Conceptual Framework For Safety Improvement In Mobile Cranes

Cranes are among the most important equipment used in the construction industry. The use of cranes is growing day by day as the project delivery paradigm in construction is increasingly shifting from the old traditional method where projects are built entirely on-site to an off-site approach relying on modularisation. In essence, modularisation proceeds in two steps: (i) breaking down projects into modules that are fabricated in controlled environments, and (ii) shipping these modules to construction sites for assembly using high capacity cranes. In this respect, the safety during crane operation is of an utmost important issue because an error while lifting, carrying, and placing a load, can cause disastrous accidents. One of the major causes of these accidents is due to improper communication between signalman and operator. The technology is advancing but the crane industry is still relying on the old methods for communication which are by hand signal and two-way radio communication system. This paper introduces a conceptual framework to enhance the communication between the signalman and the crane operator. In this framework, a camera fixed on the helmet of the signalman captures a video that is segmented into frames to which mathematical algorithms are applied in order to interpret their content. This digital graphical (pictorial) content is then transcribed into commands that are displayed on the cabin's monitor for the operator whether the latter has a direct line of sight to the signalman or not this will increase the efficiency of the crane operator. This framework also eliminates the need for tagman and improves the safety and productivity of the crane operation.