Crane Failure / Safety Sense

50% of crane failure or total collapse is from improper use of outriggers. A proactive safety approach is to use outrigger pads on all setups. The outrigger pads will displace & reduce the PSI the ground “ sees ” from the point of contact of the outrigger/ shoe/ float/ pontoon on the equipment. The outrigger pads will also remind the personnel at the job site to ensure the outrigger system is being used correctly. Bigfoot is the first company to manufacture safety orange. This was done to address tripping hazards & make sure the outrigger system is deployed by bringing attention to the operator & other personnel on the job site.

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The outrigger system shall be used according to the manufacturer’s standards.

• The setup & leveling is critical on any setup or with any style of outrigger system on the equipment. Always follow the manufacturer’s chart on level & grade % allowable for equipment to be set up.
• Get recent soil conditions. Getting a known ground bearing capacity ( GBC) will help with knowing what outrigger pad is the best fit.
• Check for location & know where utilities are overhead & underground.
• Maintain proper clearances on overhead power lines.
• Outrigger pads shall not be used to bridge any gaps or span over voids.

After the equipment is set up, level & according to the manufacturer recommendations & with Bigfoot outrigger pads, perform a dry run with spotters. The boom should be run over & around all the outriggers with a spotter not under the boom but looking at the outriggers. The spotter is looking to see if any of the floats are sinking, shifting, or sliding. If there is any issue, stop & stow the boom. Now is the time to re-check the equipment level, improve soil conditions or add Bigfoot outrigger pads & cribbing. There are some great starting points with setting up, but this will not cover all equipment set up. Having a lift director or person in charge on the job site to address setting up will help to avoid crane failure.

• Knowing the max PSI/ PSF ( this does not factor in shock or impact loading, which is common in DEMO & tree care or removal work. Speed plus mass equals force, which is measured in PSI/PSF & will go through the outrigger system).
• Size of outrigger/ shoe/ float/ pontoon on equipment
• Soil conditions

In many but not all setups, having this information will address the 3 times the square surface area on grade A soil conditions. The 3 times the square surface area on grade A soil conditions will displace the PSI from the equipment through the outrigger pad, depending on the GBC value that needs to be maintained. If there is a known GBC value needed & an engineer has values needing to be reached, Bigfoot can help.

Crane Failure

Cribbing or dunnage should not meet or exceed the height of the base outrigger pad. Example: A 36 X 36 at 2” ( P363620 ) should not have cribbing or dunnage meet or exceed 36” on any setup. The bottom layer or base outrigger pad will be carrying the PSI ( when you see pictures of other outrigger pads with wood cribbing or dunnage underneath or on bottom, the cribbing or dunnage is carrying the load, the top pad is the cushion). Knowing this, the sheer value is needed on the setup as well. Bigfoot recommends using the same material to maintain consistency with sheer values, our custom composite cribbing is made from the same material as our outrigger pads.

Bigfoot’s American custom composite has no grain lines. This allows the set up of outrigger pads & cribbing to be exceptionally user-friendly. This will eliminate the question of vertical pressure or out & down outrigger systems, which direction should the pads or cribbing face? The sheer value of Bigfoot’s custom composite is the same in either direction. Bigfoot’s material is not injected or extruded or 100% recycled material, these materials will have different directional shear values & need to be addressed in addition to setups. This is another area that Bigfoot has & can help with operators, lift directors, or personnel in charge. This will without question, using Bigfoot outrigger pads, help with setups & reduce human error to make sure the hard-working personnel are using STRENGTH/ STABILITY/ SAFETY on their job sites & equipment.

Safe Equipment Setup with Proper Cribbing and Blocking

Your SAFETY is our utmost concern at Bigfoot. We are dedicated to providing you with essential information you need to ensure the safe operation of cranes and heavy equipment across various ground surfaces. Employing appropriate cribbing and blocking techniques is pivotal in this process.

The Significance of Cribbing and Blocking

Cribbing establishes the sturdy foundation for elevating outriggers and stabilizers to greater heights, while blocking is instrumental in the even distribution of weight for heavy loads. These methods are integral to protecting operators from potential harm and guiding you in selecting the most suitable approach for supporting your equipment.

Key Definitions

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• Ground Conditions: This term pertains to the ground’s capability to withstand the weight of the equipment.
• Support Materials: This encompasses materials like blocking, mats, cribbing, or similar devices used to provide support.

Choosing the Appropriate Materials

When selecting materials for cribbing and blocking, consider the following:

• Make sure that the selected material can withstand the heavy loads exerted by the outrigger.
• Do not use materials exhibiting cracks, deformations, rot, bending, wear, or damage.
• Use materials larger than the outrigger’s foot.
• Choose materials with ample thickness, width, and length to prevent load shifting, tipping, or excessive settling.
• Keep materials free from oil, grease, and debris, and keep them dry to prevent slipping.

Safe Usage of Cribbing and Blocking 

For secure utilization, please adhere to the following guidelines:

• Personnel should wear steel-toed boots, gloves, and eye protection when handling cribbing and blocking.
• Place materials on a solid, level base or foundation to ensure uniform weight distribution.
• Verify that no debris is beneath the cribbing or blocking, obstructing proper ground contact.
• Position the cribbing directly beneath the outrigger and stack it to prevent slippage.
• Regularly inspect cribbing and blocking during equipment operation for any indications of settling, slippage, cracking, bending, crushing, or shear failure.
• The cribbing should never exceed twice the width of the blocking base.

Determining the Correct Blocking Size

To ascertain the suitable size for cribbing or blocking, consider the following rules:

• Rule of 5: Divide the unit’s maximum lifting capacity (in tons), e.g., 50 tons, by 5. This yields a requirement of 10 sq. ft. of cribbing or blocking.
• Rule of 3: Multiply the square footage of the crane’s floats by 3. For instance, a 2×2 float equals 4 sq. ft. Multiply 4 sq. ft. by 3, resulting in a requirement of 12 sq. ft. of cribbing or blocking.

For more comprehensive guidance, we encourage you to consult OSHA’s standard on cranes and derricks in construction (1926 Subpart CC). Your safety remains our top priority, and we are here to support you in the safe utilization of your equipment.

By Paige Cerulli

Why Use Outrigger Pads?

Outrigger pads are large, dense pads that you place underneath a piece of equipment’s foot, outrigger, or shoe. The pads help to stabilize the equipment, keeping it from sinking into the ground and preventing the ground from shifting while you’re using the equipment.

Even though ground might seem flat and stable, it has slight imperfections that can potentially cause a heavy load to topple over. The pad distributes the machine’s weight more evenly and avoids a situation where you’re anchoring your machine on loose dirt or gravel.

Keep in mind that OSHA requirements include the use of outrigger pads when using certain types of equipment, like cranes.
Outrigger pads offer several benefits:

Increased Job Site Safety

Outrigger pads amount to increased job site safety. These pads could help to prevent accidents and potential equipment vehicle tip-overs.
Those effects could also amount to increased safety for you and your employees. The use of these pads demonstrates to employees that you value and take steps to ensure their safety.

Prevention of Equipment Damage

By better stabilizing your equipment, you can help to prevent it from being damaged in a tip-over or other accident. Outrigger pads are an important investment in your equipment’s protection.

When you use a larger size pad, you can even extend your equipment’s footprint, helping to prevent the foot from sinking down into softer earth. This type of usage can be ideal for equipment that will be parked for a longer period of time, like an RV, and makes it easier to remove the equipment again.

More Versatile Site Maneuverability

Since outrigger pads allow you to safely place and stabilize your equipment even on surfaces that aren’t perfectly flat or firm, they give you more maneuverability around your job site.

Looking for the perfect place to park your truck or crane without the use of outrigger pads could waste valuable time, and such a spot might not exist at certain sites.

With outrigger pads, you’ll have more options and can save time as you move around the job site. You may be better able to maneuver around the site to get your work done, saving time and staying on deadline and within budget.

Qualities to Look for in Outrigger Pads

As you look for outrigger pads, it’s important to choose pads that are the right mats for your equipment and your usage. You can look for several qualities to help you tell which pads are the best choice.

Pad Size

The pad needs to be larger than your equipment shoes. If you want to buy one set of pads that you can use across all of your different equipment, then determine which piece of equipment has the largest shoes and buy pads that are larger than that.

At Greatmats, our smallest pads measure 15x15 inches, while the largest are 4x4 feet. These larger pads offer more stability, so you will need to buy a pad that’s not only appropriate for the shoe size, but also for the type of material that you tend to work on.

Weight Capacity

Our outrigger pads are made of a highly durable plastic, and they offer load capacities of 20,000 pounds and up. It’s essential that you choose a pad that will support the highest load that your equipment will ever carry, or you could damage the pad.

When choosing the pad that’s right for your equipment, don’t forget to defer to your equipment owner manuals. Most manuals include specifications about pad dimensions and capacities.

Care and Maintenance

When your whole business is mobile, you don’t want to have to invest extra time into cleaning and maintaining your outrigger pads. It’s important that you can easily remove the pads, load them, and be on your way.

Look for pads that can be hosed down and scraped off for simple and fast maintenance. Consider, too, how easy the pads are to move.

When you’re working with 4x4 footpads, make sure they’re equipped with handles so that you can move them easily. Our pads have orange handles that not only make them easy to grip, but that are also easy to see.

Durability

Pads are an important business investment, but you also want to be sure that the pad is going to last for years. At Greatmats, our outrigger pads are manufactured from an engineered thermoplastic, which makes them strong and supportive.

The plastic resists challenges common on job sites, including water and oils, extreme temperatures, and chemicals. They’re built for repeated use, so their purchase is a long-term investment in your business.

When you’re working with large, heavy equipment like cranes and backhoes, it’s important to have the tools you need to use that equipment safely on each job site. Outrigger pads are essential safety tools, and they’re important investments for your construction business.Outrigger pads are large, dense pads that you place underneath a piece of equipment’s foot, outrigger, or shoe. The pads help to stabilize the equipment, keeping it from sinking into the ground and preventing the ground from shifting while you’re using the equipment.Even though ground might seem flat and stable, it has slight imperfections that can potentially cause a heavy load to topple over. The pad distributes the machine’s weight more evenly and avoids a situation where you’re anchoring your machine on loose dirt or gravel.Keep in mind that OSHA requirements include the use of outrigger pads when using certain types of equipment, like cranes.Outrigger pads offer several benefits:Outrigger pads amount to increased job site safety. These pads could help to prevent accidents and potential equipment vehicle tip-overs.Those effects could also amount to increased safety for you and your employees. The use of these pads demonstrates to employees that you value and take steps to ensure their safety.By better stabilizing your equipment, you can help to prevent it from being damaged in a tip-over or other accident. Outrigger pads are an important investment in your equipment’s protection.When you use a larger size pad, you can even extend your equipment’s footprint, helping to prevent the foot from sinking down into softer earth. This type of usage can be ideal for equipment that will be parked for a longer period of time, like an RV, and makes it easier to remove the equipment again.Since outrigger pads allow you to safely place and stabilize your equipment even on surfaces that aren’t perfectly flat or firm, they give you more maneuverability around your job site.Looking for the perfect place to park your truck or crane without the use of outrigger pads could waste valuable time, and such a spot might not exist at certain sites.With outrigger pads, you’ll have more options and can save time as you move around the job site. You may be better able to maneuver around the site to get your work done, saving time and staying on deadline and within budget.As you look for outrigger pads, it’s important to choose pads that are the right mats for your equipment and your usage. You can look for several qualities to help you tell which pads are the best choice.The pad needs to be larger than your equipment shoes. If you want to buy one set of pads that you can use across all of your different equipment, then determine which piece of equipment has the largest shoes and buy pads that are larger than that.At Greatmats, our smallest pads measure 15x15 inches, while the largest are 4x4 feet. These larger pads offer more stability, so you will need to buy a pad that’s not only appropriate for the shoe size, but also for the type of material that you tend to work on.Our outrigger pads are made of a highly durable plastic, and they offer load capacities of 20,000 pounds and up. It’s essential that you choose a pad that will support the highest load that your equipment will ever carry, or you could damage the pad.When choosing the pad that’s right for your equipment, don’t forget to defer to your equipment owner manuals. Most manuals include specifications about pad dimensions and capacities.When your whole business is mobile, you don’t want to have to invest extra time into cleaning and maintaining your outrigger pads. It’s important that you can easily remove the pads, load them, and be on your way.Look for pads that can be hosed down and scraped off for simple and fast maintenance. Consider, too, how easy the pads are to move.When you’re working with 4x4 footpads, make sure they’re equipped with handles so that you can move them easily. Our pads have orange handles that not only make them easy to grip, but that are also easy to see.Pads are an important business investment, but you also want to be sure that the pad is going to last for years. At Greatmats, our outrigger pads are manufactured from an engineered thermoplastic, which makes them strong and supportive.The plastic resists challenges common on job sites, including water and oils, extreme temperatures, and chemicals. They’re built for repeated use, so their purchase is a long-term investment in your business.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Crane Outrigger Pads.