In the construction sector, tower cranes, which are generally used in construction sites, are steel-structured machines moving on a fixed or moving carrier and transporting heavy loads in horizontal and vertical directions. They are referred to by this name because their bodies resemble a tower.
It is used in many fields such as factories, shipyards and ports. tower cranesis one of the indispensable tools of construction workplaces. Cranes used in the construction sector are generally mobile cranes, tower cranes or purse seine cranes. The high capacity of mobile cranes can handle a thousand tonnes of load and can be up to 75 meters. However, tower cranes are the most preferred crane model. They may be placed inside or outside a building under construction. As the building rises above the supporting structures tower crane also rises. Tower cranes can carry loads up to 22 tons. The heights are up to 180 meters.
In the works carried out with tower cranes used in construction works, a number of occupational health and safety precautions should be taken. There are issues that need to be considered both during manufacturing and during use. There are many standards in the production of tower cranes. All calculations and projects of cranes are made in accordance with FEM or DIN 15018-15020 standard. The responsibilities of the persons who will use the crane during the use of the cranes are evident. The rules to be followed when lifting and transmitting loads are clear. Safety rules for crane lifting equipment (hooks, chains, ropes and drums) are clear.
In addition to these, maintenance and periodic inspections of the tower cranes should be performed. At the beginning of these inspections is the physical examinations to be performed by the eye. Afterwards, it is necessary to check the compatibility of the cranes with the technical specifications and the lifting capacity. In this stage, static and dynamic load tests as well as stability tests are performed.
Another important inspection is the periodic inspection of the earthing of the tower cranes. Between 1979 and 2010, 5239 fatalities and 293 injuries occurred as a result of electric shock in the 80 occupational accident that occurred in construction. In total, 7 percent is not a rate to be underestimated.
Tower cranes are also electrically operated human health ve employee safety periodic grounding inspections should be performed. The Regulation on Health and Safety Conditions in the Use of Work Equipment and the Earthing Regulations in Electrical Installations have brought this obligation. Grounding is carried out to ensure that, in the event of an electrical leakage in tower cranes, the electrical current is not passed over people, but over the less earthed ground. In this way, the danger of distortion is eliminated and death events are prevented due to distortion.
TÜRCERT certification body, as well as conformity assessment and certification studies, testing and inspection services also provides. If there is a need to get more information about the grounding periodic inspections of tower cranes or to have these inspections and controls done, TÜRCERT certification institution is ready to meet the needs of the enterprises with its experienced managers and employees.