For many Minnesota construction workers, cranes are essential pieces of equipment used to complete the building of complex projects and structures. Built on basic lever and pulley systems, cranes allow construction teams to move large, heavy items around job sites. There are many different types of cranes that may be used depending upon the terrain, the weight of items to be moved and the level of stability required.
Bright Hub Engineering explains that special cranes are available for use on water, in the air and even on rugged, uneven ground. Aerial cranes may even be used in disaster recovery situations. On construction sites with stable ground, three types of cranes are most frequently used. These include crawler cranes, vehicle-mounted cranes and tower cranes. Both crawler cranes and vehicle-mounted cranes can be used throughout a job site as they are movable. The first moves on a series of tracks while the latter moves via the vehicle to which it is mounted.
When more stability is required, a tower crane may be used. These exceptionally tall cranes not only extend up to 265 feet in the air but have a horizontal span of up to 230 feet. They are held in place by bolts mounted to a concrete foundation.
Crane operators as well as those working around a crane must always take precautions to ensure safety procedures are followed and equipment is maintained. This information is not intended to provide legal advice but rather is meant to give Minnesota residents an overview of the various types of cranes that may be used on construction job sites.