What are crane outrigger pads?

Outrigger pads are a safety tool that can be used on any equipment that has outriggers, jacks or stabilizers. Stability is essential when a piece of equipment, such as a crane, lifts loads or people to high places. This article will provide an overview of outrigger pads, including how to use them safely and what types of pads are on the market today.

Basics

Outrigger pads are placed on equipment outriggers, shoes, floats, or the ground beneath your feet. The size and thickness of the outrigger pads to be used should be selected based on the type of equipment, soil conditions at the job site, and the type of lift being performed.

When using an outrigger system, it is important to understand that the point of contact between the outrigger and the ground is very small. Due to the pressure of the outriggers, the ground below may shift, shift or collapse if the outrigger pads are not used. If any of these things happen, there is a chance that the equipment will move or tip over the load, which could cause the equipment to tip over. In fact, about half of all crane lifting accidents are caused by improper use of outriggers.

The outrigger pads are there to stabilize the device so the ground below doesn't move and the device doesn't tip over. Stability depends on the footprint and center of mass of the device. Footprint is the total area enclosed by the equipment support structure. If the device is set on top of a single point to support it, the center of mass is the point at which the device balances. If the center of gravity is on the edge of the footprint or outside the footprint, the device will tip over. There are two ways to provide additional stability. The first is to use counterweights to help move the center of gravity back onto the footprint. The second is a larger footprint with an expandable outrigger system.

All cranes have counterweights, but their weight is limited due to transportation and setup considerations. As mentioned earlier, the ground can only withstand so much pressure before shifting or collapsing. Even if you can transport the crane to the job site, there is no guarantee that the ground conditions are stable enough to install and secure the crane. Because of this, the use of telescopic outriggers to extend the crane's footprint is critical to the stability of the equipment. After the outrigger system is deployed, installing outrigger pads under the outriggers will expand its point of contact with the ground and transfer pressure from the equipment through the outrigger pads to the ground.

six points

As with any safety tool, the outrigger system and outrigger pads must be used according to the manufacturer's instructions. Also, keep the following six points in mind when using the outrigger system.

1. Proper setup and leveling are critical to proper function of any style of outrigger system. Operators must follow the manufacturer's charts for allowable levels and percentage of ratings when setting up equipment. If the level is not correct, the lifting capacity of the equipment will be reduced.

2. Before setting, try to obtain the most recent soil conditions in the work area. Knowing the ground bearing capacity will help the worker determine which type of outrigger pad is best for the equipment that will be used. OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1402, "Ground Conditions," in paragraph 1926.1402(b) states the following: "Unless the ground conditions are sufficiently firm, drained, and leveled, equipment shall not be assembled or used for the purpose of bonding (if necessary) Use support material that meets equipment manufacturer's specifications for adequate support and equipment levelness. Requirements for draining the ground do not apply to swamps/wetlands." According to 1926.1402(a)(2), "support material" means blockage, mat , crib, swamp cart, or similar support material or device.

3. Check the current location and understand where the utilities are overhead and underground. Maintain proper clearance around overhead power lines. The known voltage of the overhead power line must be found and the minimum proximity distance between qualified and unqualified personnel must be determined.

4. Do not use outrigger pads to bridge or span any gaps.

5. Must know the maximum lifting capacity of the equipment, including knowing how to follow the load chart. Make sure to consider not only the load to be lifted, but also the rigging used to lift the load. A key to safe lifting work is hiring qualified personnel who know how to read load charts and are trained to operate the equipment. A strong job briefing before work is also a must.

6. Understand that different equipment has different outrigger systems. Workers need to understand how to set up these systems on every device they use. Below is a brief description of some of the common outrigger systems found on equipment today.

Upper and lower or vertical pressure outrigger systems are very common on cranes of 40 tons and above.

A-frame or 45 degree outrigger systems are common in bucket trucks and excavator derricks.

You'll find a combination unit with an A-frame and outrigger system on many jib cranes under 30 tons.

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