Many occupations require lifting operations. These can either be done manually or with the use of lifting equipment. Construction workers are at high risk for injury and health problems that can lead to disability or sick leave. Accidents and illnesses caused by lifting are costly.
Lifting Operations
Lifting operations are concerned with lifting and lowering a load. The item being lifted is called a load. This could be a person. Lifting operations can be done manually or with lifting equipment. For example, manual lifting, holding down, moving, or carrying is sometimes referred to by the term “manual handling loads”.
In construction, lifting operations occur when materials are transported from their storage location to the site where they will be processed and also during processing. Lifting equipment can lift or lower people or materials.
Construction equipment for lifting
The term lifting equipment refers to any machinery or equipment that is used in the workplace for lifting and lowering people or loads, as well as accessories or attachments for anchoring or fixing, or supporting. Examples of typical lifting equipment include:
- Lifting equipment for lifting people:
- A mobile elevating platform or aerial work platform is a device that provides temporary access to areas inaccessible to people and equipment, typically higher. Mechanised platforms come in different types. They can also be called scissor lifts or cherry pickers. These platforms can be mounted on a vehicle, or self-propelled. For an IPAF Course, contact Global FLT who provides the IPAF Course.
- Cranes are a type of machine that is equipped with wire ropes, chains or sheaves and a hoist. It can be used for lifting and lowering heavy materials, as well as moving them horizontally. There are many types of cranes used in the construction industry.
- Telehandlers are a crane type with a telescopic boom which can be extended forwards or upwards. The boom can have several attachments such as pallet forks or winches.
- Forklift trucks are powered industrial vehicles with forks and hydraulic lift systems that can pick up or transport material.
Where davit cranes fit in lifting work
Many lifting operations involve loads far too heavy to move by hand, which is where machinery takes over. Davit cranes are a common choice in construction and similar heavy industries because of their strength. Capacity varies from model to model, but they are designed to pick up heavy loads efficiently, and their parts are built to similar strength so the operator can lift and place a load accurately.
Reach is another advantage. A standard hoist mechanism has limited reach because it simply moves the load from one point to another, whereas a davit crane works differently and can reach further.
They are also well suited to loading and unloading. A davit crane can rotate a full 360 degrees, so a truck can pull up alongside and the operator can unload items straight from a flatbed. Moving materials to where they are needed this way takes less time and is more efficient than repeated manual handling, which also reduces the injury risk that comes with lifting.
Common types of crane for lifting
When lifting equipment is needed, a crane is often the right tool, and there are many types designed for different tasks. Boom cranes are used to lift heavy objects and reach high places. Jib cranes are among the simplest designs, with an upright mast and a horizontal arm, and they suit lighter, general lifting jobs.
Tower cranes are the most familiar sight on construction sites around the world. They combine a long boom with a shorter counter arm that balances the load. Telescopic cranes, with booms that extend in sections, are another common choice when reach needs to vary.
Beyond these there are hydraulic, pneumatic, rotary and dock cranes, along with pontoon cranes for work on water. With so many options, there is a crane for almost any lifting task, but the choice should always come from the weight and size of the load, the height and distance it must travel and the space available on site.
Cranes and their role on site
Cranes are among the most familiar pieces of lifting equipment on a construction site. They started out with a narrow, specific purpose, but over time they have become versatile machines used to lift and move materials, support repairs to infrastructure and hold objects in position while work is carried out.
A typical site may need several different types of crane, depending on the kind of construction involved and the loads that have to be moved. Each type works in its own way and depends on different components, so each needs maintaining properly to stay efficient and reliable.
Understanding how a particular crane works is a big part of using it safely and productively. Anyone choosing a crane for a job should take the time to understand its mechanism first, and keep the tools and parts it relies on in good condition throughout its working life.