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Unloading Operations

Pre-planning of the unloading operations is an important part of the erection procedure. This involves careful, safe and orderly storage of all materials. Detailed planning is required at the job site where storage space is restricted. Here, a planned separation of materials in the order of the erection process is necessary to minimize the costly double handling of materials. While set procedures are not possible in all cases, special attention should be given to the following items.

1. Unload material near their usage points to minimize lifting, travel and rehandling during building assembly.

2. The edges of the concrete slab should be protected to minimize the danger of chipping or cracking from truck traffic if the materials are to be laid out on the slab. One important safety consideration is the fact that materials stored on the slab may subject the workers to possible injury from falling objects.

3. The type and size of lifting equipment is determined by the size of the building and the site conditions. Length of boom, capacity and maneuverability of lifting equipment will determine its locatin for both unloading and erection.

Use the same lifting equiment to unload and erect structural parts. Lifting equipment costs are usually minimized by combining the unloading process with building erection. As soon as the truck is unloaded, the lifing equipment should start erecting the columns and raising the assembled rafters into position.

4. Overhead power lines are a continuing source of danger. Extreme care must be used in locating and using lifting equipment to avoid contact with power lines.

5. Depending on the crew size, valuable time can generally be gained if the supervisor plans and watches ahead instead of getting tied up with a particular unloading chore.

6. When shipments are received in the field, two inspections are necessary:

a. When items, boxes, crates, bundles or other large components are received and unloaded from the carrier, they should be checked off from the packing list.

b. When bundles, crates, cartons, boxes, etc. are opened following delivery, another check must be performed to determine the quantity received and their condition.