Hazards with Suspended Loads - by: Berglund Construction

 

Multiple times a year I’m sent a serious injury or fatality report associated with suspended loads. You should never consider working, walking, standing or traversing under a suspended load. Suspended loads pose great dangers to all involved in that work task and all of those who are not associated with that task.

Let’s consider some scopes of suspended loads:

• Crane picks

• Lull and forklift operations

• Beta hoist material handling

• Chain fall material handling

• Well wheel material handling

• Boom lift material setting

• Scissor lift material handling

• Ladder material handling

• Suspended Swing stage work
 
• Backhoe’s placing shields in deep excavations


What could possibly go wrong?

• Communication breakdown amongst the tradesmen

• Tradesmen/people traversing under our loads

• Rigging failures

• Equipment failures

• Over Loading the capacity of such equipment’s

• Human error while guiding a load

What can we do to prevent these struck by/crushed by accidents?

• Better pre-planning

• Better jobsite communications in orientations

• Inspections of all rigging

• Knowing the capacity ratings of such equipment’s

• Only certified/trained operators on mentioned equipment’s

• Constant inspections of equipment and rigging prior to each use

• Keep 20 ft away from overhead powerlines

• Demark a controlled access zone with directional and warning signage at ground level

• Provide a spotter or flagger while lifting or swinging load

• Provide public canopies at access routes

• Wear high visibility PPE

• Discuss upcoming suspended work at weekly foreman meetings

• Only one person at a time communicates with crane operations

• Place bobcat buckets and lull forks on the ground when not in use

There is plenty of information here to benefit from regarding suspended loads. Take a look at your projects today and discuss who may be performing suspended load applications. Address their task according to what we have discussed within this document.