s qualification every 2 years.

To conclude, we would like to congratulate members of our team – Alex, Luke and Tom – on achieving their Legal Compliance, written test and Practical Training for Overhead Cranes.

The proof is in the pudding: watch the video at the top of the article to see Luke perform his daily pre-use crane checks and show what he learned.