Introduction

The purpose of this article about lifting practices is to ensure that every person who participate in lifting operations are fully aware of their responsibilities, and act in a manner that will ensure safe lifting operations.

Factors That Affect Lifting

1. The cargo (its size and shape).

  2. The type of equipment, the condition of equipment.

  3. The environmental condition (ground, overhead, obstructions and weather).

  4. The state of mind of the personnel.

  5. Their level of training.

  6. Experience, skill etc.

Lifting Incidents & Accidents

These range from total disregard to safety rules and procedures to complete lack of operational and maintenance knowledge.

A. Overturning:

Weak support, obstructions and operating outside the equipment’s design capabilities.

B. Collision:

With other lifting equipment, overhead power lines and other structures.

C. Boom and Hook Failure:

Overloading beyond operating capacity.

D. Loss of Load:

Due to failure of lifting tackles or wrong slinging procedures.

Investigation into the consequences when there is a sudden loss of load while lifting. BigLift Shipping is a heavy lift shipping company that ships cargo all over the world. Most cargo will be lifted on board by using the ship board heavy lift cranes. The lifting capacity of the cranes reaches from 275 to 700 ton per crane. Most ships have minimal 2 cranes. When lifting cargo from the quay, barge, or out of the water the ship cranes need to reach out a big distance. When the load is suddenly lost from the cranes the consequences can be quite dramatic. During this project answers need to be found for e.g. maximum dynamic roll angle, final static heel angle, resulting loads on various critical systems.

E. Failure of Supports:

Placing lifting equipment over cellars and drains on land locations, lifting without extending outriggers. 

F. Operators Error:

Due to impaired or restricted visibility, poor eyesight and inadequate training.

G. Lack of Communication:

The distance between the point of operation and the operator’s station can distort communication.