Macsalvors Hydraulics Services
- Nov 23, 2022
- 5 min read

What To Consider When Hiring A Crane

Crane hire is essential in construction, demolition, land clearance, and any project that requires the lifting of large and heavy objects, making the process easier and more efficient. But there are still many important factors to consider when hiring a crane, such as how the crane will be used, what crane to choose, safety considerations, and the environment of the site it’ll be working on, amongst others. Read on to find out more about the factors to assess when hiring a crane and how Macsalvors Crane Hire can help.

Choosing A Crane

Picking a crane to use for a construction project might appear to be a simple matter, but there is a vast range of cranes available that differ in suitability for certain building operations. Acquiring an unsuitable crane can cause additional costs and even put site workers in danger. At a good crane hire company, such as Macsalvors Crane Hire, fleets of all-terrain cranes, spider/compact cranes, and lorry loaders are all available.

All Terrain Cranes

An all-terrain crane is perfect for a variety of terrains and weather conditions, adaptable to off-road environments as well as public roads. Macsalvors all-terrain cranes range from 7.5 and 220 tonnes, depending on the weight of what objects need lifting, and boast excellent mobility through an all-wheel drive steering system. They are manoeuvrable and their suitability to every surface makes it possible for the crane to travel from site to site, with many all-terrain cranes having the ability to reach speeds near the 50mph mark.

Often powered by one or two engines, the all-terrain crane uses a hydraulically powered telescopic boom as the main lifting mechanism, the steel arm of the crane that holds the load. It is this hydraulic powering that gives the crane a strong lifting capacity with a compact and agile design, and in bringing together the mobility of mounted cranes with the robustness of rough-terrain cranes, they can complete numerous versatile lifting tasks with relative ease. It is this flexibility that makes it ideal for multi-use job sites.

Whatsmore, they are durable, comfortable in the cabin, and have excellent visibility from the cab that enables the crane operator to clearly see the site. All-terrain cranes are especially useful for construction sites that lack clear road access, often being used for oil and gas pipelines, lifting concrete building segments, and other heavy haulage applications.

Spider and Compact Cranes

Spider and compact cranes are very useful for a variety of construction projects, as they have the capability to be operated in remarkably confined spaces. Compact cranes can be used with a chain hoist, a jib, or wire ropes, giving them a lot of versatility for a wide range of uses, whilst also boasting multiple power options. Strong and manoeuvrable, these are perfect for small, awkward working areas where larger cranes cannot be used.

They can be used by most industries as well as small, medium or large businesses. These include construction, docks, warehouses, railway depots, facilities management, and foundries. Compact cranes are powerful mechanical machines that are clearly capable of transporting objects of all shapes and sizes. They can be moved around with a truck from one location to another, with the ability to be installed and dismantled with ease.

Lorry Loaders and Transport Cranes

A lorry loader uses hydraulic attachments to pick up and deposit material onto a bed fitted to the rear of the vehicle. It makes the loading and unloading of materials a quicker and easier process that prevents delays on a construction site. A lorry loader can also move materials around the construction site, saving multiple trips and further streamlining the site’s efficiency.

Light capacity loaders can lift up to 12 tonnes of material, with medium capacity loaders able to hold 12-30 tonnes. Large-capacity loaders can hold more than 30 tonnes, making them a very popular choice for things like salvage and rescue operations. Materials such as dirt, snow, gravel, logs, and raw minerals are often transported by a lorry loader, and they can even be used for salvage operations that need to pick up otherwise immovable huge objects.

This power derives from the lorry loader’s size as a vehicle, with the entire truck weighing around 18 tonnes when unloaded and the bed itself reaching six metres in length. Because of this size, lorry loaders aren’t as adaptable as compact or all-terrain cranes, and great care has to be taken when using them for a project. For example, access routes to the site must be incredibly wide and without obstructions. This means that the lorry loader is most suitable for projects in open spaces, but might struggle to get to remote sites that lack clear access.

Safety Measures

As one would expect, safety when using cranes is of utmost importance for the safety of the site workers and the surrounding environment. UK law states that lifting operations must be planned properly and with appropriate supervision, whilst being carried out in a safe and controlled manner.

The main risks of crane operation include the collapse of the crane and the falling of the load, two circumstances that can potentially cause major injury and fatalities. Other risks include people being hit by moving loads and cranes colliding with each other. To counteract these risks, the government has outlined four common steps in safely operating a crane.

Planning Lifting Operations

Every lifting operation should be planned in order for it to be carried out safely with risks acknowledged and accounted for. Those involved in the procedure need practical and theoretical knowledge of crane operation, with experience being a necessity. The plan for the crane operation must address;

● Risks identified by a risk assessment

● Resources required

● Details of the process

● Responsibilities of everyone involved

Safe Working Processes

It’s a good idea to write a method statement, that details the project’s plan by establishing and recording a safe system of work. It is of utmost importance that every site worker understands this statement. The method statement might include;

● Planning (site preparation, crane installation and dismantling)

● The selection of suitable crane and work equipment

● Safe slinging and signalling arrangements

● Maintenance and examination of the crane and equipment;

● Provision of properly trained and competent personnel;

● Supervision of operations by those with the necessary authority;

● Examinations, reports and other documents;

● Prevention of unauthorised movement/use of the crane

● Measures to secure the safety of persons not involved in the lifting.

Supervision Of Lifting

Supervision needs to be in place for all lifting operations, directing and supervising the process to ensure it is carried out correctly, and in accordance with the method statement. The crane supervisor must be suitably qualified and have enough experience to carry out all the relevant duties. They must also have the authority to stop the lifting operation if it is too dangerous to proceed.

Examination

There are strict legal requirements concerning the examination of all cranes: lifting equipment must be thoroughly inspected at the prescribed intervals. This is a detailed and specialised examination by a qualified individual and will usually be arranged by the crane hire company, although it is the responsibility of the crane user to ensure that all necessary examinations are carried out and that the required reports are in order. Records of thorough examinations and tests must be available to authorities. secure, and capable of being reproduced in written form.

Macsalvors Crane Hire

At Macsalvors Crane Hire, we understand the importance of having a sufficient emergency protocol in place when hiring a crane. It is essential to cater for unwarranted situations and circumstances, and we work with our clients to ensure the working environment is free from potential safety hazards, with an emergency plan in place as robust protection against risk.

We ensure that our machinery is fully operational and in fully functional condition for your project, and commit to an intricate and extensive inspection of our entire fleet, all to make certain that you’re hiring the best possible equipment for your project.

Based in Truro, Malsalvors Crane Hire are a trusted and flexible mobile crane hire company that will be more than able to meet any of your crane hire requirements with efficiency and a friendly attitude. Whether you’re interested in a spider crane or a lorry loader crane, there will be something for you in our fleet to fit perfectly with your project.