The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a branch of the U.S. Department of Labor. It is in charge of setting forth regulations on all types of cranes, including overhead bridge cranes. OSHA provides training courses aimed at properly instructing and certifying individuals on bridge crane safety, inspection and operations.
Regularly inspecting bridge cranes is a critical measure in ensuring that bridge cranes operate properly and safely. Certain key bridge crane components like chains, cables and hooks must be thoroughly inspected every day before the bridge crane is employed to make a lift. Operators must also periodically check for excessive wear, corrosion, cracks and loose bolts.
Load limits are clearly displayed on bridge cranes; lifting loads exceeding these limits should never be attempted. Nearby workers need to be warned whether by an audible announcement or sounded siren when bridge cranes are performing a lift. To prevent the load from swinging, the bridge crane operator should never move the load too quickly. A bridge crane can lose control of a load that is swinging excessively.