Support Information

Crane capacity guide and other information

If you aren’t sure about the type of crane to use, just give Ellis Crane Hire Ltd a call. We offer a crane capacity guide along with expert advice to customers in Gloucester and the surrounding areas.

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Support information

With over 40 years of experience in the industry, Ellis Crane Hire can offer you precise assessments and expert advice on the type of crane to be used for various projects.

Here is some of the information we have to offer:

Crane capacity guide
Weather forecast
Frequently asked questions

Our customers

Crane capacity guide

Safety guidelines

Weather forecast

The weather conditions on-site are a critical component when carrying out lifting operations. You can check the wind and weather conditions at your location using the information available at https://www.xcweather.co.uk/.

N.B.

This site will provide a weather forecast that maybe subject to change.

Frequently asked questions

What area do you cover?

Our normal area of operation is in the County of Gloucestershire and the surrounding areas, but we do travel farther afield.

What is the minimum period of hire for a crane?

Normally the minimum period is a day, but in certain circumstances shorter periods may be negotiable.

I have never hired a crane before, how do I go about it?

If you have no experience or qualifications with cranes, you will need to request a Contract Lift. We will plan the lift, insure the crane and load, and take full responsibility for the operation.

Click here for an overview of responsibilities

What size of crane do I need?

The main factors in determining the size of crane required are the weight of the load and the distance (or ‘radius’) from the center of the cranes slew ring to the center of the load at its desired location. There can however be other considerations such as load characteristics, buildings and obstacles or restricted access, which influence the type and size of crane. If you have any doubts call us for advice or commission a Contract Lift.

What size of cranes do you hire?

We have a comprehensive fleet of truck-mounted and all terrain cranes.

What do I need to do to hire a crane?

Simply pick up the phone and call the number on the contacts page. Non-account customers are able to make payment by credit or debit card or by electronic bank transfer.

Do I need to provide anything on the day of the hire?

Providing you have notified us of the nature of the lift when ordering the crane we will bring with us the necessary lifting gear such as slings, chains and shackles to lift the load. All our cranes carry a selection of this type of equipment. For more complex lifts or where there are additional requirements such as lifting beams they will be provided at an additional charge. Under CPA Crane Hire conditions the driver will ask to see a Risk Assessment, Method Statement and Berthing Study before he commences the job. These are required by The Health and Safety at Work Act, under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. If you do not have a ‘Competent Person’ able to produce these documents and to supervise the operation you should ask us to carry out a Contract Lift.

Do I need to be insured?

If the lift is carried out under the C.P.A. model conditions for the hiring of plant you must insure the crane for loss or damage whilst it is hired to you, even though it is supplied with an operator. This ‘Hired in Plant’ insurance must also cover the replacement cost of the crane and any loss of hire charges we may incur whilst the crane undergoes repairs. You should also have Third Party liability insurance. Under CPA Contract Lift conditions these risks are covered by our insurance, with goods being lifted covered up to £25,000. Higher values can be covered at additional cost.

What is an Appointed Person?

An Appointed Person is the person responsible for planning the lift and writing the Method Statement and Risk Assessment. They should be a ‘Competent Person’ as defined under Health and Safety legislation. Where an organisation does not have a Competent Person they should request a Contract Lift.

Do your personnel carry any form of certification or qualification?

All of our operators and site staff have CPCS (Construction Plant Competency Scheme) qualifications, which is recognised by all major companies in the industry as the required standard. In addition all our cranes and lifting equipment undergo regular insurance inspections. Test certificates are kept with the relevant equipment and are available for inspection at any time.

What type of crane do I need?

Mobile cranes can be classified in three basic types, All Terrain, Truck Mounted or Specialist. The lifting task, access to the site and load to be lifted will determine the most appropriate crane.

How good is your safety record?

We take safety very seriously and have an excellent record. All our operatives are instructed to stop a job at any time if they believe that safety is being compromised.