Top Reasons for Crane Hire

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Top Reasons for Crane Hire

Crane hire is used for various different reasons; some are more common than others. Different types of cranes can also be hired for different types of jobs. In particular, the most common cranes’ people hire are mobile cranes and tower cranes. Mobile cranes are fantastic for various different tasks and jobs due to their versatility. Below, we’ve shared a few of the top reasons people need crane hire.

Construction

When you go to a construction site, what’s the first thing you’ll usually see? Cranes! Construction work is one of the most common reasons people use crane hire. Construction can involve a lot of working at height and lifting heavy objects, which is where crane hire comes in very handy. Heavy haulage cranes are particularly popular with construction projects. Mobile cranes are great for when the site is slightly smaller as they have excellent mobility and versatility.

Film & TV

Film and TV is another popular reason to use crane hire. Everyone loves a stunt scene in a film, but not many tend to think about what’s gone on behind the scenes when shooting it. More often than not, a crane has been used to help with the shooting. For example, do you remember the helicopter roof scene in World War Z? A crane was used to help with the filming of the helicopter.

Crane Hire Saves Money

Above, we’ve shared some of the projects crane hires is used for, but why do people opt for hiring over buying a crane? One of the main reasons is that it saves money. Not only is it already cheaper to hire than buy but you won’t have to worry about maintenance or storage costs which will, therefore, save you money in the long run! In addition to this, if you only need it for one project, there’s no point in buying one just for that.

Contact

To find out more about crane hire, get in touch with the team at NMT Crane Hire Ltd. Give us a call on 0800 026 6985 or fill out our online contact form and a member of the team will contact you as soon as possible.

Three Important Points For Crane Safety

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Working with cranes requires specific training and expertise in order to utilise these in a safe and risk-free manner. There are legal requirements that need to be upheld to ensure you are safety compliant. NMT Crane Hire have outlined three important points to follow when it comes to crane safety.

1. Risk assessment

A risk assessment should be carried out before any work commences to ensure there are no foreseeable hazards. The assessment should be carried out by a person who is qualified to do so and can verify that all work will be carried out safely. The legal responsibility for the safe operation of cranes is shared between the crane hirer, who ensures the crane is safe to use when delivered, and the crane user, who makes sure the crane is used safely once it’s on their premises. If there isn’t a qualified person to carry out a risk assessment, you must ask the crane hire company for a ‘Contract Lift’, which means they will carry out the appropriate safety measures and supervise the work. 

2. Planning

Not only is it safer to plan work in advance, but it also makes financial sense as you will be able to book equipment in advance and avoid paying a premium for late bookings. The exact process of how each piece of equipment is going to be used should be outlined for all workers to see and understand to further lessen the possibility of risks. It should also be taken into consideration which employees are trained to work with which equipment, or if any training courses need to be scheduled. 

3. Staying safe at height

Legally, all workers must be trained on how to safely work at height if they need to, especially if also dealing with a crane. The most common injuries are falls from individuals who are either distracted or fall victim to unsafe railings or flooring. Therefore, regular training is imperative so that all employees are aware of potential hazards and are able to follow safety regulations effectively. The government have put together some guidelines to help you stay safe whilst working at height. 

Crane safety with NMT Crane Hire

Here at NMT Crane Hire, we pride ourselves on building customer relationships and providing an excellent service. We have over 40 years of experience within this industry so we are able to provide knowledgeable advice on equipment and crane safety. If you would like to discuss hiring from us, please get in touch by calling 0800 026 6985 or you can fill in our contact form and we’ll get back to you shortly. 

Top 10 Construction Crane Facts

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NMT Crane Hire prides itself on offering quality crane hire throughout the UK. Cranes are integral pieces of machinery in construction, helping transform urban areas with building offices, bridges, skyscrapers and more. Every modern skyline in a bustling city was built with the help of a crane. Here are some facts about construction cranes.

10 Facts About Construction Cranes:

1. Cranes were built by the Ancient Greeks

The first human-made crane was built by the Ancient Greeks around 500BC. It looked very different to the modern cranes we have today, instead of steel or metal they were made out of wood. Human or animal power was used to pull heavy objects up – but these early crane designs helped build some of the most recognisable and beautiful structures of the ancient world.

2. The crane arm (“jib”) was added in the Middle Ages

During the Middle Ages, the “jib”, or crane arm, was able to move both horizontally and vertically – mainly because it was used to unload cargo ships in a harbour.

3. Steam engine technology was added to cranes in the 19th Century

With the invention of the steam engine in the 19th Century, the new technology was also applied to provide cranes with power, which eliminated the need for humans and animals used as a source of power.

4. The first mobile crane was manufactured in the 1950s

In the course of the 1950s, there was a significant change in the material used to manufacture cranes. Strong steel was used and also placed on the back of trucks, which saw the introduction of ‘mobile cranes’.

5. 200,000 cranes are estimated to be in use around the world

Around the world, there are over 200,000 cranes in use, of which 125,000 cranes are used in the construction industry and between 80,000 – 100,000 cranes are used in general and maritime industries.

6. Tallest crane in the world is a Liebherr type 357 HC-L

The tallest crane in the world is the Liebherr type 357 HC-L and it can lift up to 18 tons at 44 metres a minute. This crane was used in the construction of the world’s tallest building: Kingdom Tower in Saudi Arabia.

7. Cranes are dangerous, leading to 42 deaths each year in the UK

There are around 42 crane-related deaths each year.

8. Only 11% of crane accidents are caused by mechanical failure

Out of all the crane-related accidents that occur on a construction site, only 11% are due to mechanical failure. If these failures are spotted early, then further damage can be prevented, which is why cranes are inspected daily and yearly.

9. There are over 20+ types of crane types

Like many other products and machinery, there is a wide variety of different types for an array of purposes or to be used for specific projects. Some of the main crane types include tower cranes, mobile cranes, truck-mounted cranes, and rough terrain cranes.

10. Cranes share their name with a bird

We previously discussed our 5 most interesting facts about cranes, but construction cranes share their name with the tallest flying bird in the world.

Contact

We hope you have enjoyed our list of 10 most construction crane facts. To find out more about our crane hire services here at NMT Crane Hire, please contact our team by calling us on 0800 026 6985, or filling out our online enquiry form.

What Are the Most Common Crane Hazards?

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Working at height is dangerous, and when you add machinery and large construction cranes into the mix it becomes hazardous if the correct safety measures and precautions are not followed properly. If things go wrong, it can lead to injuries, fatalities and damage cost to buildings and materials. But, what are the most common crane hazards and how can you take measures to prevent them? 

In our latest blog, we outline the three most hazards. It is important to be aware of crane hazards and the ways in which you can avoid them.

3 Most Common Crane Hazards

Falling loads

This is one of the most common hazards when working with cranes. A falling load can result in serious injury, fatality or structural damage to a building or property, leading to significant time and money costs. There are a number of reasons why a load can fall from an overhead crane – operator incompetency, slipping, mechanical failure, and two blocking.

Electrical hazards

A large number of crane-related accidents involve the metal part of the overhead crane coming into contact with a power source (such as a high-voltage power line). This means an increased risk of the crane’s hoist line and boom touch in energised power lines – anyone who is directly touching them is most likely to be electrocuted. This can result in multiple deaths and injuries. It is crucial that a risk assessment is carried out before starting work.

Crane overload 

A large majority of crane failures also occur as a result of somebody overloading the crane. If you exceed a crane’s operational capacity, then you will likely subject it to structural stresses that cause irreversible damage. Ways in which you can overload a crane include: swinging or suddenly dropping loads; hoist loads beyond the cranes capacity; using defective components; dragging loads; side-loading a boom.

Contact

If you’re interested in hiring cranes or lifting equipment, we pride ourselves on building customer relationships and providing an excellent service. With over 40 years of experience within this industry so we are able to provide knowledgeable advice on equipment and crane safety. Get in touch by calling 0800 026 6985 or you can fill in our contact form and we’ll get back to you shortly.

What’s the Difference Between Crane Hire & Contract Lift Hire?

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In this blog, we discuss the difference between crane hire and contract crane hire and the advantages. When you’re planning a lift, it is very commonplace to hire a crane and an operator to work on your instructions on the site.

The difference between crane hire and contract lift hire

Standard crane hire is simple; if you don’t require the services of a crane operator or appointed person then you can just hire the crane. However, this means that the crane will be your responsibility whilst on your site.

Whereas contract lift hire is when you hire a crane with the assistance of a crane operator and fully-qualified appointed person. This means that all aspects of the lift are the responsibility of the crane hire company rather than the customer. The appointed person uses their expertise to draw comprehensive lift plans and guides you through where to rig the pedestrian crane or mobile crane. The crane operator ensures that it is safe to carry out the lift.

What does an appointed person/ crane operator do?

Typically with contract lift hire, an appointed person will take care of a number of different things. Firstly, they will ensure that the mobile or tower crane has been maintained, services, tested and certified. They will also look after any additional lifting equipment and carry out a thorough site survey. 

A crane operator can offer expert advice and recommendations both before and during the lift, as well as drawing up a detailed plan of action. Alongside this, they will conduct a full site ground assessment to enable the crane is rigged safely.

Furthermore, if the lift requires road closures they will be the ones in communication with the police, as well as taking care of risk assessments.

What are the advantages of contract lift hire?

The crane hire company will take on these responsibilities:

• Plans the lift with a suitable crane and designated an appointed person to supervise the lift
• They take on the majority of risks and responsibility, including legal liability in the event of an injury to the driver or property damage that could occur front the lifting operation 

What are the advantages of crane hire?

You are responsible for how you handle the lift, selecting the most appropriate model of crane for the lift as well as responsible for arranging any signalling. Alongside this, you are also responsible for supervising the lift while it’s in operation. It is important to provide an experienced and trained Appointed Person during the process.

Contact

If you’re interested in crane hire services we have a wide range here at NMT Crane Hire, please contact our team by calling us on 0800 026 6985, or filling out our online enquiry form.