If your business works with construction, you deal with a lot of heavy equipment. If you want advice on how to save money on your equipment, you should check out my posts. I plan to write about everything from hiring versus buying, to troubleshooting to reduce repairs, to handling repairs yourself. I also plan to write about other aspects of heavy machinery use such as safety. I ultimately hope that my ideas guide you toward creating a leaner, more productive, more efficient, less expensive, and more profitable business. My ideas are geared toward everyone from newbies to experts in the field of construction.
When you bring heavy equipment rentals onto any site, preparedness matters. However, you need to know what to do to prepare for a crane rental. It's a good idea to think a lot about these four issues.
Delivery
You will have to work closely with the crane rental services provider to coordinate the delivery process. Especially if you're investing in one of the largest models, there will be concerns about the route into and out of your site. You will need to ask local governments about what you're doing, and there may be permits involved, too.
Try to plan the delivery for a low-intensity part of the week. Look at the traffic around the site, and consider what you have going on at your location, too. Strike the right balance so you'll generate the fewest disruptions possible.
Ground
The earth underneath the crane has to be able to hold up. Talk with the crane rental services company about the weight and dimensions of the machine. In extreme cases, customers may have to undertake significant engineering efforts to prepare the ground for crane rentals.
Anywhere the crane goes, the ground needs to be prepared. This includes access roads during delivery and the spot where it will stay. If you're using a mobile model, you need to plan for stable ground at every spot the crane will be while it's on the job.
Staging
Whatever you're using the crane to lift, you're going to want the materials staged in a good spot for the operator to get to them. Know the limits of the crane and don't test them when you can easily stage materials in a better location. Try to stage the location so you can unstack the materials according to your needs as the project progresses. Whenever possible, try to prepare things on the ground so you won't have to mess with them in the air.
Clearing the Area
A crane's arm is its greatest asset, but it's also its greatest hazard. Keep lines away from the crane. Take them down if there's no other option. You want to have the arm operating as freely as possible in the work zone.
Likewise, clear anything that doesn't have to be under the crane from the area. If you need to stage something dangerous near the crane for construction purposes, place it in the zone no sooner than you will need it.
Post warning signs in and around the operating zone. Keep unnecessary people out of the space to reduce hazards and distractions.
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