Most lifting incidents do not begin with a dramatic failure. They begin with something small that nobody noticed: a damaged wire rope, a weeping hydraulic hose, a limit switch that no longer trips. A disciplined pre-use check is the cheapest safety system any lifting operation will ever have.
What a good pre-use check covers
- Structure: boom sections, jib, welds and pins for cracks, deformation or missing retainers.
- Wire ropes and hooks: broken wires, kinks, crushing, corrosion, a working safety latch and no hook-throat opening.
- Hydraulics: leaks, damaged hoses and correct fluid levels.
- Safety devices: rated capacity indicator, anti-two-block, limit switches, horn and lights.
- Set-up: outriggers, pads and ground conditions suitable for the planned duty.
Record it, every time
A check that is not recorded cannot be audited, compared or handed over. Use a simple checklist that follows the same order every shift, note defects clearly and report them before the first lift.
If a defect could affect the safety of the lift, the crane does not work until a competent person has assessed it.
Make it part of competence
Pre-use inspection is assessed in every ILEES operator programme because it is a skill, not a formality. Operators who learn to inspect methodically find faults earlier, protect their crews and extend the working life of their equipment.
