There are some things you just can’t leave to chance — this is certainly the case when you’re operating heavy machinery of any kind. There are many different elements that go into taking the proper precautions when operating potentially dangerous equipment. The thing is that there are many different definitions of “potentially dangerous equipment”. In the minds of some, this applies to equipment operated at the workplace. However, employees aren’t the only ones at risk when it comes to getting hurt by heavy machinery. The average person can get seriously injured or even killed when dealing with something as commonplace as an RV. People aren’t the only ones at risk, of course. Even if the worst that happens is a damaged crane or RV, there’s still much to be concerned about. Those pieces of equipment cost a lot of money, after all. Luckily, you can protect your equipment from damage with the help of products like camper jack pads and steel crane mats. Camper jack pads and steel crane mats — otherwise known as steel crane pads — act as buffers between the equipment you’re operating and the ground, offering much-needed support. Below, we’ll look into some of the reasons why we use these products, and how they can help us protect not only our assets, but our lives and the lives of others.
Camper Jack Pads: When They Come In Handy
People use RVs more often than you might think. In fact, it’s estimated that 8.9 million households use RVs. Why is this? Well, contrary to popular opinion, RVs actually help campers have a more authentic experience. They offer a nearby respite, which means that campers can spend more time outdoors, with their important belongings and resources being kept safely in the RV. Recently, most campers reported spending at least one to two nights outdoors regardless of their camping shelter. However, RV users spent the most time outdoors, with 13% spending seven nights or more outdoors. With RVs being so useful, it’s no wonder that campers want them. With that being said, they can be difficult to move, especially when kept on difficult terrain, as is often the case with camping in the great outdoors. When moving an RV, it’s easy for its wheels to slip. This can cause devastating injury or even death. As such, camper jack pads are completely necessary when moving RVs. Of course, it can be even riskier to move cranes, as we’ll see below.
Cranes: Keeping Them Steady
Cranes can be difficult to keep safe simply because of their scale. Not only are cranes worth thousands of dollars — they also must, in many cases, be operated manually. This leaves plenty of room for human error, and therefore injury or death. They’re also typically operated in construction settings, surrounded by people. This is why OSHA has put forth certain standards that crane operators must follow. Cranes must be assembled on firm ground that is drained and graded sufficiently, along with supporting materials like mats, pads, blocking, and cribbing that provide adequate support and levelness. How high is the risk of an accident? Well, it depends in part on what kind of crane is being operated. Mobile cranes have a higher risk of tipping over, for obvious reasons. This risk is even higher when they’re carrying a load that is too big. According to the CDC, the rate of crane upsets is about one in every 10,000 hours of use. From 1997 to 2006, there were 82 crane-related fatalities. The risk is serious, and can only be effectively combatted through the right kinds of safety equipment.
There is no point in risking injury or even death if you don’t have to. With the right safety precautions in place, you can ensure that whether you’re operating a crane or an RV, you have as little chance of being hurt as possible.