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SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 1980
SAFETY HINTS TO OPERATE CRANES
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EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS WERE TODAY REMINDED TO TAKE ADEQUATE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WHEN THEY OPERATE CRANES.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID ALL CRANE-USERS HAD THE RESPONSIBILITY AND DUTY TO STRICTLY OBSERVE CERTAIN SAFETY REQUIREMENTS.
THE REQUIREMENTS COVER THE SAFE WORKING LOAD, STABILITY, TESTING, EXAMINATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE CRANEŠ.
A CRANE SHOULD BE OF GOOD MECHANICAL CONSTRUCTION AND PROPERLY MAINTAINED, AND SHOULD ONLY BE OPERATED BY A TRAINED AND COMPETENT OPERATOR.
BEFORE BEING USED IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TESTED AND THOROUGHLY EXAMINED BY A COMPETENT EXAMINER IN THE PRECEDING FOUR YEARS. IT SHOULD ALSO BE THOROUGHLY EXAMINED BY A COMPETENT EXAMINER ONCE EVERY 14 MONTHS.
IN ADDITION, APPROPRIATE PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO ENSURE ITS STABILITY. THE GROUND ON WHICH IT RESTS SHOULD BE COMPACTED TO AVOID SUBSIDING.
FOR A WHEEL-MOUNTED CRANE FITTED WITH OUTRIGGERS, THEY SHOULD BE FULLY EXTENDED AND PROPERLY SUPPORTED.
THE SPOKESMAN FURTHER POINTED OUT THAT THE SAFE WORKING LOAD AT VARIOUS RADI OF THE JIB-BOOM AND THE MAXIMUM RADIUS AT WHICH THE JIB-BOOM MIGHT BE MANOEUVRED SHOULD BE CLEARLY MARKED ON THE CRANE.
IT SHOULD BE FITTED WITH AN ACCURATE INDICATOR, CLEARLY VISIBLE TO THE OPERATOR, SHOWING THE RADIUS OF THE JIB-BOOM AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME AND THE SAFE WORKING LOAD APPLICABLE TO THAT RADIUS. IT SHOULD NOT BE LOADED BEYOND THE MAXIMUM SAFE WORKING LOAD.
+ IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ALL THOSE CONCERNED SHOULD ENSURE THAT THE PRECAUTIONS ARE ADOPTED FOR THE SAFE OPERATION OF A CRANE TO SAVE LIFE AND AVOID DAMAGE TO PLANT AND PROPERTY,+ SAID THE SPOKESMAN.
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