A New Zealand engineering and crane hire firm has issued new handbrake safety guidelines following an accident involving one of its Kato NK250V 30t all terrain cranes.
Croucher & Crowder Engineering Co Ltd issued a statement, also published by the Crane Association of New Zealand (CANZ), outlining new safety recommendations. The release came after the incident with the all terrain which saw the parked crane roll from a car park across a site access road, knocking down 25m of a boundary fence before partially tipping over the edge of a bank.
The company said the failure was caused by the crane operator misunderstanding the crane braking system with the operator believing the crane operated on an air-maxi braking system, where in fact it had the air over hydraulic type system. It said the operator had confirmed the handbrake had not been engaged.
The new directive says all handbrakes must be applied when the vehicle is stopped, with a low gear engaged.
It has also immediately addressed a “systematic failure” in its management processes that let an incorrect crane handbrake assumption carry on.
There will also be a biennial re-assessment of crane operators with a registered crane assessor so operations are carried out in accordance with legislation and company procedures, and in a safe manner.
“Luckily there was no injury to people or damage to the crane and we are putting things in place so this cannot happen again, hence the safety alert,” Croucher & Crowder managing director Marvyn Towers told Cranes Today.