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As far as were aware,this is the first Guideof its kind which isintended to providethe end-user with anoverview of the LiftingIndustry as a whole.The information iscategorised so that

readers can find theirway through the vari-ous equipment andmachinery with ease.Each item or productis accompanied by ashort description andan illustration for easyreference.

Having published the monthly magazine BulkHandling Today for many years, we have a verygood idea of whos who in the industry. As such,this Lifting Guide provides readers with a snapshotof the lifting fraternity but it would not have beenpossible without the assistance of LEEASA (LiftingEquipment Engineering Association of SA), and KenGreenwood in particular. We thank them for theirprofessional guidance and assistance in putting thispublication together.

As a first issue, Promech Publishing is very proudof this Guide and we intend to grow it in the yearsto come, so any suggestions for improvementsfrom readers and end-users would be more thanwelcome.

Keep this guide in your desk drawer its going to

be of invaluable help as you grow your business.Or check out www.promech.co.za/ where youll findthis guide, our monthly magazine Bulk HandlingToday and our prestigious annual Buyers Guide infull on our website.

Happy and fruitful reading!

Warmest Regards,

Susan Custers, Publisher

How to use

this guide

Proprietor and Publisher:

PROMECH PUBLISHING

Tel: (011) 781-1401

Fax: (011) 781-1403

E-mail:

[email protected]

[email protected]

Website: www.promech.co.za

Managing Editor:

Susan Custers

Advertising Sales:

Surita Marx

DTP: Zinobia Docrat /

Sean BacherResearch: Sean Bacher

Disclaimer

Neither PROMECH Publishing

nor its endorsing bodies will be

held responsible for any errors or

omissions in this publication and

no responsibility will be borne

by the publisher for the conse-

quences of any actions based

on information so published by

Promech Publishing cc.

Printed by:

Typo Colour Printing

Tel: (011) 402-3468

Front Cover

East Rand Cranes

Jhb: (011) 817-3423/5

Fax: (011) 817-3019Web: www.eastrandcranes.co.za

Index to Advertisers

Anglo Lifting Equipment 43

Bexl Control 4

Becker 35

CLT 10

Columbus McKinnon 53

Condra Cranes 38Custom Crane 32

D&D Lifting 12

Delta Crane 52

Dymot Engineering 51

DSR Mining 40

East Rand Cranes

Outside Front Cover, 3,17,37

Elephant Lifting

Inside Front Cover

Engineering Supplies 20

Fastlift Rigging 34

GM Technical Services 39

Gunnebo Industries 40

Linde 24

LMI Academy 31

Morris Material Handling 8

Phakamisa Safety 31

RGM Cranes 28,29

Raytoko Outside Back Cover

Toyota Forklift 22

Tower Crane Services 41

fxdgdfgdfgdfgd

Lifting Guide 2010

Also publishers of:

Susan Custers with Clarence (left)

and Cilla, not to be outdone



CONTENTS3 HowtousethisGuide

6 AboutLEEASA

9 LEEASEMembers

11 LiftingLegally

13LIFTINGTACKLE1 Flexible steel wire rope slings

1 Chain slings

1 Webbing slings

1 Hooks

1 Snatch blocks

1 Coupling links

1 Shackles

16 Clamps

16 Spreader beams

16 Plate grabs

17 Balanced fork attachment

17 Coils grabs

17 Bar tong

18LIFTINGRECEPTICAL18 Lifting bins, buckets

18 Containers

18 Lifting tray

18 Lifting cages/cradles

19 UNDERTHEHOOKMACHINES19 Magnetic hooks

19 Vacuum filters

21CHAINBLOCKS&LEVER

HOISTS21 Chain blocks

21 Lever hoists

21 Cable pullers

23FORKLIFTS2 Counter balance

2 Side loaders2 Rail or tyre stacker & reach lift trucks

2 Pedestrain controlled lift trucks

2 Order picking lift trucks including all models

2 Pallet trucks

2 The Importance of Regular Inspection

0 Training for Safe Operation

33MOBILECRANES Truck mounted cranes

Fixed or truck mounted knuckle boom cranes

Pick and carry cranes

Mobile harbour cranes

Crawler lattice boom cranes

Lattice boom cranes on tyre wheeled carriers

6 Rough terrain and/or centre mount cranes

6 All terrain cranes

6 Telehandlers

6 Carry deck cranes

7 Truck mounted side loading container carriers

7 Excavators & loaders used as mobile cranes

39OVERHEAD&GANTRYCRANES9 Overhead cranes

9 Gantry crane

0 Free standing and/or permanently attached jib crane

0 Goliath cranes

40TOWERCRANES

42REACHSTACKERS&STRADDLE

CARRIERS2 Reach stacker

2 Straddler carriers

43CONTAINERCRANE

44SHIPSANDWHARFSIDECRANES Ships cranes

Wharfside cranes

Falling From Height

47AERIALPLATFORMS7 Boom type (cherry picker)

7 Specialy insulated aerial platforms

7 Scissor lifts (mobile or fixed)

48SUSPENDEDACCESSPLATFORMS (SAE)8 Temporary suspended platforms

8 Building maintenance unit (permanently suspended

platform)

8 (MEWP) Mobile Elevated Work Platform

49HYDRAULICINDUSTRIALLIFTING

DEVICES

50VEHICLEHOISTS0 posters

0 2 posters

0 Scissor lift type (excluding dock levellers)

1 Hydraulic type

1 Tail lifters

53OTHERSPECIALISEDCATEGORIES Side cranes

Secondhand/Hiring

CopyrightAll material published in this

guide is copyrighted to Pro-

mech Publishing cc. No partof the material may be quoted,

photocopied, reproduced or

stored electronically without

prior written permission.



Lifting Equipment Engineering Association of

SA (LEEASA) has come a long way since its

inception in 2004. Year after year, LEEASA

has made headway in its endeavor to assist

in helping government and statutory bodies

to implement and regulate our industry to

make a difference, both in standards, and

the safety of our people.

The period2009 to2010 wasno excep-

tion and again wehave seen changesfor the better. Thechallenges that wefaced at the begin-ning of this periodwere large, but wetackled each taskwith our usual en-thusiasm and com-mitment.

These included, nominating someone to serve onthe technical committee to re-write the DrivenMachinery Regulations (TCDMR). This was doneand the work is close to being finalised. LEEASAalso has members on the committees on the Na-tional Code of Practice (NCOP) and the rewrite ofthe Construction Regulations (CR). The LEEASAmembers of these committees are in continualdialogue regarding these regulations.

Formulating an auditing document to audit LME

(Lifting Machinery Entity) members of LEEASA.A document has been developed and some pilotaudits have been done.

At the request of the Department of Labour, LEEASAhas contributed to writing level 2, level 3 and level4 qualifications for the vertical articulation careerpath to a LMI (Lifting Machinery Inspection). Thiswill lead to vertical articulation to the existingregistered level 5 qualification for LMIs.

LEEASA continues to provide volunteers for theworking committees at ECSA, SABS, SAQA andthe DoL

More issues that became challenges in the period2009 to 2010.

The extensions of scope of LMEs. To assistwith this LEEASA has produced a survey toidentify problems.

The change in government policy regardingeducation. The introduction of the QCTOsystem is in progress and LEEASA is activelyparticipating in this process of change.

The Association is concerned that their industry,which is inherently dangerous if not well run andregulated, could fall into disrepute and thereforethe engineering team providing the service shouldbe well trained to the correct standards and shouldat all times be ethical and responsible for theiractions.

The Association has joined the Chamber of Engi-neering Technology, who already have the necessaryinfrastructures to disseminate information and whoalready are recognised in representing engineeringpractitioners in the Engineering fraternities.

Anyone interested in joining the association, should

contact Ken Greenwood on (011) 475 5876

About LEEASAby Ken Greenwood National chairman of LEEASA

Mission & Vision of CET

The Chamber of Engineering Technology.

Mission / PolicyEstablished to enhance the standing andcontribution of the South African EngineeringProfession in the National Interest and to the

benefit of Society.

MembershipMembership is open to Technicians, Technologists,Engineers and persons associated with engineer-ing technology in a professional capacity. Thisincludes Specialised Scope practioners, Students,Graduates and persons in Training.

DivisionsCET has an autonomous division in the form ofthe Lifting Equipment Enngineering Associationof South Africa (LEEASA) under its wing.

Alternate WebsitesFor details of LEEASA please see www.leeasa.synthasite.com and www.leeasa.mirroz.com andwww.engineeringchamber.mirrorz.com

Ken Greenwood



Make sure that the certificate you see

looks like the one below to verify its authenticity



While every effort has been taken to check that this list is correct, LEEASA does not guarantee that errors do not exist.

LEEASA does not accept any responsibility for any matters at all that may arise from the use of this list.

The list is presented as is merely as a free service.

LEEASA Members

Accord Lifting cc

Africa Rigging Services cc

AJM Engineering Services (F/a D Rowe)

Akhanani Electromechanical Engineering (Pty) Ltd

Alfa Africa Testing cc

Algar, MW

Al-Kaassamany, R

Allin One Crane Repairs cc

Ally, FI

Anchor Industries (Pty) LtdAnglo Lifting Equipment (Pty) Ltd

Arc Cranes cc

Arlona Engineering (Pty) Ltd

Barnes, GV

Bartlett Construction

Bexl Control Systems cc

Blenner-Hassett, GW

Brake Safe Mining

Bri-Ton Lift Master cc

Careys Tower Crane Services

Check Lift cc

CHL Services cc

CLT Crane Load Technology

Condra (Pty) Ltd

Condux Natal (A div of Hudaco Trading (Pty) Ltd

Cowley, R

Crane Clinic cc

Cranelec cc

Culmen Wes-Kaap bk

Custom Crane Safety (Pty) Ltd

Daves Crane ServicesDelta Crane & Plant Hire (Pty) Ltd

Demag Cranes& Components (Pty) Ltd

DG Materials Handling cc

Dockleveller Supplies cc

DSR Mining & Industrial cc

Dynamic Crane Systems (Pty) Ltd

East Rand Cranes

ECS Electric Crane Services (Pty) Ltd

Elephant Lifting Equipment (Pty) Ltd

Engineering Supplies Ltd

Ergon Engineering cc

Etis Mvelaphanda Engineering (Pty) Ltd

F.B. Mining & Lifting Equipment cc

FastLift Rigging Products (Pty) Ltd

FB Crane Builders & Repairs (Pty) Ltd

FND Crane Services cc

Fritz, PL

G W Lifting & Engineering Supplies cc

Gauteng Rigging Services (Pty) Ltd

Giro Engineering cc

Greenwood, K

Haddath, RS

Harman, VHendry, MJ

Hiab (Pty) Ltd

Holland, JW

Hydratech

Ideal Lifting cc

J. Express Crane Services

J.V.Testing Projects cc

Janse van Vuuren, G

Karan, S

Kelran cc

Kori Engineering

Kruger, JG

Kruger, AGB

L & R Electrical cc

Lake, L

LMI Academy cc

Load Mass Crane Services cc

Lott, RC

Lowveld Cranes cc

Machine Moving and Engineering Cape (Pty) Ltd

Marine Equipment Supplies (Pty) LtdMarlboro Crane Hire (Pty) Ltd

Millwright Technical Services cc

MME Manufacturing Pty Ltd

Natal Crane & Hoist Services cc

Nengwekhulu, SR

Neuhoff, GE

Newcastle Hoists & Eng Services (SA) (Pty) Ltd

NewCorr Mining & Industrial cc

North Coast Cranes & Lifting cc

NVN Crane Repairs cc

Palfinger Southern Africa

Park Lifting & Mining (Pty) Ltd

Premier Loadtesting and Services cc



Quality Lifting & Engineering Supplies cc

R G Maintenance Services cc

Randall, B

Raytoko Electrical & Mechanical

Renniks Construction (Pty) Ltd

Renvest cc T/a Cross Rigging Services

Reynen, DL

RFC Lifting Equipment cc

Riggers Steeplejacks (Pty) Ltd

Rigging Academy of SA (Pty) Ltd

Rosieur, CR

Sasol Infrachem

Sauer, SL

Scaw Metals Group Ltd (Chain Products)

Schrader, S

Searle Hoist & Tool (Pty) Ltd

Servitrade Water Weights Lda

Siteeco (Pty) LtdSommer, AH

Special Industrial Supplies (Pty) Ltd

Specialised Lubrication Services cc

SSA Acoustic & Specialised Inspections (Pty) Ltd

Steenkamp, AC

Steyn, JJ

STR Material Handling cc

Submaro Offshore Support Services

Tandem Crane (Pty) Ltd

Tee, AE

Teixeira, GJ

The Crane Crew

Timm, TN

Toco Lifting (Pty) Ltd

Toprope

Tower Crane Services cc

TransAfrica Equipment Company (Pty) Ltd

Umbogintwini Riggers & LM Inspectors cc

Umholi Steel Wire Rope & Accessories

Uni- Cape Equipment (Pty) Ltd

Universal Suppliers and ExpiditorsUstica 1193 T/a Platinuim Services

Van Biljon, JJ

Van Hansen, LA

Vermeulen, SD

Vermeulen, CJ

Vogt, RT

Vryheid Cranes cc

Water Weights (Natal) cc

Water Weights (Tvl) cc

Water Weights International S.A. (Pty) LtdWeren Lifting Services

Wimbush, DJ

Yale Lifting Solutions (Pty) Ltd



Regarding test and inspection equipment, a completeset of minimum relevant equipment is required for aspecific inspection. A list of the equipment used forsaid inspection must be kept, as must the Calibra-tion Certificates for the equipment used.

This system will contribute to the protection ofthe public with respect to the lifting equipmentindustry.

With any company involved in the lifting machineryindustry, management systems, including recordsof jobs and projects carried out, are required for

audit purposes. Test records issued must be keptavailable for a minimum of ten years.

A copy of a code of conduct for the technical staffmust be displayed.

Records of staff education and experience in the lift-ing industry working environment must be kept.

For companies wanting to register with the DoL, itsdetails are listed below. It is important to ask themfor their latest forms. Keep copies of your submit-ted forms and use registered mail so you can proveyour application and date of application.

Department of Labour Private Bag X117, Tshwane, 0001Fax 012 309 4151 or Laboria House, 215 Schoeman Street,

Pretoria , Email: [email protected]

Lifting Legally

New, young LMIs neededA spokesman for LEEASA points out that LMIsare steadily becoming older. There is a dire lackof younger LMIs in the industry. He also pointsout that the trade of being an LMI is a reason-ably well-paid occupation, and the prospects forcareer advancement are good.

We urgently need to see more young LMIsbeing trained. If anyone is interested they can

contact LEEASA for further details, See page6 for details.

All sole proprietors or companies engagedin load testing in the lifting equipmentindustry have to register with the Depart-ment of Labour (DoL).

The LME Registration requirements include:

Competency and relevant experience of techni-cal staff in specific disciplines.

Having a copy of the Occupational Healthand Safety (OHS) Act and its regulationsavailable.

Providing proof of training of technical staff onthe Act and its regulations.

That an updated copy of the Associates Codesand Standards be available.

Providing proof of training of technical staffon the relevant Codes, Standards & Specifica-tions.

Those who are exempted from these provisionsare technical staff registered with the EngineeringCouncil of South Africa (ECSA) as Lifting MachineryInspectors (LMIs). Compliance includes having aconsiderable body of knowledge as well as familiar-ity with safety and ethical standards.

A registered LMI conducts inspections of liftingmachinery as defined in the Driven MachineryRegulations of the Occupational Health and SafetyAct (Act no 85 of 1993). Lifting machinery is cat-egorised to include tower cranes, mobile cranes,gantry cranes, harbour cranes, telescopic handlers,

forklifts and work platforms etc.The LME is required to have at least one LMI on itsstaff. Registered LMIs will be allocated a registrationnumber by ECSA. Any inspector from the Depart-ment of Labour paying a visit to a site can ask forthe register to see whether the machines have beenhanded over and commissioned as well as the nameand registration number of the LMI.

Not only will this bring a companys processes intoline with the legal requirements, but it will alsoensure that best practice in terms of safety is imple-mented on site. Previously, under the OccupationalHealth and Safety Act, a person who undertookload testing of lifting equipment, was defined as aperson with the knowledge and experience of theerection and maintenance of the particular type ofequipment.

Because of the many potential hazards associated with lift-

ing equipment such as cranes and hoists, the Department of

Labour through the Lifting Machinery Entity (LME) enforces

certain legislation.

Did you knowAll entities performing load

testing on all liftingmachines should

apply forregistration withthe Department

of Labour



LIFTINGTACKLE

Lifting Tackle

Flexible Steel Wire Rope slings

Chain slings

This covers all loose tackle which does not form an integral part of the machine

(Supported mainly by SANS manufacturing spec. documents)

Did you knowRegistered Lifting Machinery Inspectors (LMIs) are persons registered by the Engineering Council of South Africain terms of the Engineering Profession Act, 2000 (Act 46 of 2000), for specified categories with a defined scope ofcompetence.

Chain slings are used mainly for lifting operations and are often thepreferred tool where the lifting job at hand requires ruggedness andat the same time, some f lexibility. Chain slings do however have adrawback in that they are rather heavy and are only as strong asthe weakest link. For this reason, the slings need to be inspected

on a regular basis, should never be overloaded and should neverbe twisted.

Chain sling are used in a variety of industries including aerospace,construction, crane and rigging, government and military, manu-facturing, commercial fishing, mining, oil and gas, petrochemical,pipeline, and power generation.

Depicted are three chain sling configurations.

The modern wire rope as we know it was originally invented by aGerman mining engineer named Wilhelm Albert in the years between1831 and 1834. It was designed for use in the mining industry andwas quickly adopted because of its superior quality over older ropes

such as hemp or metal chains.

The early ropes consisted of a bundle of wires being covered withhemp, however later advancements led to individual wires twistedinto a strand and the six or so of these strands twisted around a steelcore. There were however many variations of this steel core with itconsisting of natural fibres such as sisal, manila, and jute.

Today, steel wire ropes have a variety of applications including usein cranes, lifts, cable-cars, aerial lifts and suspension bridges.



Webbing slings

Hooks

LIFTINGTACKLE

Webbing slings are usually manufactured from polyester or nylon andthus offer numerous advantages over other types of slings. Firstly,because they are made from polyester, they are light and thus offereasy handling. Secondly, they are advantageous in that they wontcause injuries to their users and they can be used to hoist delicatecargo as they do not scratch.

Webbing sling manufacturers offer many improvements on the prod-uct, with some slings being water, heat and UV resistant. There arealso many variations, such as slings with metal or reinforced eyes

and slings in double or single thickness sizes.Due to the material of the slings, friction does cause static elec-tricity build-up, which could be detrimental to certain cargo types especially electronic equipment. It is for this reason that manymanufacturers have developed anti-static web slings.

When it comes to hooks, there are endless sizes types and shapes,each specifically designed to perform a certain job.

There are foundry hooks, alloy-sling hooks and steel wire rope hooks

to name just a few. Whether you use the hook for li fting or for tipping,there are two safety rules that all manufacturers enforce. Namely,always ensure the hook you are employing is of adequate strengthto lift or tilt the load and secondly, always make sure the hook isproperly engaged before beginning the job.

In the case of a safety hook, always make sure that the safety claspis facing away from the load or is not in a position where it willcome undone by bumping into any chains or loads.

Depicted on the right is a safety hook. It is different from other hooksin that it is completely closed, thereby ensuring that the rope or chainattached to it does not accidentaly come un-hooked.



LIFTINGTACKLE

Coupling links

Snatch blocks

A snatch block is essentially a pulley mechanism encased in metal.They have numerous lifting and pulling applications and as withmost devices in the lifting industry can be dangerous if not lethal ifnot applied properly. According to research, snatch blocks and theamounts of pressure exerted through them are underestimated. Itis warned that load exerted on a snatch block should never exceedits rating.

The rule-of-thumb in the snatch box market is that you should buythe most expensive one you can afford.

Although snatch blocks are used in many situations, they are especiallycommon on boats and sailing ships, or where motorised aids are

usually not available and the task must be performed manually.

A coupling link has a variety of uses however the most common isthat of joining two link-chains together. The coupling is generally

made of a round stock and parallel legs. A locking rod is insertedthrough the parallel legs, thereby locking the assembly together.

The chain link forms a vital role in every industry that useschains.

Shackles

A shackle is sometimes also referred to as a gyve. It is a U-shapedpiece of metal secured with a clevis pin or bolt across the opening,or a hinged metal loop secured with a quick-release locking pinmechanism. They are most commonly used as a connecting link inall manner of rigging systems, from boats and ships to industrialcrane rigging.

For safety reasons, it is common to mouse a threaded shackle tokeep the pin from coming loose. This is done by looping wire throughthe hole in the pin and around the shackle body. For pins that havea cross-hole in the threaded end, a cotter pin can be used.

There are various shackle shapes and sizes on the market includ-ing snap shackles. D-shackles, headboard shackles, twist shacklesand bow shackles.



Spreader beams

Plate grabs

Clamps

Under the hook auxiliary equipment identified in SANS 687

LIFTINGTACKLE

In the context of lifting equipment, clamps are generally used withlifting tackle and specifically with steel wire ropes. As illustrated,these clamps can be used for joining or creating special endings forsteel wire rope, eg, the ends of slings.

The clamps basically consist of a saddle and a U bolt and caremust be exercised when using clamps which must conform tostandards.

Spreader beams are compression beams which separate two slings(or similar devices), that are picking up a load. See example in theadjacent picture.

Lifting beams are beams which actually pick up the load from oneor more lifting points under the beam which is positioned in such away so as to hold the load in a specif ic or balanced position.

The beam in turn is usually lifted from a single point or set of pointson the top of the beam. These lifting points are connected to thecrane hook.

Lifting large pieces of sheet metal is no easy task. The problembecomes more difficult when the piece of sheet metal needs to belifted up metres into the air.

However, a device for just this application has been developedand comes in the form of a clamp. Clamps are available for eitherhoisting the metal sheet up and down or are available for movingthe sheet metal horizontally.

The clamps are available in various configurations with different jawsizes and different load capabilities and many clamp manufacturesstate that the gripping force applied by the clamps is more thandouble the load being lifted.



LIFTINGTACKLE

Coils grabs

Bar tong

Balanced fork attachment

In essence, a balanced fork attachment converts your forklift into amini crane. It simply attaches to the cranes mast either by meansof screws or with the assistance of a safety strap.

The loads you are able to pick up are determined by the capabilitiesof the forklift and of the fork attachment.

Various fork attachment load options are available.

For every job, there is the correct tool and lift ing coils is no excep-tion. A coil grab is basically that a rig that allows you to safelyand easily lift a coil of wiring or tubing.

The coil grabs use telescopic legs that will fit snugly over the coil toensure that it wont drop once being hoisted. Also, many of the coilgrabs let you rotate the coil while hoisted meaning you can spoolcabling or tubing on or off the coil while it is in the air.

These tongs are specifically designed to lift round or cylindrical loadssuch as pipes, tubes and bars.

A conformal leg engages below the centre-point of the load where

not only is the load cradled by the legs, but also securely clampedon the outside diameter.

Each tong is designed for a specific size range and some tongs usemultiple legs for lifting long, slender materials, thereby reducingdeflection and improving handling. It is also possible to lift multiplecylindrical components as either stacked bundles or in parallel.



Lifting bins, buckets

Containers

LIFTINGTACKLE

Lifting cages/cradles

Lifting tray

When it comes to moving or lifting materials such as sand, stonesand rubble, nothing will do it better than a bin or a bucket.

Dozens of different shapes and sizes are available on the market it is just a matter of selecting the correct one for the job at hand.The disadvantage with a lifting bin or a bucket is that when clearingdebris from a construction site, you often end up collecting loadsof valuable soil in the bargain.

With ISO containers weighing specified weights, lifting them manu-ally is just not an option - no matter how many employees you havewilling to show off their strength.

For lifting a container onto a truck you need a container lifter. Thereare many variations of these, some of them attached to trucks, and

some of them freestanding.

The idea of a container handler is to move a full sized laden or fullcontainers around a warehouse. These are found in the export andimport materials handling depots.

A lifting tray is a seemingly simple device. It attaches to a liftingmachine, thus allowing the load on the tray to be moved and placedwhere needed.

Lifting cages are just that cages that allow workers and their equip-ment to be safely lifted to where the work needs to be done. The cageoperator of a lifing machine can lif t with safety as required.

Various sizes are available, however most of them have one thingin common, that is that the cage is extremely simple to enter andexit, but at the same time is extremely secure to prevent accidentalopening. Most cages carry clear operating instructions and handles,locks and the like are all clearly demarcated.

Lifting Receptical



UNDERTHEHOOKMACHINES

Under the HookMachinesMechanical, electrical or hydraulic devices, manual or remote

Magnetic hooks

Vacuum lifters

(no SANS 687 in progress)

Magnetic lifters are versatile work handling devices that can be used

to move a variety of ferrous metals, ranging from small bundles ofrod or scrap to large, heavy blocks. When used to replace slingsand chains, lifting magnets can improve overall productivity by al-lowing a single person to lift a load that may have required two ormore people the old way. Magnets eliminate the need for drillingand tapping holes in parts so that eyebolts can be attached to movethem. In many cases, these holes need to be filled and the surfaceneeds to be refinished, adding cost to the product. An example ofhow a magnetic lift can positively impact productivity might involvea crate of parts that require machining. Magnets further save time byeliminating blocking and slinging. They also reduce waste. Becausemagnets wont spoil metal surfaces, they decrease the potential forthe kind of product damage often caused by chains, hooks and other

mechanical grabs.There are two basic types of lifting magnets: permanent magnets andelectromagnets. Permanent magnets are exactly that; permanent.These magnets use permanently magnetized material to build up themagnetic field. One disadvantage is that permanent magnets havea restricted lifting capacity.

Electromagnets employ electricity to charge the magnet and holdthe material to the magnet face. Unlike permanent magnets, elec-tromagnets require a constant power source. This can be viewed aseither a detriment or an advantage, depending upon how the magnetis being used. A power failure can be catastrophic when using anelectromagnet. On the other hand, the ability to vary the currentbeing supplied to the magnet allows the user more flexibility than a

permanent magnet affords.

Vacuum lifters consist of a below-the-hook frame with a large vac-uum pad or several smaller suction cups for grabbing large sheets,rolls, plates, or other smooth-surfaced products. They are driven bypneumatic, hydraulic, electric, or mechanical power. Pneumatic orair-powered vacuum lifters are equipped with air cylinders or motorsthat provide lifting action.

There are many different types of vacuum lifters. Choices includeheavy-duty lifters, vertical-horizontal lifters, coil lifters, battery-powered vacuum lifters, and products with mobile attachments.Battery-powered lifters are similar to electrically-powered devices,but have a rechargeable battery.



CHAINBLOCKS&LEVERHOISTS

Chain Blocks & LeverHoists

Chain blocks

Lever hoists

Cable pullers

(Supported by SANS 500, 1637 & 1640)

Lever hoists and pullers have the advantage of being easy to transport,require minimum set-up, and are a practical option in confined spaces.They are suitable for different applications ranging from heavy-dutyconstruction work to day-to-day maintenance and repair jobs.

Older lever hoists do however suffer a major drawback and that isif the chain is drawn quickly over the load sheave while it is set forfree running operation, the brake will automatically be applied andthe free running movement terminated. Similarly, if a light load issuspended from the chain, the weight of the load may be insufficientto activate the brake with the result that the load will be wound downdangerously quickly. Newer versions have been developed and these

problems have been eliminated.

The cable puller has come a long way from its humble beginnings,which consisted mainly of blunt force by the operator. But with theadvancement of technology, cable pullers are now offered in a varietyof styles and range in capabilities. Easy to use, reliable and safe,cable pulling has never been more convenient.

The cable puller is ideal in a range of industry segments, from heavy-construction all the way down the chain to DIY home projects. As

with all lifting or hoisting equipment, the cable puller is availablein a variety of sizes, and with different load capacities. Many ofthem are manufactured from heavy duty steel with an automatic ornotch-by-notch release mechanism.

Chain blocks are defined in the act as lifting machines and althoughthey are usually regarded as portable tools, price and light weight

are considered more important than durability. Consequently theyare more likely to be dropped, badly stored and generally abusedthan their permanently installed predecessors. These changes needto be reflected in the in-service inspection regime, which alignsclosely with that recommended for lever hoists, which have alwaysbeen regarded as portable tools. Modern units are fitted with safetydevices, and we are finding that more safety devices are being in-troduced as a result of safety awareness. The act is clear on whatdevices are required.



Counter balance

Side loaders

Rail or tyre type stacker & reach lift trucks

ForkliftsAll fork lift s including attachments & special equipment

FORKLIFTS

(Supported by SANS 10388)

The counter balanced forklift is probably one of the most commonlyused tools in the materials handling market. It can be found in justabout any storage facility or factory. The forklift carries its load onthe outside of its wheelbase and relies on a counterbalance weight

and the weight of the engine to stop it from tipping over its frontwheels.

Many forklift trucks are available, each one designed to suit a cer-tain application and to carry a certain load. The trucks vary from a1-tonne pallet handler to heavy-duty 40 tonne diesel trucks usedfor large sea containers.

The side loader and four-way reach trucks are forklifts that are de-signed to carry their loads parallel to their direction of travel.

They come in handy when long loads need to be transported suchas pipes, and lengths of timber.

Diesel side loaders are often used in rough terrain whereas the electricpowered models are used indoors on smooth surfaces.

Reach trucks are most commonly used for the storage and retrievalof pallets in a warehouse.

They differ from the standard counter balanced forklift in that theycontain the load within their wheelbase. This ultimately results inthem being able to operate in smaller spaces while at the same time,being able to lift to great heights.

The main advantages of reach trucks is that they are very efficientin small spaces, are commonly available and are relatively simpleto use.



FORKLIFTS

Pedestrian controlled lift trucks

Order picking lift trucks including all models

Pallet trucks

These forklifts are very common in warehouses and factories. Theyare designed to be a highly efficient method of storage as they oper-ate in fairly narrow isles. Admittedly, they are not as robust or as fastas their reach truck counterparts, but their manoeuvrability makesthem an ideal choice for many applications.

The pedestrian stacker is commonly used to handle pallets with nobottom stringer. This is because the outrigger legs would get in theway of a pallet with bottom stringers.

This truck is designed specifically for the manual handling of less-than-pallet-load quantities in racking. The order picker design hasfixed forks attached to a platform which elevates the load and theoperator to facilitate manual loading and unloading from racking.

Order pickers can operate in narrow or wide aisles. These forklifts arealso very useful in cycle counting and physical inventory.

Powered Pallet Trucks (PPTs) are sometimes referred to as a Walkie,Walkie-rider or Rider motorised truck. They are basically motorisedversions of the pallet jack. The PPT is designed for the operator towalk along with the truck as he or she moves loads. The PPT alsoincludes a platform on which the controller can stand.

PPTs are great for the frequent moving of loads over extended distanceswithin warehouses and manufacturing operations. They are fast andhighly manoeuvrable. Minimal controls result in short learning timesalthough precision tuning does take some practice.



The Importance ofRegular Inspection

Electrical hazards

Because of the inherent risks associated with cranes, regular

inspections and maintenance are imperative. Before starting

a detailed inspection of the crane, carrying out a general sur-

vey of the crane and its surroundings may well point to possi-

ble problem areas to look out for during the actual inspection.

At this time, it is advisable to ask how the crane is going to

be used, and how the crane operation will interact with other

activities on site.

This pre-inspection should be used to gathergeneral information about the crane operatorsqualifications and the cranes certifications.Gauge the competency of the operator by

observing this person in action, and question himabout the operation of the crane, the inspection andmaintenance records and ask to see the appropriate

operators manual and load charts.

Any powerlines?During the initial survey, check on crane stability,any physical obstructions to operation, and howclose the crane is to electrical power lines. Themachine should set up level and be positioned for

safe working. Are the outriggers being correctlydeployed? Inspect the relationship of the load, theangle of the boom, and its radius to the centre ofgravity of the load. The weight of the load shouldnot threaten to topple the crane.

Check on the structural integrity of the crane maincomponents. In addition, check on all wire ropes,including stationary supports.

Electrical hazardsA common and very serious safety hazard encoun-tered in crane operations is overhead power lines.The OSHA requirements limit crane operations to

a minimum clearance of 3.05 metres. If potentialloads are stored directly beneath electric powerlines, a crane should not be used to handle these.Even if the electricity to the power lines has beenswitched off, mobile cranes should not be operateduntil the following steps have been taken:

The power company or owner of the power linehas de-energized the lines.

The lines are physically grounded and appro-priately marked as being safe at the site.

Durable warning signs are installed at theoperators station and outside the crane iden-

tifying the clearance requirements between thecrane/load and electrical power lines.

A qualified representative of the power com-pany must be on site to verify that the powerlines have been de-energized and properlygrounded.

Load chartsLoad Charts are the principle set of instructionsfor safe crane operations. The crane operator musthave these in his or her possession, and show un-derstanding, of the appropriate load charts relatedto the crane in use and the loads being l ifted.

Because cranes can lift loads and move them atgreat heights, the potential for serious accidents isalways present. Accidents can be avoided by care-ful job planning. A safety plan must be developedfor the job and must be explained to all involved



Drum brakes

Operating mechanisms, sheaves

in the lift.

Before operations begin for the day,a walk-around inspection needs to beconducted to ensure that the machineis in proper working condition. Only

qualified and properly designated peopleshould operate the crane. Regular in-spections are important, as they providea means of detecting potential hazardsor conditions that could contribute to asequence of events leading to an accident.A thorough inspection programme canforecast maintenance needs or potentialequipment failures or malfunctions. Thelack of such a programme could result

in excessive downtime, increased maintenance costs,and the increased potential for accidents.

Inspection types

Frequent inspectionThe most common type of inspection is termed the fre-quent inspection. These are usually performed at thestart of each shift by the operator. This involves walkingaround the crane and looking for defects or problems.The parts of the crane that have a direct bearing on itssafe operation and whose status can change from dayto day with use must be inspected every day. Whenpossible, these components should be observed duringoperation for any defects that could affect safe opera-tion. Frequent inspections should include, but are notlimited to the following:

Check that all exposed moving parts are guarded. Apart

from the fact that exposed machinery is dangerous, aremoved guard may indicate that a mechanic is stillworking on part of the crane.

Visually inspect each crane component used in lift-ing, swinging, or lowering the load or boom for anydefects.

Inspect all wire rope (including standing ropes), sheaves,drums rigging, hardware, and attachments. Hooks withcracks, excessive throat openings of 15%, or hook twistsof 10 or more, must be removed from service.

Check that all swivels can rotate freely.

Visually inspect the boom and jib for straightness and anyevidence of physical damage, such as cracking, bending,or any other deformation of the welds. Look for corrosionunder any attachments that are connected to the chordsand lacing. Check carefully for cracking or flaking paint.This may indicate metal fatigue which often precedesa failure. On lattice booms, look for bent lacing. If it iskinked or bent, the main chord can lose substantial sup-port in that area.

When lacing is bent, the ends also tend to draw togetherwhich pulls the main chords out of shape. Thisprecaution is especially important on tubularbooms where every component must be straight

and free from any dents. Damaged membersmust be cut out and replaced with lacing to themanufacturers specifications, procedures, andapproval.

With mobile cranes, inspect the tyres for damageand proper inflation.

Inspect the cranes operating lines for either airor hydraulic fluid leaks.

Check that the fuel, lubricating oil, coolantand hydraulic oil reservoirs are filled to properlevels.

The crane must be equipped with a fully-charged

fire extinguisher. The operator must know howto use it.

Check all functional operating mechanisms suchas: sheaves, drums, brakes, locking mechanisms,hooks, the boom, jib, hook roller brackets, outrig-



Crane hook

Hoist trolley

ger components, limit switches, safety devices,hydraulic cylinders, instruments, and lights.

Check the turntable connections for weldcracks and loose or missing bolts. If bolts areloose, there is a good chance that they havebeen stretched.

When checking the outriggers be sure that nei-ther the beams nor the cylinders are distorted.Check that any welding is sound and not crackedand that both the beams and cylinders extendand retract smoothly and hold the load. Checkthe condition of the floats, and check that theyare securely attached.

Inspect and test all brakes and clutches forproper adjustment and operation.

Always inspect the boom hoist lockout andother operator aids, such as anti-two-blockdevices (ATB) and load moment indicators(LMI), for proper operationand calibration.

While the engine is run-ning, check all gauges andwarning lights for properreadings and operate allcontrols to see that they arefunctioning properly.

Check for any broken orcracked window glass that

may hamper the view ofthe operator.

Periodic inspectionsThe next more comprehensivelevel of inspection is the peri-odic inspection. Depending onthe amount of use the craneis subjected, to this can takeplace once a month or oncea year. The periodic inspec-tion procedure is intended todetermine the need for repairor replacement of components

to keep the machine operatingproperly.

Inspection records of the in-spected crane must be main-tained monthly on critical itemsin use, such as brakes, cranehooks, and ropes. These inspec-tion records should include, thedate of inspection, the signatureof the person who performedthe inspection, and the serialnumber, or other identifier.This inspection record should

be kept readily available forreview. The manufacturersmaintenance and inspectionrecords, forms/checklist, orequivalent should be used.

ScopeThe scope of the periodic inspection covers much ofthe same aspects of the frequent inspection. Withthe periodic inspection, however, the inspection is

more detailed and may include magnetic or isotopiccrack inspections.

Statutory InspectionsThese are inspections and tests prescribed by leg-islation every six months. These functions must bedone by an LME registered by the DoL who has inhis employ a ECSA registered LMI and both should

have the correct and same scope of approval andcompetence respectively.

It should be noted that crane operators cannotbe expected to be totally knowledgeable andproficient in the operation of the many diversetypes of cranes available today.



Training for SafeOperation

Safety training

There are a number of very real risks involved in operating a

crane. Whether crane operators operate mobile or stationary

cranes to lift, and place objects, potential danger is always

present. Through proper training, crane operators will be able

to operate a variety of cranes safely and efficiently. These

range from gantry cranes used to move shipping containers,

tower cranes mainly used on large building projects, overhead

cranes in factories, or even mobile or truck-mounted cranes.

Operators must judge distance and

heights accurately while manipulating a

number of complex controls

Before climbing behind the controls, theoperator needs to make sure that the craneis ready for use by checking the instrumentsand gauges.

Training essentialThe law requires all crane operators to be formallytrained. Training is carried out under the auspices ofthe Training Education Transport Authority (TETA).The training must meet education training qualityassurance (ETQA) requirements for Provisional

Accreditation, and have been recommended to theTETA Quality Assurance Standing Committee forapproval of its status.

Most of the larger organisations offer a bridgingcourse after appointment. During this course, aspirantcrane operators receive a broad knowledge of thegeneral activities in which they might be involved.This in-service training is either done by a trainingofficer, a foreman or an experienced senior opera-tor. During this initial stage, crane operators willbe under the supervision of a co-operator. Operator

training may only be given by accredited trainingproviders who are registered with the TETA and thetrainers have to be qualified facilitators or assessorsalso registered with the TETA.

Basic computer skills neededWith new technology, cranes are becoming morecomputerised. Therefore, the new generation ofoperators will need to have some basic computerskills and have the ability to read, and interact,with a computer screen,

In some cases, crane operator training can only be

performed by an organisation that has the approvalof the chief inspector. When this is the case, theoperators must pass a theory and practical testbefore they receive a valid certificate of training,which entitles them to operate the crane on theirown. They are required to be re-tested every twoyears to ensure they remain competent as craneoperators.

Not simpleAlthough the work of the crane may look simple tothe outsider, certain aspects of the work is quitecomplicated. For example, if material is hoisted tooquickly, the strain might result in a snapped cableor the sudden movement could cause the cargoto shift. As soon as the material is lifted from thefloor, the operator has to manoeuvre the crane insuch a way that the material is lowered onto aspecific position.

In addition, some cranes run on rails. Thismeans that the operator also has to regulatethe forward and backward movement of thecrane on the rails. Moving a crane while ithas a load suspended from its hook takesextra skill and good coordination.

Good hand-eye coordinationWith an overhead crane, the bridge of thecrane serves as a substitute for the boomon a tower crane. The hoisting platform andits suspended hook, as well as the cabin,can move backwards and forwards acrossthe bridge. This means that the cabin hasto be manoeuvred to a position right above

the place where the load has to be pickedup or deposited.

Where a mobile crane has to be brought toa construction site, the operator must checkthe condition of the ground before setting up



the crane. This may involve placing timber blocks orsteel plates under the outrigger pads.

Before attempting to lift a load, it is essential tocheck that the mobile crane is level on the outrig-gers. Every crane has a safe working load (SWL). Thedriver needs to be aware of what weight of materialcan be safely hoisted in each load and must checkthe cranes cabin instruments to make sure thatthe load is within safe working limits. This has totake into consideration the cranes capacity and theweather. For example, high winds can pose a dangerto a suspended load.

Working with ground crewWhile operating, the driver must observe and followthe signals given by doggers who direct the moving andpositioning of the loads. The operator has to position

the crane and its hook so that doggers can attachloads, by means of slings, shackles and chains.

At times crane operators may have less than a clearview of what is happening on the ground. In thesecircumstances, ground crew will assist with the processof loading and unloading. Often, because of noise anddistance, the worker on the ground shows the craneoperator what to do by means of hand or f lag signals,or by using a two-way radio or telephone.

A varied skill setAlthough modern cranes have comfortable cabinsensuring maximum protection, outside the lifting work

has to continue in all conditions. For this reason, itis essential to maintain the equipment by inspectingit for defects or wear. Ropes and winches must belubricated, and worn cables replaced.

Obviously, people who want to become crane operatorsshould not be afraid of heights. They may be requiredto mount a vertical ladder to reach the cabin which issituated high above the ground. Furthermore operatorsmust judge distance andheights accurately whilemanipulating a numberof complex controls. Thisrequires good hand-eye

co-ordination.

A responsible attitudetowards the work is alsoimportant. Persons whoeasily become nervousor impatient can causeconsiderable damageby snapping cables ordropping material, thusendangering the lives ofothers.

Prospective crane opera-

tors are also subject to astrict selection processprior to appointment.The minimum educa-tional requirement is a

Grade 10 Certificate. The Occupational Health andSafety Act and the Mine Health and Safety Act requirecrane operators to be at least 18 years of age and ingood physical health.



Mobile CranesAll mobile cranes and fixed adaptations of the superstructure of a mobile crane

Truck mounted cranes

Fixed or truck mounted knuckle boom cranes

MOBILECRANES


These are mobile cranes either fitted with a lattice boom or a hy-draulic telescopic boom, mounted on a conventional truck chassis.

They are used as jobbing cranes and are limited to accessing placeswhere there are good flat surfaces. They are not suited to roughterrain like construction sites.

A knuckle-boom crane or articulating crane is a hydraulically drivenarticulated arm fitted to a truck or trailer, and is used for loading/unloading the vehicle. The numerous jointed sections can be foldedinto a small space when the crane is not in use. One or more of thesections may be telescopic. Often the crane will have a degree ofautomation and be able to unload or stow itself without an operatorsinstruction.

Unlike most cranes, the operator must move around the vehicle tobe able to view his load; hence modern cranes may be fitted witha portable cabled or radio-linked control system to supplement thecrane-mounted hydraulic control levers.

Pick and carry cranes

A pick and carry crane is usually fitted onto a rubber tired vehiclewith a built in control station. Some times it is just too difficult orimpossible to reach a spot, with conventional cranes. In such cases,a pick and carry crane can just be the right solution. Other featuresthat make a pick and carry crane more powerful are its advancedhydraulic boom derricking and articulating operations of chassis. Apick and carry crane may also have a water-cooled diesel engine.The amount of weight that a pick and carry crane lifts may rangefrom 9-12 tonnes or even more, depending upon the model. Theyare sometimes called yard cranes.



MOBILECRANES

Mobile harbour cranes

Crawler lattice boom cranes

Lattice boom cranes on tyre wheeled carriers

Crawler lattice boom cranes are used for heavy lifts, mostly onsites where there are short distances between lif ts, for example, atconstruction sites. They are slow moving, but can travel with loads.They are fitted with lattice booms consisting of lacings and stringerswhich are lightweight and strong. Another feature of the crane isthat it travels on crawler tracks which makes set up quick.

Traditionally, a cargo ship docks at the container terminal and off-loadsthe containers. Once these have been removed, the ship disembarksand re-docks at another berth, where the hold hatches are openedby more conventional cranes, and then the cargo is discharged intothe hold with specialised devices. When this process is complete,the hatches are closed and the ship disembarks and re-berths at thecontainer depot. Docking fees are paid to re-load its containers.

The mobile harbour crane does all three functions in one, reducingdocking time, money and turnaround time.

Lattice boom cranes on tyre wheeled carriers are similar to crawlercranes and are used for lifts including heavy lifts. After dismantlingthese cranes, they can be moved by their carrier, which is similarto an all terrain crane on normal high sped roads. They are fittedwith lattice booms consisting of lacings and stringers which arelightweight and strong.



Rough terrain and/or centre mount cranes

Tele handlers

Carry deck cranes

MOBILECRANES

All terrain mobile cranes are used for lifting very heavy items, orfor lifting items over great heights or large reaches. These are notfor carrying, stationary operations. All terrain cranes can travel longdistances at reasonable speeds conforming to axle loading require-ments. Once on site, the crane can negotiate rough terrain similar toconstruction sites and open cast mines. They use telescopic boomconfigurations which can include lattice boom luffing fly jibs.

The job does not come to them, but they go to it.

All terrain cranes

Carry deck cranes are designed for both indoor and outdoor job-sites and feature telescoping booms and a load deck for materialshandling. Because of their low profile, they are able clear manyoverhead obstacles. Furthermore, their compact design allows for

easy manoeuvrability in tight spaces, and they are thus the per fectalternatives when other cranes cannot fit.

A telescopic handler, or tele handler, is a machine widely used in thelifting industry. It is similar in appearance and function to a forklif tbut is more a crane than forklift, with the increased versatility of asingle telescopic boom that can extend forwards and upwards fromthe vehicle.

On the end of the boom the operator can fit one of several attach-ments such as a bucket, pallet forks, muck grab, or lift table. Insome cases, it can even be converted into a crane.

Rough terrain and/or centre mount cranes are cranes that have to bemoved on low beds from site to site because they do not conform toroad ordinance requirements. These cranes can work on rough sitesin mud, snow and adverse conditions. They are highly manoeuvrableon site and are available up to 100 tonne capacities.



MOBILECRANES

Truck mounted side loading container carriers

The lifting evolution

Excavators & loaders used as mobile cranes

A truck mounted side loading crane is used for the loading, unloadingand transport of ISO standard containers. The truck is usually fittedwith balancing arms to prevent it from rocking over in the processof loading or unloading the container.

Even though an excavator is designed for the clearing of debris ata building site, with the correct attachments, it can be transformedinto a make-shift crane. Simply attaching a rope and hook to theend of the boom is not recommended though.

One of the things we need to do as humans is lif t things. For cavemen, lifting the odd rock to dispatch a rabbit was nota problem, however, since the time of the Greeks, people wanted to lift objects weighing tonnes. And although Archi-medes is sometimes credited with the invention of the lever, people had been using the humble lever for aeons beforethe Greek philosopher laid down the principles.

However, the first evidence of early cranes comes from the ancient Greeks, who used devices called lifting tongs andlewis irons. About this time, the winch and the pulley were invented to ease the business of l ifting things vertically.

The Romans developed heavy lifting even further, and are credited with the first geared, powered crane. The power wasprovided by men working a tread wheel. Although still primitive, the Romans lifted some seriously heavy things. It isrecorded the that the capital block of Trajans column weighs 53.3 tonnes. This piece of rock had to be lifted about 34metres in the air, before being positioned.



Overhead & GantryCranes

Overhead crane

Gantry cranes

OVERHEAD&GANTRYCRANES


An overhead crane, also known as a bridge crane, is a type of cranewhere the hook-and-line mechanism runs along a horizontal beamthat itself runs along two widely separated rails.

Often it is in a long factory building and runs along rails along thebuildings two long walls. It is similar to a gantry crane. Overheadcranes typically consist of a hoist to lif t the items, the bridge, whichspans the area covered by the crane, and a trolley to move alongthe bridge.

A gantry crane is a type of crane which lifts objects by a hoist thatis fitted in a trolley and can move horizontally on a rail or pair ofrails fitted under a beam.

Workstation gantry cranes are designed to lift smaller items arounda working area in a warehouse or workshop, whereas rail-mountedgantry cranes are commonly found in steel factory applications such assteel yards, paper mills or locomotive repair shops. The rail-mountedgantry crane functions similarly to an overhead bridge crane, buthas rails installed on the ground and gantry-style legs to support the

crane. The picture shows a half gantry, half overhead crane.

Did you know?

Lifting machines cover everything defined in DMR, not only forklifts.



Free standing and/or permanently attached jib cranes

OVERHEAD&GANTRYCRANES

Goliath cranes

Free standing jib cranes are engineered to stand by themselves on a

concrete foundation without building support. They allow for 360rotation and can be base plate mounted, foundation mounted, or sleeveinsert mounted. Standard capacities are from 1/2 to 5 tonnes.

Other types of jib cranes include a mast type and wall mountedjib crane. Mast type is where the mast is supported at the top andbottom by the overhead building steel and floor. Wall mounted jibcranes only offer 200 of rotation and their design can be eithercantilever or tie rod supported.

Goliath cranes are adapted to applications where overhead runwayswould be very long, costly to erect, and difficult to maintain in align-ment. Where the installation is only temporary, a Goliath crane canbe moved to a new location with less trouble or expenses than anoverhead crane and its runway. Also, it is comparatively easy andinexpensive to extend the length of the runway and thus, increasesthe working area of the crane. Most gantry crane installations areoutdoors. The initial cost of a Goliath crane, which may be doublethat of an overhead crane, must be equated against the additionalcost of an overhead runway. The picture shows a cantilever over-hang crane.



TOWERCRANES

Tower CranesAll top or bot tom swivelling tower cranes


Tower cranes are a modern form of balance crane that consist ofthe same basic parts. Fixed to the ground on a concrete slab (andsometimes attached to the sides of structures as well), tower cranesoften give the best combination of height and lifting capacity andare used in the construction of tall buildings.

The base is attached to the mast which gives the crane its height.Furthermore, the mast is attached to the slewing unit (gear andmotor) that allows the crane to rotate. On top of the slewing unit

there are three main parts, namely the long horizontal jib (workingarm), shorter counter-jib, and the operators cab.

The long horizontal jib is the part of the crane that carries the load.The counter-jib carries a counterweight, usually of concrete blocks,while the jib suspends the load to and from the centre of the crane.The crane operator either sits in a cab at the top of the tower orcontrols the crane by radio remote control from the ground.

TOWER CRANE

SERVICES



REACHSTACKERS&STRADDLECARRIERS

Reach StackersMobile machines specially designed to move and stack containers, including the forklift counter balance types

where a RCI must be fitted, whether the spreader is manual or automatic

Straddle CarrierAll mobile self propelled tyre type machines similar to gantry cranes

(no SANS std. yet)

(no SANS std. yet)

A Reach Stacker is one of the most flexible handling solutionsdesigned to operate in small or medium sized ports.

Reach stackers are able to transport a container in short

distances very quickly and pile them in various rows.Reach stackers have gained ground in container handling inmost markets because of their flexibility and higher stackingand storage capacity when compared to lift trucks.

A Straddle Carrier is a non road-going vehicle for use in portterminals and intermodal yards used for stacking and movingcontainers. Straddles pick and carry containers while strad-dling their load and connecting to the top lif ting points via acontainer spreader.

These machines have the ability to stack containers up tofour high and are capable of speeds up to 30 km/h with aladen container.



CONTAINERCRANE

Container CraneCantilever or fixed or on rail/s crane either inland or at a harbour

(no SANS std. yet)

A container crane is a large dockside gantry crane found atcontainer terminals for loading and unloading of containersfrom container ships.

Container cranes consist of a supporting framework that

can traverse the length of a quay or yard, and a movingplatform called a spreader. The spreader can be lowereddown on top of a container and locks onto the containersfour locking points using a twistlock mechanism.



SHIPS&WHARFSIDECRANES

Ships CranesAll ship cranes including Scotch Derrick cranes

Wharfside Cranes

(no SANS std. yet)

(no SANS std. yet)

In medieval Europe, crane vessels which could be flexiblydeployed in the whole port basin were introduced as earlyas the 14th century. In 1920, the 1898 built battleshipUSS Kearsarge (BB-5) was converted to a crane ship whena crane with a capacity of 250 tonnes was installed. Laterit was renamed Crane Ship No.1. It was used, among otherthings, to place guns and other heavy items on battle shipsunder construction.

Since then, ships cranes have come quite a way. Their ap-plications are no longer limited to just placing weapons onbattle ships, but are now also used in many major construc-tion jobs around the world.

As a definition, a crane vessel, crane ship or floating craneis a ship with a crane specialised in lif ting heavy loads. Thelargest crane vessels are used for offshore construction. Con-ventional monohulls are used, but the largest crane vesselsare often catamaran or semi-submersible types as they haveincreased stability. On a sheerleg crane, the crane is fixedand cannot rotate, and the vessel therefore is manoeuvredto place loads.

Wharf cranes were the backbone of the materials handlinglifting industry in years gone by. It is difficult to formulatean exact definition for these cranes because they haveevolved into modern state-of-the-art cranes. An exampleof this crane can be seen in the adjacent picture. Theyare used to travel on rails and load railway trucks whichtravel on rails underneath the cranes. Their lifting capacityhas been increasing, but when they were in abundance,they generally picked up relatively small loads comparedto todays standards.



Had you been wearing a decent safetyharness fitted with an energy absorbinglanyard and, most importantly, it had ac-tually been attached to a reliable anchor

point to arrest your fall, then youd have a goodchance of coming out unscathed. Otherwise you

just dont stand a chance against at least breakingseveral bones in your body if it happens to be yourlucky day, or you pay with your life.

The actIn spite of thelaws in SouthAfrica, in theform of theOHS (occupa-

tional healthand safety)act as well asthe construc-tion regula-tions, clearlys t ipu la t ingthat peopleworking atheight shouldbe protected,you still regu-larly see work-

ers high up on a tower, a billboard or a bridge withouta safety harness. In too many instances the workeris wearing a harnesses, but is not attached to thestructure. Ironically, while workers are donning ahard hat and even safety goggles, ninety percentof the time the lanyard of the safety harness isdangling in the wind.

ConstructionArni Sommer talks about the safety harnesses theynow produce locally. When it comes to the safetyregulations there is a general misunderstandingaround the term construction, he says. Mostassume that construction is purely when youre

putting up a building, but it actually extends waybeyond that. If companies are not involved in lay-ing bricks they think the construction regulationsdont apply to them.

In fact, the regulations define construction work

Falling from HeightWhether youre on a ladder at home, on scaffolding at a building site or window cleaning ten storeys up, if

you slip, it takes three quarters of a second for the average human to react and by then its usually too late to

grab onto something. According to the splat calculator we found on the internet, by then you will have al-

ready fallen three metres. Four seconds later you would have fallen 78 metres, at 211kph.

as that undertaken in connection with the erec-tion, maintenance, alteration, renovation, repair,demolition of or addition to a building or similarstructure, explains Arni. The regs also include theinstallation, erection, dismantling or maintenanceof a fixed plant where such work includes the riskof a person falling from height.

Risk assessments must be in place and a fall pro-tection plan must be documented and enforced byanyone involved with work carried out in an elevatedposition. It is clear that anyone working at heightmust be protected from the potentially disastrousconsequences of such work, Arni adds.

AttachedAlthough it is the employers responsibility toensure that workers have the right PPE (personalprotection equipment) and are trained to use theequipment, the employee also has a responsibilityto take reasonable care of the health and safetyof himself and others who may be affected by hisactions or omissions. Most of the time we find thatstaff are only wearing the safety harness becausethe boss said so, Arni says.

They tend not to attach the safety harness eitherbecause it slows them down, or they just ignoresafety protocol and fail to re-attach their lanyardto a reliable anchor point and tie-off as they movearound the structure.

Working at height has the biggest number of fatali-ties while the lifting industry comes a close second,says Arni. When you consider that a fall from a

height greater than 22 metres is considered fataland the fact that people who fall from lower heightsstill die, it is definitely reasonable to protect workersfrom the consequences of working at height.

BudgetingOne of the biggest problems with safety equipmentis that contractors dont budget for safety harnessesas such. They budget for other PPE such as hardhats, shoes and goggles, only to discover later thattheyve forgotten about the harnesses, lanyards andfall arrest systems, never mind the necessary rescueequipment needed when someone has fallen, says

Arni. Then they go and buy the cheapest harnessesand inadequate fall arrest equipment.

South Africa has adopted the European normsand therefore a general guide is to look for equip-ment manufactured to either the EAN, CE or the

Arni Sommer

Ninety percent of the time the lanyard of the safety har-

ness is dangling in the wind



A typical safety harness

(SABS) SANS EN standards, explains Arni. Theact doesnt specify one specific standard. It justsays that a harness or sling must be manufacturedto a recognised technical standard and as far as isreasonably practicable, that the article is safe andwithout risk to health and safety when used.

TrainingTogether with selecting the correct equipment, fromthe bare basics of how to use the equipment, toadvanced maintenance on the equipment and howto plan and handle a rescue operation is vital. Theadvanced course also deals with the legislationaspects around working at height as well as riskassessment of operations. An important aspect,that of suspension trauma, should also be covered,Arni explains.

Fall arrest

One of the most important components of a safetyharness is the fall arrest system which has to includea proper energy absorbing element, otherwise theshock of the fall arrest can be damaging to thebody and even fatal if not handled correctly. Thats

Staff are only wearing the safety harness because the

boss said so

why the correct rescue procedures using dedicatedrescue solutions is taught, says Arni.

It is not the fall that kills, but rather the suddenstop, especially when using a static line or lanyardto arrest a fall of more than 3 metres. The dynamicenergy absorber is a tear-webbing system that reducesthe force of the fall to under 6 kNs before stoppingthe fall. This reduces the chances of causing dam-age to internal organs and internal hemorrhaging,as is the case in a static fall arrest!

Arni Sommer, Cel: 071-125-6177

Safety harnesses must be manufactured according to a

recognised standard



AERIALPLATFORMS

Aerial Platforms

Boom type (cherry pickers)

Specially insulated aerial platforms

Scissor lifts (mobile or fixed)

(Supported by SANS 50280, 16368 & 18893. Also BS EN 61057 & Ansi A92.2)

A cherry picker (also known as a boom lift, man lift, basket craneor hydraladder), is a type of aerial work platform that consists of aplatform or bucket at the end of a hydraulic lif ting system.

It is often mounted on the back of a large vehicle such as a truck(in which case it may also be called a bucket truck). It can alsobe mounted on a flat-back pick-up van known as a Self Drive, orsometimes on a stand-alone trailer or self-moving platform.

Cherry pickers were originally designed for use in orchards wherethey are still heavily used. It lets the picker pick fruit high in a treewith relative ease. Similar devices, also known as cherry pickers,are used to service telephone, cable television and electrical equip-ment on utility poles.

An electrically-insulated aerial platform assembly is for use by alineman on or around utility poles.

The assembly usually consists of a work platform presenting anelongated, substantially flat upper work surface where a lineman maystand, sit or kneel, together with means for temporarily attachingthe platform to the utility pole with the platform being electricallyinsulated from the pole during normal working conditions.

A scissor lift is a type of platform which can usually only move ver-tically. The mechanism to achieve this is the use of linked, foldingsupports in a criss-cross X pattern. The upward motion is achievedby the application of pressure to the outside of the lowest set ofsupports, elongating the crossing pattern, and propelling the workplatform vertically. The platform may also have an extending bridgeto allow closer access to the work area (because of the inherent

limits of vertical only movement).

The contraction of the scissor action can be hydraulic, pneumaticor mechanical (via a leadscrew or rack and pinion system).

Working at height has the biggest number of fatalities while the lif ting industry comes a close second. It is not the fall thatkills, but rather the sudden stop, especially when using a static line or lanyard to arrest a fall of more than 3 metres.



Suspended AccessPlatforms (SAE)

SUSPENDEDACCESSPLATFORMS

Temporary Suspended Platforms

Building Maintenance Unit (Permanently Suspended Platforms)

(MEWP) Mobile Elevating Work Platform

Units that are hang from suspension anchors/points

(SANS 51808 & 10295 part 1 & 2)

A temporary suspended platform is much the same as a buildingmaintenance unit except for the fact that it is easily attached ordetached to or from the building.

They usually consist of aluminium cradles, of various sizes fromwhich the workers can lower themselves down the buildings side.This cradle is attached to the building via ropes.

Building Maintenance Units or BMUs are permanently installed unitsfor maintenance workers to safely access all areas of a buildingsfaade for window cleaning, regular maintenance and minor repairwork.

BMUs can be manual, semi- powered or fully powered and are gen-erally installed onto a tracked runway system that is in turn fixedback to the roof structure. Depending on the design of the BMU,either a dedicated cradle or a separate cradle set can be suspended

from the jib.

A mobile elevating work platform is a mechanical device used toprovide temporary access for people or equipment to inaccessibleareas, usually at height. MEWPs are designed to lift limited weights(usually less than a tonne), distinguishing them from most types ofcranes. They are usually capable of being fully operated (includingsetup) by a single person. MEWPS may provide additional features

beyond transport and access, including being equipped with electricaloutlets or compressed air connectors for power tools.

There are distinct types of MEWPs, the key difference is in the drivemechanism which propels the working platform to the desired location.Most are powered by either hydraulics or possibly pneumatics.



HYDRAULICINDUSTRIALLIFTINGDEVICES

All special industrial applications. (usually heavy lifting devices)

Hydraulic IndustrialLifting Devices(SANS TBA)

Hydraulic lifting machines havebeen in use for many years.

Originally driven by water, hy-draulic equipment has foundendless uses in industry today.Because of the nature, versatilityand compact nature of hydrau-lic equipment, more and moredemand for special applicationshave arisen. To make things workmore efficiently in small placesand to develop the same or moreforce, hydraulic pressures haveincreased to normal workingpressures of 700 bar.



VEHICLEHOISTS

Vehicle HoistsAll hoists designed to lift vehicles of any capacity or design

4 posters

2 posters

Scissor lift type (excluding dock levellers)

(SANS 71)

A 4 poster car lift is essentially very similar to a 2 poster car exceptfor the one fundamental difference being that the 4 poster lift hasfour legs with which to lif t a car or truck.

It is for this reason that 4 poster lifts are generally used when it comesto lifting heavier vehicles such as trucks. They are also used whenthe truck or car needs to be lif ted for extended periods of time.

A drawback of the 4 poster lift is that it needs far mare space thanthe scissor or 2 poster lift. The ground underneath the lif t also needsto remain clear at all times.

2 poster lifts have advantages as well as a few drawbacks. They aremuch cheaper than their 4 poster big brothers. 2 poster lifts requirea lot less room than the 4 poster and scissor lift designs, and lastlythey are much more functional than the other makes as there is noplatform to contend with when working on the vehicle.

2 poster lifts do however have one drawback and that is that theyneed to be permanently mounted to the garage or workshop floor.

Scissor lifts are a common piece of equipment in many garagesand workshops where space is at a premium. Car scissor lifts aremuch the same as a pair of scissors, hence the term.

Usually a car is driven on to the lif t which is then raised up, allowingease of access to the underside of the vehicle. The actual lifting andlowering is controlled by hydraulic power in most cases, althoughelectric lifts are also an option. Scissor lifts are beneficial in that

you dont need to mount them to your floor. They are completelymobile and can be taken out when needed or stowed away whennot in use.



Hydraulic type

VEHICLEHOISTS

At some point, all of us have seen a hydraulic lift in action. The mostcommon place would be when you take your car to get its exhaust

fixed or replaced.

The basic idea behind any hydraulic system is very simple. The forcethat is applied at one point is transmitted to another point using anincompressible fluid. The fluid is almost always an oil of some sortand the force is almost always multiplied in the process.

The end result is that very little force has to be applied in order tolift a heavy object such as a car or truck.

A hydraulic system does however have to be continually maintained.Dirt and air-bubbles that end up in the hydraulic pipes or cylinderscould wreck absolute havoc.

Tail LiftersAll tail lifts fitted to a mobile vehicle

(SANS 1055)

A tail lift is a mechanical device fitted to the back of a van or lorry,which is designed to facilitate the materials handling of goods fromground level or a loading dock to the level of the load bed of the

vehicle, or vice versa.

The majority of tail lifts are hydraulic or pneumatic in operation,although they can be mechanical, and are controlled by an operatorusing an electric relay switch.

The use of a tail lift can obviate the need to use machinery such asa forklift truck in order to load heavy items onto a vehicle, or can beused to bridge the difference in height between a loading dock andthe vehicle load bed.

There are two main types of tail lifts available, namely column liftsand cantilever lifts.



OTHERSPECIALISEDCATEGORIES

Other SpecialisedCategories

Side cranes

As the lifting industry grows, more and more specialised machines are being added to the li fting machine list.

Most side cranes are lifting machines that are specially adapted bulldozers for pipe laying and similar operations. They have become verypopular over the years because they can work in adverse conditions.Some models can lift in excessive of 70tonnes which is achievedby adjustable counter weights.



Maybe you need a crane urgently. Or youare planning to start in professionalcargo handling using a mobile crane.Possibly, you are looking for an eco-

nomical way to buy your first crane. Maybe due touncertain economic conditions, you would like tokeep the investment costs as low as possible.

Before you leapBefore rushing off to your new crane dealer, con-

sider that used cranes have the following mainadvantages over new cranes:

immediate availability

shorter delivery lead times

lower purchase costs

Most cranes, because of the nature of their duties,have great durability, dependability, economy andflexibility. However, to get the quality and service

Secondhand/HiringWhen projects end, crane owners might need to sell of f equipment that is surplus to their requirements. These

can be really good buys. However, keep your eyes open for the tarted-up piece of junk, being passed off as a

good deal.

you expect, conduct a couple of simple checks.Start it up. Does the engine sound smooth anddoes it run without smoking? Do all the gaugesand dials work? Check on the level of the engineoil and its condition. You can tell much from thegeneral condition of a crane. If the wiring is notneat and the hydraulics show signs of leaking after

a couple of minutes of operation, the crane maywell have many more hours on it than the salesmanis letting on. Dents and scrapes tell of neglect andcareless operation.

Smiles not milesIf it is a truck-mounted crane, the condition ofthe tyres will speak volumes about the age of themobile crane, and the type of use it has been putthrough. Look at the controls the levers and thefoot pedals. If these are worn smooth, you mightthink twice about purchasing this crane.

The crane should have all its maintenance records

as well as paperwork such as load charts. If thecrane is a legitimate sale, then the salesman willnot mind if you give the former owner a ring. Whydid the former owner sell it?

Guarantees?If you are buying an expensive capital item suchas a crane, then there should be discussion aboutguarantees and over what period such guaranteesshould be in force. If you are not an expert in the

field of cranes, then whatever you do,take a crane expert with you. He or shewill at least be able to advise you whetheryou are buying the right machine for your

requirements.

Hiring the answer?Unlike 30 years ago, hiring companies are in a very competitivemarket. So the equipment they hire out is mostly quite new andshould offer good reliable service with no downtime.

The big advantage of hiring is that instead of spending your capitalall in one go, you can keep it in the bank, to be deployed more

advantageously at some more opportune time.

Used crane

No maintenance worriesFor someone needing a crane for aspecific project, hiring means nothaving to worry about maintenance,or finding the right technical skills. Italso means not having to layout largesums on spares.

If your lifting needs should change, bynot being tied by ownerhsip, the optionto hire exactly the right lifting solutionis almost immediately available.

All of this allows the person who needsto use a crane to concentrate on theircore business, rather than trying to bea crane operating company.



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