WORKSAFE Victoria has released a safety handbook for people who own, use or maintain bridge and gantry cranes.
According to the authority, it developed “Working Safely with Bridge and Gantry Cranes” with industry groups, unions and employers. The book illustrates issues relating to the safe use of cranes, and describes the best risk controls and practices that are not acceptable.
WorkSafe says workers are sometimes complacent regarding the use and maintenance of bridge and gantry cranes, and people needed to recognise the equipment was potentially dangerous.
Cranes are often seen carrying loads heavier than what they are rated for, or using incorrect slinging equipment.
A company was fined $150,000 in April 2008 after an incident in which a man was seriously hurt after being struck by a moving gantry crane. In June 2008, another company was committed to stand trial relating to a November 2006 death of a man who was killed while moving a seven metre steel roller-door drum with an overhead gantry crane.
WorkSafe says its inspectors will use the handbook as a basis of inspections of bridge and gantry cranes.

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