Restraining: it’s in the small things

Restraining loads Often, it’s in the small things

Incidents related to unrestrained loads can seem minor and in the general order of business in the crane industry given we transport big and small items on the back of anything from a large All-Terrain crane through to a light ute on a daily basis. It’s often these seemingly insignificant incidents that don’t get much attention, but unrestrained loads still pose a risk to every individual, our work colleagues and clients, and the people we share public roads with. We want to demonstrate the need for attention to detail with the small things when it comes to adequately retraining loads. This collection of incidents from Universal Cranes has many practical lessons to be applied daily for anyone who is involved with loading, carrying or unloading things safely.

Outrigger box fell from trailer in yard

Murarrie, Brisbane 30 November 2016 A yardperson loaded a truck with the outrigger box belonging to an all-terrain crane. The truck was moved forward to make way for another truck to pass. As the load wasn’t secured and was top heavy, the outrigger box fell off the trailer onto the ground resulting in damage to two lights.

Spreader bar fell off Franna on highway

Gateway Motorway, Brisbane 17 March 2017 A spreader bar fell off the back of a Franna onto one of Brisbane’s busiest motorways. The operator had to stop the crane in a safe location on an off-ramp to retrieve the bar that fortunately did not hit any vehicles.

Rubber mat flew off trailer on highway

Gateway Motorway, Brisbane 12 June 2017

Shackle tie down loosened in transit, fell off trailer

Ballina, NSW 26 September 2017

Load moved due to insufficient restraint

Brisbane 25 June 2018

Outrigger pad fell off crane due to loosening from transit vibrations

Inner City Bypass, Brisbane 17 July 2018

Gas bottle unsecured

Brisbane 14 December 2018 An unsecured rubber mat left on a trailer blew off when traveling on one of Brisbane’s busiest motorways. The mat was left behind as it wasn’t safe to stop and leave the cab to collect it.

A shackle from the float of a crawler crane was not adequately tied down/fastened and the vibration from road travel worked it loose, causing it to fall off and contact the car traveling behind. No injuries were sustained.

A bundle was loaded together with the bundle puller onto the back of a semi-trailer at a refinery plant. The driver failed to add the correct quantity of straps over the bundle and attach them to the trailer to secure the load. As only two straps were used, it left the bundle puller only partially strapped to the trailer. When the truck started moving, the load shifted, forcing one side of the bundle to slip off the bundle puller.

A left rear outrigger pad was lost from a crane after vibrating loose in transit. The operator didn’t realise it had fallen off until he arrived at site and begun setting up the crane. A colleague retrieved the pad from a very busy arterial motorway in Brisbane; fortunately, no injuries or accidents occurred. The incident was the result of bent and warped runners used to store the pads on the crane.

An empty gas bottle was lying down and unsecured when traveling around a refinery site. The driver was stopped by the onsite supervisor and asked to stand the bottle up and tie it to the vehicle, the correct method of traveling safely with a gas bottle.

These events reveal several simple DOs and DON’Ts for load restraint and show how easy it can be for an incident to occur.

DON’T

been fully restrained, even when moving very short distances pre-check of the vehicle for any possible unstrained load won’t affect the position or security of the load load check even when you’re in a hurry Fortunately, no one was injured in any of these incidents, but an unrestrained load

Move a vehicle when the load hasn’t

Depart without conducting a full

Assume vibrations during transit

Assume your colleague has done the

Neglect a pre-departure inspection can and has proved fatal.

DO

Conduct pre-departure checks of restraints whether you are the primary operator or assisting as a Dogman or Yardperson

Do obtain supervisor approval to depart if part of your company’s procedures

Carry out mousing items such as shackles before departure to prevent them from vibrating loose in transit

Ensure loads are restrained even when moving very short distances on site

Where necessary use wedges to stabilise the load and prevent movement during the journey

Use appropriate lashing to secure loads to the truck and adapt the lashings to the weight and size of the load

Always ensure loads are secured together and restrained to the trailer