Truck-mounted cranes, as per EU and US Regulations

By Staff Report November 13, 2024 7:21 pm IST

The EU Machine Directive regulations outline safety and health requirements for truck-mounted cranes. Per EU Machine Directive regulations, an MHE equipment consultant, Jani Koskinen, highlights the importance of load management systems in truckmounted cranes.

Safety standards for operating cranes and hoists

Many European-based truck-mounted crane manufacturers adhere to the European Union (EU) Machine Directive regulations, 2006/42/ European Commission (EC), which were later repealed by EU Regulation 2023/1230. This legislation lays down the design, construction, and operational requirements for safety and health aspects. Through the years, this directive has evolved to include more detailed requirements, for example, around overload, stability, or structural longevity. The latest EU regulation heavily impacted the control system of truck-mounted cranes such as knuckle booms or other articulating booms.

Directive 2006/42/EC, enacted by the European Parliament and Council on 17 May 2006, aims to promote the free market circulation of machinery and safeguard workers and consumers. It outlines general health and safety requirements, with specific requirements for specific machinery categories.

From an operator standpoint, truck-mounted crane operators in the United States are regulated through two different bodies: the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for general lifting, equipment maintenance, and operator Health and Safety and the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCO) for crane operator certification.

The OSHA standard pertains to power-operated equipment used in construction that can hoist, lower, and horizontally move a suspended load. This includes articulating cranes, crawler cranes, floating cranes, barges, locomotive cranes, mobile cranes, multi-purpose machines, industrial cranes, dedicated pile drivers, service/ mechanical trucks, tower cranes, pedestal cranes, portal cranes, overhead and gantry cranes, straddle cranes, side boom cranes, derricks, and variations of such equipment.

NCCCO offers several certification variations depending on the truck-mounted crane type; for example, larger mobile cranes or stiff boom cranes are separate from articulated knuckle boom or loader-style cranes. To obtain certification, operators must pass a written and practical test, mandating them to pass regulatory, lifting theory, and crane-typespecific areas to ensure safe and professional lifting practices.

Load management systems

Truck-mounted crane manufacturers prioritise safety in design and operation due to heavy, suspended loads, a high risk of injuries, financial losses, and product defects. Load management systems benefit operators, operating companies, and manufacturers by ensuring proper operation and safety. EC/EU legislation requires articulated truck-mounted cranes to have a load management system and stability control. Hiab’s HiPro control system with Variable Stability System (VSL) or Palfinger’s Palcom with High-Performance Stability Control (HPSC) are CE-marked for compliance.

HIAB control systems allow simultaneous movements and are known for their reliability and ease of use. HiPro is the advanced model platform control system within the HIAB loader crane range of products. This remote-controlled system delivers quick and precise crane movements, allowing you to carry out complex work. The advanced functions assist the operator safely and fastest, working in total synergy between the operator and the crane.

High-Performance Stability Control (HPSC) is a proportional system that recalculates and defines a crane’s working range and stability. Sensors for proportional path measurement are located in the stabilisers, making the positioning variable.

The systems provide safety enhancements, including capacity limiting for crane overloading, reducing stress on structural components and truck chassis, extending package life, and reducing the total cost of ownership. Hiab’s VSL offers optimal lifting chart capabilities for situations like short rigging and not enlarging stabilisers, as the load management system calculates the chart based on every inch of the stabiliser beam extension. Certain markets utilise the full EC/EU regulatory package for crane installation compliance; for example, the United States does not require stability control systems. However, many customers have adopted higher safety standards after seeing the innovative and variable systems in operation.

Sensors

Digitalisation assists the execution of truckmounted cranes into more intelligent and intuitive tools. Sensors are used in various areas, such as measuring stabiliser leg ground pressure, assessing boom extension/tip position, locating the crane using GPS sensors and providing valuable insights for fleet management software.

The increasing cost-efficiency and availability of electric sensors are prompting OEMs to expand their use in various applications. Sensors and intelligent software are revolutionising semiautomatic functions like Hiab’s semi-automatic motion and folding, offering ease of use and repetitive correct manoeuvres to reduce operator stress and mitigate damage. Sensors, such as Palfinger’s Levelling Assistant.

Sensors provide hardware for crane load management and stability features. Future software capabilities will improve ease of operation and pre-programmed lifting functions, enabling new operators to join the industry during operator shortages.