Cranes
are an integral part of your construction site, which is why they must receive
regular maintenance and service. Otherwise, they aren’t going to be able to
function correctly and as efficiently as you want. But, crane maintenance isn’t just about function; it
serves other purposes as well.

The Importance of Crane
Maintenance

Here
are three reasons why crane maintenance is so essential.

1. Safety

Construction
sites can be dangerous places to work, but this risk is dramatically increased when machinery isn’t operating correctly.
Therefore, by maintaining your cranes, you can be assured that your site is as
safe as possible. If you opt to disregard maintenance and scheduled
inspections, then you are far more
likely to have to deal with equipment failure which, in turn, increases the
likelihood of accidents and injuries
happening onsite.

2. Inspections

At
this point, you are probably well-aware that inspectors come to check (at
regular intervals) on the safety and risk management of your construction site.
If your machinery (including cranes) aren’t up to standard, then you could
quickly find yourself in trouble.These
inspectors are looking to ensure that your site is compliant with Occupational
Safety and Health Regulations and that
you are providing a safe place for your workers.

Therefore,
they will look at the design of the crane, its compliance with maintenance
programs, and the presence of ladders and other accessibility assistance tools
that are required for repairs. Furthermore, they will want to see thorough records of the crane maintenance, testing, and
inspection, as well as operator training and license requirements.

3. Efficiency 

The
last thing you want is for your construction project to be delayed because of
an equipment failure on the construction site. However, if you aren’t
maintaining your cranes, then you are much more likely to run into an issue.

By
committing to regular maintenance, you are prioritizing
efficiency and preventing the need
for extended lost-time due to crane repairs. Reduced productivity is not a
good sign for a construction firm, so not only will this affect the current
project, but it will also affect your
reputation and the chance of building your business.

How To Maintain Your Crane

Now
that you understand the importance of crane maintenance, you are probably
wondering what the best practices for making it happen are. To realize the
benefits listed above, you want to be following these four crane maintenance
tips.

1. Keep track of crane
maintenance activities.

One
of the best crane habits you can start is to keep a log of all crane maintenance
activities, observations, repairs, and inspections. By doing this, you can
quickly look back and ensure that you are staying up-to-date with the
manufacturer’s recommendations for the servicing of the crane.

Additionally,
a written record of crane maintenance activities enables your onsite team to observe the maintenance of the crane
easily. Plus, when an issue does (inevitably) arise, you have a clear log of
what has been done that you can present
to the crane hire company or the manufacturer.

2. Focus on preventive and
routine maintenance.

When
it comes to maintaining a crane, there are two
types of maintenance that you want to provide: preventive maintenance and
routine maintenance. These two forms of maintenance vary in regards to scale. Generally, routine maintenance
incorporates smaller tasks, while the goal of preventive maintenance is to bypass repairs and possibly hazardous
situations when the equipment is in operation.

Both
types of maintenance should follow the
equipment manufacturer’s recommendations which is why you or your crane hire
company must be fully aware of the needed maintenance procedures and service
intervals for each specific crane.

3. Create a schedule for routine
checking.

As
with most things in life, by setting a
schedule for when routine checking will happen is the best way to ensure
that it actually gets done.

During
this regular checking, you want to ensure that fundamental maintenance tasks (such as lubrication and adjustment) are
observed. This simple monitoring will make a significant difference when it
comes to reducing the damage of crane components, limiting sudden work
stoppages, and maintaining the performance of the equipment.

Work With a Reputable Crane Hire
Company

Looking
after a crane is a big job and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. For this
reason, it is highly recommended that you work with a reputable crane hire
company that hasthe tools and expertise to perform thorough
maintenance practices.

Opting
for a tower crane rental means that the responsibility
of continually maintaining you crane is shifted from you to the crane rental
company. This, in turn, provides you and
your workers with a lot more peace of mind and a lot less obligation. Doing
so also gives you more time and headspace to focus on the things that really
matter – like getting the construction project completed on time.

What do you think about crane maintenance? Do you have any tips and tricks? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

AUTHOR BIO

Hermann
Buchberger is the Founder and CEO of Active Crane Hire (ACH). He’s taken the
company from start-up to Industry Leader offering the largest fleet of
construction cranes in Australia. ACH launched a new type of crane previously
unheard of in the Australian market: electric tower cranes. The company’s
infrastructure and associated services now comprise a fleet of trucks and
trailers, a crane-rigging team, mobile crane technicians, a fleet of service
vehicles, and an extensive range of crane spare parts.