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Hydra Crane Safety

Hydraulic cranes, or hydra cranes, present a number of unique safety problems. Safety standards have been set by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

  1. Common Safety Problems

    • According to "Recycling Today," hydra cranes present a variety of safety issues. For example, hydra cranes have a magnet or grapple that is often held very high up, creating the possibility of hitting high voltage wires. If the operator leaves the cab when this occurs, he may be electrocuted by the charged outer structure of the crane. The hydra crane is also often mistaken as an all-terrain vehicle, resulting in frequent toppling over. "Recycling Today" also reports frequent knee injuries resulting from operators jumping from the cab to the ground.

    ASME

    • Fortunately, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) has provided safety standards for hydra cranes. The standard is entitled ASME B30.25-2003 and may be purchased from the ASME website.

    ASME B30.25-2003

    • Some of the recommendations included in ASME B30.25-2003 include daily inspection of hydraulic components, salary devices and controls; the use of hand signals to facilitate communication between operators and workers on the ground; and the avoidance of live wires at all times.

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