Six Tips for Safely Operating Crane Scales

When you’re weighing an item suspended in the air with a crane scale, there’s always the risk of danger. Luckily, you can minimise the risks by operating crane scales with safety in mind. This blog will share six tips for staying safe with crane scales.

1.     Conduct Inspections Before Use

Before each weighing session, be sure to inspect not just your crane scale, but your methods of suspension as well. If anything expected to bear weight shows signs of rust, damage or other forms of wear and tear, take the equipment out of service and either find a replacement or schedule repairs. If everything is looking well visually, you should be good to go. However, if it’s been a while, you might consider calibrating your crane scale using the weight it requests.  This will guarantee you’re getting the most accurate results.

2.     Verify Load Capacity

Operating crane scales safely begins before even using one. Crane scales aren’t only used to weigh extra-large or abnormally shaped items, they also help guarantee that you don't overload the crane. We recommend purchasing a crane scale that offers a capacity slightly above your maximum requirement. This ensures there’s a buffer that can accommodate the weight of your suspension chains or any other unexpected additions.

Crane scales handle weight beyond their capacity by design. However, overloading frequently or by a significant amount can impact not only your scale’s ability to provide accurate results, but the structural integrity. Eventually, your scale will be at risk of breaking whilst it’s metres up in the sky. You may not know that an item is too much weight before actually weighing it, but the most important thing is to remove that weight as quickly as possible. Then, if you can, split the load and weigh it in two sessions instead of one.

3.     Use a Secure, Balanced Attachment

Crane scales feature a hook connected to the load cell inside the housing. Obviously, most of the items you might weigh can’t easily connect to a hook, such as lumber. Choosing an attachment to hold your objects shouldn’t be a quick process. Consider the weight of the attachment itself as well as how strong it is. It must be able to contain the item, so the load is as balanced as possible, and there’s no chance of anything tipping, snapping or falling. Do your research on slings, chains and other rigging equipment that can accommodate all the different items you work with.

4.     Operate at Controlled Speeds

Slow and steady wins the race? More like slow and steady wins an accurate weight reading. Shock loading, or putting weight on too quickly, may damage your scale and put operators who may not be prepared for the lifting speed at risk. Operating crane scales safely involves gradually raising the load, so you suspend the items without jolting the scale. This increases the longevity of your scale and allows operators to prepare accordingly.

5.     Maintain Clear Communication

Communication should be flowing regularly between those on the ground and those working the crane. Crane operators should give forewarning before raising and lowering loads, and those on the ground must be quick should they notice that either the scale, crane or both are overloaded. This way there aren’t any surprises or accidents stemming from someone acting independently.

6.     Use a Remote Control for Safer Operation

Should your crane scale come equipped with a remote control, we highly recommend using it. You can operate Adam Equipment’s IHS, SHS and LHS via a remote control from up to nine metres away. The remote controls allow you to change weighing units, tare and zero your results without touching the balance itself. Without needing to be in the vicinity of the crane scale as often, safety is improved significantly.

Inscale’s Safest Crane Scales

With these options, operating crane scales safely is a breeze.

HCD Crane Scale

Capacities: 60kg – 150/300kg

Readabilities: 20g – 50/100g

Kern’s HCD Crane Scale offers a revolving steel hook for loading in any direction, as well as a display with large, high contrast digits that can be seen from a distance. Maintain safety standards by utilising the included remote control. Transport the HCD easily with its lightweight design, so it can be used anywhere. Some models offer dual range capabilities, giving you finer readabilities as well as a larger capacity in the same crane scale.

SHS Crane Scale

Capacities: 50kg – 300kg

Readabilities: 10g – 50g

Adam Equipment’s SHS Crane Scale offers a bright LED display with 15mm-high bright red digits, easy to see in high and low light. Remain safe with the handy remote control and rotating shackle hook, letting you weigh how you want without worry.

LHS Crane Scale

Capacities: 500kg – 2,000kg

Readabilities: 100g – 500g

With 25mm digits, you can view the LHS from a safe distance and easily operate it by the included infrared remote control. Keep weight results on the screen by employing the LHS’s Hold and Peak Hold functions, giving you more time to view and record results. Choose between three different weighing units: kg, lbs and Newtons to get the most out of your scale.

IHS Crane Scale

Capacities: 1,000kg – 10,000kg

Readabilities: 200g – 2kg

When you need a heavy-duty crane scale, you need Adam Equipment’s IHS. With overload protection of up to 125% and a solid metal housing, you’re getting durability inside and out. 30mm-high digits guarantee results are clearly visible when weighing large loads, with the remote control able to Tare, change weighing units and Zero out the results easily, you can maintain a safe distance.

Need help deciding which crane scale is right for you? Contact the Inscale team, we’ll be happy to help.

Note: As with all industrial weighing applications, the user is responsible for ensuring the scale is operated safely throughout weighing operations. It is important that users fully comply with Safe Working Load (SWL) criteria and should only use these scales for carrying out suspended weighing operations under the stated weight limit. Neither Inscale nor the manufacturer can be responsible for accidents or incidents caused as a result of the improper use of these scales.