{"id":64748,"date":"2026-06-10T08:00:44","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T23:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/norimen.net\/?p=64748"},"modified":"2026-06-07T16:10:43","modified_gmt":"2026-06-07T07:10:43","slug":"crane-outrigger-slope-leveling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/norimen.net\/en\/crane-outrigger-slope-leveling\/","title":{"rendered":"Is It Illegal to Raise a Crane\u2019s Outriggers? | Considerations for Leveling a Crane on Sloped Ground"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hello, everyone.<\/p>\n

This is Enta.<\/p>\n

I found this photo the other day, so I posted it on social media.<\/p>\n

This photo shows wooden planks laid beneath the crane's outriggers, forming a scaffold about 1 meter high.<\/p>\n

At first glance, you might think, \u201cThat looks dangerous!\u201d<\/p>\n

I think so too, but please take a closer look at the photo.<\/p>\n

Since the crane is on a slope, it looks like the front is touching the ground and only the rear is raised.<\/p>\n

\"Crane,<\/p>\n

I'm getting slammed on social media again lol<\/p>\n

It's not even my worksite, lol<\/p>\n

Especially to outsiders who aren't familiar with the situation on the ground.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s true that when outsiders criticize us like this, it can sometimes turn people in the industry off and drive them away, which makes me think, \u201cThis isn\u2019t good,\u201d but,<\/p>\n

I don't really mind, so feel free to criticize me.<\/p>\n

Since most of these kinds of criticisms are made on social media, people don\u2019t actually call me directly or come to the office.<\/p>\n

If you have a complaint, take it up with me directly.<\/p>\n

Of course, if we were doing that on-site without the general contractor\u2019s permission, that would be a problem, lol.<\/p>\n

Basics of Rough-Terrain Cranes<\/h2>\n

Well, there are a lot of people on social media who have that kind of misconception, but when it comes to whether this is actually illegal, it\u2019s surprisingly not the case.<\/p>\n

This is because rough-terrain cranes are generally installed horizontally.<\/p>\n

\"Outrigger\"<\/p>\n

This is just standard practice in our industry, isn't it?<\/p>\n

So the photo in this post (the one at the top) isn't wrong, after all.<\/p>\n

If you say everything\u2019s dangerous, then everything really is dangerous\u2014which means the only safe thing to do is not work at all, lol.<\/p>\n

\"Extend the outriggers as far as possible\" is the golden rule!<\/h2>\n

Since I'm at it, I'll go ahead and include the relevant laws as well.<\/p>\n

Regarding the outriggers of mobile cranes, Article 70-5 of the Safety Regulations for Cranes, etc. stipulates that the outriggers must be extended to their maximum extent.<\/p>\n

However, according to the proviso in the same provision, even if it is absolutely impossible to post the notice to the maximum extent allowed,<\/p>\n

However, this does not apply if it is certain that the load will be less than the rated load corresponding to that overhang.<\/p>\n

To be specific, I'm talking about situations on the road where, due to one-way traffic restrictions, you can't step out into the adjacent lane.<\/p>\n

This means that even in such situations, as long as the load is properly managed, there is still room to carry out the work.<\/p>\n

And one more thing. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism\u2019s safety operation manuals, cranes must always be kept level,Choose a site with level, firm ground.<\/strong>...If the ground is soft, it is recommended to reinforce it with steel plates or similar materials; these are listed as basic guidelines.<\/p>\n

Well, people who say it's dangerous tend to point this part out.<\/p>\n

The reason I\u2019m so particular about keeping it level is that the crane\u2019s rated load capacity (the maximum weight it can lift) is,<\/p>\n

That's because the calculations are based on the assumption that the vehicle is level and the outriggers are extended as specified.<\/p>\n

I think what this means is that if the bike leans, a moment acts on the side toward the fall in proportion to that lean, causing the figures guaranteed by the manufacturer to be compromised.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why, even if it means adjusting the outrigger extension differently on the left and right when driving on a slope, I make sure the vehicle itself stays perfectly level.<\/p>\n

Basically, it comes down to \u201cextending as far as possible to the left and right,\u201d \u201ckeeping the body level,\u201d and \u201cstabilizing the base.\u201d As long as these three elements are in place,<\/p>\n

The point is that no matter how unstable it may seem on the surface, it still makes sense, right?<\/p>\n

All that's left is to make sure as much as possible that the force doesn't go toward that scaffold.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A Construction Job That Had Me on the Edge of My Seat<\/h2>\n

More than 20 years ago, when I was a site supervisor, we were doing pile driving using a large-diameter down-the-hole hammer at that job site.<\/p>\n

That's a retaining pile, isn't it?<\/p>\n

I think it was \u03c6650, and when it was removed, they used a 50-metric-ton crane for the job.<\/p>\n

The process was the same for both installation and removal; the road was completely closed to traffic during construction.<\/p>\n

And the location where the crane was to be set up was on a steep uphill slope.<\/p>\n

And it's a curve, too.<\/p>\n

As those of you in the industry probably know, when a road curves and goes uphill, it tends to twist, doesn't it?<\/p>\n

Since it was a left curve, when I set up the crane facing uphill, I raised the left rear by up to 1.5 meters and the right rear by about 0.5 meters lol.<\/p>\n

If you think about it normally, it\u2019s incredibly scary, but this was the only way we could do the work.<\/p>\n

Since the load was suspended from the front\u2014which is the standard method\u2014it was still on the safe side.<\/p>\n

If we consider the basics of setting up a crane's outriggers, this should ensure the crane is level, so there shouldn't be any problems.<\/p>\n

It just looks a little unstable, lol.<\/p>\n

How to carry out construction safely under those conditions<\/h2>\n

\"Slope<\/p>\n

On-site, we do our best to carry out construction work even under the most challenging conditions.<\/p>\n

Even in an extremely dangerous situation.<\/p>\n

We will exercise the utmost care and ensure the highest possible level of safety within our capabilities.<\/p>\n

As a result, there are countless construction sites where the work has been completed without a hitch and is going smoothly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Even in situations that are generally unacceptable, we manage to get by and bring things under control.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s just a matter of course for us construction workers, though.<\/p>\n

It isn't accepted by the general public.<\/h2>\n

Especially on social media, where it catches the eye of a wide range of random people, all I get is criticism lol.<\/p>\n

So I can understand why government agencies and NEXCO are reluctant to disclose the locations.<\/p>\n

You don't want to go through all that trouble over such a silly complaint, do you? lol<\/p>\n

And, of course, there are probably all sorts of other issues, like information leaks, and so on.<\/p>\n

Personally, I think they should just keep releasing content and ignore the criticism, but I guess that\u2019s difficult in Japan.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Well, either way, \u201cnot doing it\u201d isn\u2019t an option for us, so we\u2019ll find a way to make it happen!<\/p>\n

Sometimes, even while exercising the utmost caution and prioritizing safety, you just have to walk a fine line!<\/p>\n

It\u2019s just that you aren\u2019t sharing it\u2014but I\u2019m sure everyone is definitely struggling on the job!<\/p>\n

I totally get it!<\/p>\n

You grow by going through tough times, don't you? lol<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

See you later.<\/p>\n

Be Alert to Heavy Rain Warnings in Mountainous Areas | Risk of Slope Collapses<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n