Precautions to Take When Using a Grab Crane During Normal Operations

There are many types of cranes, and the grab crane is an automated material handling machine. Its grabbing and unloading actions are controlled by the ship unloader operator, eliminating the need for auxiliary personnel. This avoids the heavy labor of workers, saves auxiliary working time, and greatly improves loading and unloading efficiency. A grab crane refers to a lifting machine equipped with a grab, widely used in ports, docks, freight yards, mines, and other areas for loading various bulk goods, logs, minerals, coal, sand and gravel, and earth and stone.

The grab crane should pay attention to the following matters during normal use:

1. Before each operation, tests for lifting and lowering without load, rotating, changing amplitude, forward and backward movement, lateral movement, as well as safety performance tests of the brakes and limit devices should be conducted. If there are any equipment malfunctions, they must be resolved before formal operations can begin.

2. When operating a grab crane, lift and straighten the rigging for hanging cargo to align with the centerline, then safely hoist it. It is strictly forbidden to use a drag hook during operations. When the hook is already hooked but the suspended weight has not been lifted, the crane is prohibited from moving position or rotating. It is prohibited to lift welded items fixed to the ship and items buried in the mudflat or with unknown weights.

3. Pay attention to ensure that the wind-proof safety devices are in good and effective condition. Do not use grab cranes in thunderstorm and blizzard conditions. Personnel engaged in grab work must master the relevant knowledge and precautions regarding crane operations. The scope of work involving grab operations is quite broad; in addition to the safety issues to be noted during use, maintenance of the grab is also essential.

Grab cranes can be effectively divided into gantry grab cranes, bridge grab cranes, and knuckle boom grab cranes, among others. The grab crane that people commonly refer to is usually the knuckle boom grab crane, such as the log lifter. Based on the driving method, they can be classified into hydraulic and mechanical grabs. Grab crane equipment must meet usage requirements; price is one aspect of the selection, but importantly, the equipment requirements must satisfy the usage needs, and the components required by the equipment must operate well, etc. These are all aspects that need to be considered when selecting a crane.