Mobile cranes are fantastic pieces of machinery that allow you to get a crane wherever you need one. However, you need to take special safety precautions in order to make sure that everyone on the work site, from those riding in the cab to those working near the crane, are safe. Here are some tips.

1. Enforce a No Cellphones Rule While Operating the Crane

Make a rule that states that when an operator is operating his or her crane that his or her cell phone is turned off, not just turned on silent, and stowed away in a place where the phone cannot be seen. This will allow your operator to maintain his or her full attention on the crane, reducing the chances that he or she will lose control and become distracted. Put up posters in the area where the crane is being operated and encourage all of the crane operators to provide encouragement to each other to maintain this safety practice. 

In order to ensure that no one gets too antsy about his or her phone, make sure that you schedule regular breaks for all of the crane operators. This will also help ensure compliance because it will allow the operators to specify certain times for family members to call, instead of sneaking in calls to their spouse or their children whenever they can.  

2. Have Someone Looking For Overhead Hazards

While you are driving the crane, you might not be able to see out the top of the cab of the crane, since most crane cabs do not have skylights. Instead, have a fellow crane operator walk alongside the crane whenever you are moving the crane to another site. This will allow you to have someone to shout to you if you are about to hit something that is too low to accommodate the height of the crane. If you don't wish to do this, establish crane paths through the construction site that are guaranteed to be free of overhead hazards. As long as the crane operator drives the crane on these paths, he or she can drive confidently.

3. Check Ground Conditions

Finally, before you stop the crane permanently for the day, make sure that the ground conditions are strong enough to hold the crane without shifting. You can do this by putting the crane on the ground, getting out of the cab, and watching to see if the crane sinks in at all.

For more information, talk to a company that specializes in crane rentals.