According to OSHA 1910.179, the daily safety inspection must be conducted by the crane operator each day and/or prior to use at the beginning of each shift. To start, the operator should ensure that all required safety equipment is present and in use. He or she should also be trained and authorized to use the equipment in question.
Once the operator has ensured all safety equipment is present and in use, he or she should then check to see if the crane or hoist has been locked-out or tagged-out. OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147 mandates that the control of hazardous energy or lockout/tagout must be used to de-energize the crane. Before the operator begins the safety inspection, he or she should assess the area around the crane for potential safety hazards.
AREA CHECKOUT:
Know where the crane disconnect switch is located.
Verify there are no warning signs on or around the push button pendant.
Make sure workers aren’t performing their duties nearby.
Ensure that the load can travel freely or without impediments.
Ensure there are no obstructions in or around the area where the load will be moved, and that the area is large enough to move and place materials safely.
Check that all below-the-hook devices are designed for the crane in use and can safely lift loads.
Ensure that the load capacity is less than or equal to the rated capacity of the crane.
Once the crane operator has checked out the area around the crane, he or she can begin a preliminary equipment checkout. Preliminary checkouts should occur before the operator touches any crane controls.
