Why do Crane Hire Companies need ISO certifications?

The ISO standards are available for any areas that has the potential to escalate to a problem. For example, there are standards that assess their competency of those who interact with the apparatus, measuring the technical knowledge, experience, training and technique for handling the equipment. Similarly, older ISO standards like the ISO 45001 standard helps to enhance workplace safety. This is a very relevant framework for crane hire companies, as the danger of work related incidents is very real for them.

Additionally, similar to the benefits that other industries enjoy, crane hire industries can also reap benefits like streamlined processes, greater operational efficiency, reduced waste and increased cost savings. However, the greatest advantage for a crane hire company is to show the highest level of accountability with regards to quality documented processes and operational procedures to potential new clients. Moreover, ISO certification also helps enable increased accessibility to international markets.

What are the ISO requirements for Crane Hire Companies?

Out of the plethora of ISO standards that are recommended for crane hire companies, one of the most popular standard is the ISO 23814:2009 standard, that focuses on competency requirements for crane inspectors. ISO 23814:2009 specifies recommendations for getting the competency of required personnel who carry out periodic inspections of cranes focusing on independence, impartiality, integrity, technical knowledge, experience and technique.

Similarly, ISO 9927-1:2009 focuses on the details of inspections that need to be carried out on cranes including methods, details of inspection personnel, precautions to be taken and methods for gauging the results. The ISO 9927-3:2005 standard focuses on inspection details of tower crane, providing details for daily inspections and periodic monthly inspections.

Moreover, there are other standards that focus on design and manufacturing specifications including ISO 13001, that include general design requirements for cranes, ISO 12929 which provide the general requirements for cable transport installations, ISO 3691 which provide the requirements for handling fork lifts including safety requirements and verification, ISO 13411 that provide the safety requirements for terminals of steel wire rope and ISO 1677 that provide the general requirements for accessories such as slings.

Additionally, standards such as ISO 9001 can help crane hire companies streamline their operations and enhance the quality of their services.

How to implement ISO standards in crane hire companies

Similar to any other industry, crane hire companies need to implement the four steps to acquire ISO certification.

1. Choosing a management standard

The first step is choosing a management standard that aligns with their objectives. As there are a variety of standards available, it is obvious that organisations may feel a little overwhelmed. Hence, it is recommended to introspect and identify what is your primary goal. If your goal is to enhance the quality of your services, you can begin with ISO 9001, or if your goal is to enhance workplace safety, the ISO 45001 standard is a great place to begin.

2. Develop your management system

Secondly, develop your management system by identifying your core business processes, involving your employees and documenting your procedures.

3. Conduct an initial assessment

In the third step, you will need to conduct an initial assessment to identify areas where your system is not complying with the recommendations of the standard that you are aiming to acquire.

4. implement your management system

The fourth and the most exciting part of the certification process is to finally implement your system. You can ensure that your procedures are performing as they have been described in the documents, and all the employees are adequately trained. As soon as your system is implemented, begin to monitor the effectiveness of your processes through the usage of measurable data.

Lastly, after verifying that your system is audited by interviewing employees, looking at sample records and observing the processes, it is time to select an appropriate auditing body for external registration. The auditors will review your management system documentation to ensure that it complies with the applicable standard, going on to conduct an on-site verification of your system.