Pre-Operation Inspection Checklist for Tower Cranes

Author: youke Time: 2025-08-22

Fixed Structure Inspection

Foundation & Settlement

  • Settlement Observation Points: Designated personnel must check daily.

  • Clearance Zone: No material within 2 meters of the foundation. Report water accumulation immediately.

  • Geological Abnormalities: If exceeds standards within 16 hours, activate the professional inspection team for parameter reset.

Metal Structure

  • Bolt Connections: Use a vernier caliper to ensure threaded exposure of standard section connection bolts remains within 3-4 threads.

  • Bolt Alignment: Check with a level gauge; installation angle deviation must be ≤0.1%.

  • Welding Cracks: Inspect critical nodes (boom, tower cap, slewing ring) with a magnifier. Darkened weld surfaces indicate potential cracks.

  • Paint Damage: If fish-scale peeling covers 5m², suspend operations and conduct magnetic particle testing for subsurface cracks.


Moving Parts & Mechanical Systems

Slewing Mechanism

  • Gear Inspection: Remove inspection end cover; check lubricant discoloration/hardening with a flashlight.

  • Rotation Test: Use a specialized wrench to rotate the slewing base smoothly for 3 revolutions without mechanical aid.

Hoisting System

  • Hook Inspection: Use 5x magnifier to check wear on critical sections. Replace if wear exceeds 12% of original尺寸.

  • Pulley Inspection: Replace if radial wear exceeds 30% of wire rope diameter. Missing guards require equipment.

  • Wire Rope Test: Conduct no-load test with 500kg sandbag; observe rope arrangement during 5m hoisting.

Emergency Brake

  • Brake Test: Technicians wearing harnesses must simulate power failure; trolley must stop within 30 seconds.


Functional & Safety Devices

Electrical Systems

  • Cable Management: Check cable tie integrity. Use epoxy board to support damaged cable slots.

  • Control Box: Test contact terminals with a voltage tester; replace components if erosion depth >30% after 50 operations.

  • Grounding: Measure resistance; halt operations if exceeding 1mΩ. Lightning grounding points require 15-day soil humidity monitoring.

Safety Devices

  • Moment Limiter: Calibrate to ensure error ≤1/500 of rated value.

  • Wind Speed Alarm: Third-party device must trigger 5 minutes before Level 10 winds, with uninterrupted 360-second alert.

  • Obstacle Avoidance: Add ultrasonic calibration procedures in fog/haze conditions.

Operational Components

  • Counterweights: Verify quantity against nameplate; recalculate if error >1/400 of manufacturer’s specification.

  • Hook Block Rollers: Must protrude ≥7mm above running surface. Track clearance requires temperature-compensated calibration.


Certifications & Documentation

Personnel & Permits

  • Operator Certification: Quarterly license required to access control panel’s six-color keypad.

  • Third-Party Validation: Certifications must be updated one week in advance.

Documentation & Records

  • Total Assembly Diagram: Must match technical department’s blue stamp and crane’s steel imprint.

  • Dynamic Records: Manually dial detection channels; lock data promptly. Shift records archived by document controllers.

  • Maintenance Logs: Handwritten notes cannot replace computer-generated five-color spectral fault analysis reports.


Weather & Environmental Measures

Wind Conditions:

  • Level 3+ winds: Focus on foundation water monitoring.

  • Level 6+ winds: Install cross-slings for enhanced anchoring, even if inspections pass.

  • Post-Storm Checks: Re-test grounding mechanical integrity after thunderstorms.

  • Night/Rain Inspections: Deploy 4-person team to monitor metal strain and voltage drops.


Special Procedures & Key Policies

UNIQUEMAC Protocols

  • Three Musts Principle:

    1. Operator-certificate alignment.

    2. Complete warning signage deployment.

    3. Environmental safety boundaries met.

  • Defect Handling: Mark issues in shift logs; both parties must revisit sites with markers before signing.

  • Recurring Issues: If a fault recurs 3 times in 2 months, suspend operations for 10 days for expert redesign evaluation.

Pre-Shift Conference

  • Address cross-lifting safety zones, power phase balance, and fog compensation.

  • Obtain unanimous team approval before lifting approval tags.

Digital Management

  • QR Code Tracking: Generate unique codes for each inspection point. Upload 9-grid photos + 5-second videos within 15 minutes of rectification.

  • Approval Chain: Requires production leader and triple-inspector confirmation for log entry.


Note: This checklist mitigates but cannot eliminate all risks. Operate personnel must maintain continuous inspection cycles (daily/shift/emergency) to achieve quantitative closed-loop safety control.