Crane Hot Line is part of the Catalyst Communications Network publication family.
When Hurricane Milton’s winds toppled a crane at a residential construction site in St. Petersburg, Florida last month, it was a reminder for Morrow Equipment Company’s Vice President of Service, Chris Smith. “If an accident happens, we all feel it, whether it’s our crane or someone else’s,” he said. “Every company in this industry should be focused on safety training over all other concerns. Making sure your crews are prepared is what benefits all of us.”
Smith related that training is a backbone critical item identified a long time ago by Morrow Equipment. “We have continually invested heavily in safety training for our technicians and our customers,” Smith said. “In fact, we’re somewhat unique in the industry because our courses are often open to anyone, even our competitors.”
At Morrow Equipment Company, the Salem, Oregon-based exclusive distributor of Liebherr tower cranes in the United States and Canada, safety programs provide customers with resources to monitor and service equipment, jobsite safety protocols, guidance in safety planning and safety inspection forms.
The company’s service technicians, maintenance personnel and equipment operators also undergo frequent evaluation and are required to maintain National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) certification. Morrow service employees attend safety and inspection education courses at the Morrow Training Center, a 10,000-square-foot, three-classroom facility in Salem, Oregon. Training includes hazard identification, lock-out/tag-out procedures, fall protection, hazardous communications and respiratory protection.
Morrow offers a complete range of inspection and certification programs. Factory-trained technical staff and equipment inspectors can carry out any phase or level of inspection required for tower cranes. From basic recommendations for service and maintenance to thorough testing and certification, Smith reported, Morrow will tailor a program meeting any customer’s needs.
Morrow also conducts internal safety inspections, including periodic field inspections of fleet equipment. A series of detailed inspections following a standardized checklist subjects the entire crane to a rigorous overhaul in accordance with a strict quality assurance program.
All maintenance, repairs and inspections are documented by qualified inspectors in each Morrow facility and tracked in a quality control database. In addition, a slewing ring inspection is made on a scheduled basis along with an annual torque check.
Industry outreach is also important, Smith noted. “We recently started partnering with the Associated General Contractors association and we work closely with local vocational tech schools,” he related. “One of the programs we have in place is a course for high school juniors and seniors on rigging basics and inspection practices. Last year, we hired one of the students as an apprentice.
“We also fully support the development of industry wide crane safety guidelines, like those now being developed by a Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association task force,” Smith added.
“From new hires to seasoned veterans, a better educated industry benefits all of us,” Smith continued. “Our goal is always to exceed all safety requirements by being proactive when it comes to accident prevention.”
