In your construction work, you may need to use a crane. This guide will communicate to you all you need to know before going out there to hire one in Australia.
There are many crane hire services you can access. Hiring a crane is much cheaper and wiser than buying one. You only need to find the best crane hire services to reap the benefits of this move. Lifting heavy equipment, construction materials, and even dangerous and bulky substances means you need to get it right.
Factors to Consider
To find the best crane, you should be aware of all safety requirements and expectations on your part for a start. Let us look at this and other factors of importance to the process.
1. Observe government-issued health and safety guidelines
A great place to start is to ensure that your overall operations are carried out adhering to the health and safety guidelines applicable in your region. This not only applies to work that needs a crane, but to the overall project. In most instances, the crane may be needed to carry a load heavier than itself. That in itself is a precarious undertaking. Therefore, you need to ensure that the crane you have in mind and the operating environment are safe. While you may be tempted to first think of the costs involved, it would be wiser to focus on safety matters. You would rather hire an expensive yet suitable crane than cut costs and go for a more affordable yet incapable crane. The latter option will soon have you paying more than the costs you were trying to avoid.
2. Check on your liability insurance
Before hiring a crane, take time to understand what insurance coverage is necessary for this instance. Contact your insurance provider to establish what you need to do to get your present cover up to date and adequate. As the party hiring the crane, liability usually falls on you. Therefore, anything going wrong is solely your responsibility. While you may anticipate and avoid most pitfalls, accidents do happen. Find out what insurance cover is most suitable in case of damage or loss attributed to the equipment and material being handled, the crane operator, any third parties, and within your operational environment. Read through the crane hire contract to understand what other liabilities fall on you and which ones are those of the crane hiring services provider.
3. Organize the lift well
Using the crane is not simply a matter of driving it to the site, hooking up whatever is to be lifted, and dropping it off where needed. You need to make a proper plan covering all details of the process. You need, for example, to inspect the ground where the crane will be positioned to ensure it is stable enough with enough traction. You should also aim to hire a crane most suited for your specific needs, not just settling for the first one the service provider points out.
4. Look into your chosen service provider
It is not enough to understand your needs and the kind of crane suitable for delivering on those needs. You also need to know more about the company you wish to hire from. Look beyond whatever marketing the company has done. Check to make sure those statements are indeed facts. Issues with liability, due process in case of an accident, payment terms, and other incidentals, and such details are important in determining whether they are the right fit. Check the certification of their crane operator, as well as their work history. Check also the crane maintenance history and tests. How ready for operation the crane is and how competent the operator is, affects how well your work will be done.
5. Schedule crane usage time appropriately
Once you are satisfied with the steps above, you now need to determine when it is best to have the crane at the site. There will be other operations going on at the site, with the crane needed for specific work. Those operations have to marry and proceed most efficiently and effectively. Work with the operator to determine optimum and safest times to use the crane. Such a plan also ensures you pay for the crane only when it is necessary for the overall project, thus saving a significant amount of money in the long run. Your team needs to be on board to ensure a smooth workflow and proper integration into your operations.
Conclusion
Cranes help make light the work of moving bulky equipment, materials, and other items necessary in construction operations and related fields. Since hiring a crane is the best option for most scenarios, it is important that you get it right the first time around. This minimizes the costs involved, ensures effective and efficient working, and keeps the process safe and in line with the regulations governing your operations.
