When operating heavy machinery of any type, and that includes cranes, it’s important to take into consideration the possible presence of gases, dust and high temperatures. Though many cranes are built nowadays to prevent explosions from taking place, it’s wise to train crane operators to follow protocol and to exercise caution in high-risk areas. There are, of course, a few things that you can do yourself in order to protect explosion proof cranes when using them on a regular basis in hazardous areas.
Hazardous enclosures: Perhaps one of the best ways to prevent surrounding areas from ever getting affected by a spark is to create a hazardous duty enclosure. Even though the crane itself is explosion proof, a small fire or spark could spread in a warehouse environment. The enclosures we speak of can cool as well as vent the cranes themselves by allowing them to operate optimally. In short, they protect the cranes as well as the environment they’re being operated in.
Check certification: Before you place your order and purchase an explosion proof crane, it’s important to know for sure that the machinery has been officially certified as being explosion proof. There are many companies that are unscrupulous and don’t take into consideration the safety of the crane operators. Even if a crane claims to be something, getting educated and knowing that everything is certified can help prevent mishaps in hazardous areas.
Educate operators: Most cranes that are deemed to be perfectly safe and explosion proof come with a number of safety switches that protect operators as well as the environment they’re in from suffering an explosion. Having said that, it’s very important to educate crane operators on proper protocol standards and what certain safety switches are used for. The safety standards that are built into the cranes are only worth so much when the individuals operating them aren’t educated enough to make wise decisions.
Check signals: Well made explosion proof cranes will come with a number of alert signals that can let workers know that the crane is in operation. Make certain to only purchase explosion proof cranes if they feature strobe lights as well as vibrating horns. Even if the crane is being operated in an enclosure, the different signals not only protect the workers nearby, but the crane as well from being blocked.
Knowing that your explosion proof crane is indeed safe to operate should always be your first step when letting workers get near it. Usually, this involves purchasing your crane from a reputable company that holds all of the latest forms of certification. Meanwhile, hazardous enclosures can certainly prevent a good deal of explosions from ever taking place, no one can ignore the importance of choosing an explosion proof crane with the following enhancements:
*Spark proof wiring that doesn’t cause explosions.
*Alert signals that can prevent potential collisions from occuring.
*Certification that not only guarantees performance but the safety of the operators.
If you know a crane has all of the above features, it’s safe to own! To learn more, visit steelmillcranes.com/