The most common buckets used by the Navy are the
type II, class S buckets. Class P buckets are available
for dredging operations.
Figure 12-34 shows the
makeup of a drag bucket.
CRANE OPERATIONS
People are crippled or killed and enormous property
damage is incurred as a direct result of crane mishaps.
Most of these crane mishaps result from OPERATOR
ERROR. The Naval Construction Force (NCF) has an
extensive crane safety program that applies to crane
operators and the safe operation of weight-handling
equipment.
Standards for weight-handling equipment
operations are outlined in the Management of
Weight-Handling Equipment, NAVFAC P-307; NCF
Equipment Management Manual, NAVFAC P-404;
NMCB Equipment Management, COMSECOND/
COMTHIRDNCBINST 11200.1; Use of Wire Rope
Slings and Rigging Hardware in the NCF,
COMSECOND/COMTHIRDNCBINST 11200.11; and
Testing and Licensing of Construction Equipment
Operators, NAVFAC P-306.
CRANE CREW
The skills and safety standards demanded for
efficient crane operations require only mature
professionals be assigned as crane operators and riggers.
The supervisor of the crane crew is normally the best
crane operator available within the battalion-wide assets
and is assigned and designated in writing by the
commanding officer. The equipment officer, the crane
test director, and the crane crew supervisor share the
responsibility of ensuring that any personnel that
prepares, assembles, operates, or works with or around
cranes are well trained in both safety and operating
procedures.
Before you receive a license to operate a crane,
crane operators are required to attend 40 hours of formal
classroom instruction on crane operating safety, as
outlined in NAVFAC P-306. Additionally, operators
who need to renew their license must attend a minimum
Figure 12-34.-Dragline bucket.
12-20
