Failure of hook assemblies causing fatal / serious injuries safety knowledge management, safety management, safety tips, sharing of safety knowledge, by : Bimal Chandra Das,

1. Sub: Crane hook assembly
Failure of hook assemblies causing fatal / serious injuries
Although failure-causes were different in different cases, the basic reasons have been –
1. Maintenance inadequacy and
2. Violation of norms / standards
To eliminate such occurrences in future, we have to ensure healthiness / reliability of each
and every parts & components of the mechanism –
– Rope and rope drum
– Pulleys with housing (having standard rope guards as per original design)
– Hooks (and arrangement for holding the pulleys)
– Drive system, brakes and Limit switches
Shop Maintenance In-Charges have to ensure regular monitoring / timely maintenance of
these components in a systematic way. First round of checking, jointly by Shop and Crane
Inspection Dept.
In case of any defect, observed during checking, in any of these parts / components, the
crane should be immediately stopped and shall be handed over for operation only after
rectification of such defects.
All activities are to be clearly documented in s separate register by the concerned officers
and to be monitored by Heads of Department / Maintenance.