Defect in rented cranes: How to handle it correctly

What to do with a defective crane?

Unfortunately, it's not always possible to avoid malfunctions in a rented crane during use on the job site. Errors in crane controls, torn crane ropes, or failure of the travel and hoist brakes are defects that must be reported immediately. If safety is also at risk, defective cranes should be taken out of service until the defect is fixed. The first step is therefore: stop the construction project and report the damage immediately.

What malfunctions can occur on a crane?

Cranes are complex machines that require a lot of expertise. Accordingly, malfunctions of all kinds can occur. The most common include:

Serious damage, immediate shutdown required:

• Failure of travel and hoist brakes: In this case, operations must stop immediately. Contact us right away and we'll send a technician to your job site to address the damage.
• Breakage of a running wheel: If the running wheel breaks, take the crane out of service immediately. Contact us and we'll send someone to repair the damage.
• Cracks in load-bearing crane components: In this case too – take the crane out of service, contact klarx
• Formation of rope knots: In this case, the rope must be replaced immediately. Contact klarx and we'll send a technician to your job site.

Minor damage, problem can potentially be resolved by phone

• Crane control malfunctions: A crane control malfunction can have many causes; this problem might be resolved immediately by phone. Call your klarx expert and we'll try together to find the source of the malfunction. If that's not possible, you'll receive on-site help.
• Crane rope overflowing over the edge of a winch drum: This damage can potentially be fixed simply by phone. Contact your klarx expert in this case as well.
• Breaks and/or cracks in load-handling equipment: If the crane operator is trained to fix malfunctions, they can repair this damage on-site themselves.

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Reported a defect on the crane – what now?

Once you've reported the crane defect and taken photos of the damage, you should secure the hazardous areas depending on the severity of the defect. Switch off the main switch, disconnect switch, or similar, and wait for further instructions. You may only perform maintenance work yourself if you are technically qualified to do so. Otherwise: leave the job site properly.

Crane rope torn – get quick replacement

Due to misoperation, in the worst case a crane rope can tear. In this case, you must contact your personal crane expert at klarx immediately. Tell us exactly what defect occurred and take photos of the damage. We'll find a solution to the problem and quickly make sure you get a new crane rope so your construction project can continue.

What rights do I have as a renter if my crane is defective?

When you rent a crane from klarx, you agree to our terms and conditions. If your crane is delivered defective or develops a malfunction during startup, the costs resulting from it will be covered by your liability insurance. It's important that you don't need to arrange a replacement yourself – klarx handles the process for you. This way you can continue to focus 100% on your project.

Please note: The crane operator and the job site are responsible for handling malfunctions.

Prevent defects: Perform regular maintenance on your crane

Defects can be caused by third parties or by your own actions. To prevent the latter, it's important to perform regular maintenance and check-ups on your crane. For an overview of things to pay attention to, especially with tower cranes, our Checklist for Tower Cranes will help, which you can download here.

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We would like to point out that our web offering is intended solely for informational purposes without obligation. All information provided is therefore without warranty as to correctness and completeness. The content of our website – especially the legal articles – is researched with great care. Nevertheless, the provider cannot assume liability for the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of the information provided.