The earliest ancestors of cranes were devices already in use in ancient Rome around 50 AD, including in the Colosseum. The prototype of the crane had a mechanism consisting of a system of ropes and a counterweight raised to a specific height. This allowed up to 20 gladiators to be carried into the arena at the same time. The crane, commonly known as a lift or lift, was used to move people and goods efficiently on a platform or cabin. Many cities have had the chance to develop with this type of technology, including Tokyo and Shanghai. Nowadays, lifts are used even in low-rise buildings. Lifts have transformed life for the disabled and elderly, allowing them to move safely and freely between floors. In the past, the premises on the top floors were meant for servants or the poor. Nowadays, thanks to passenger lifts, flats on the top levels are most desirable due to reduced noise levels, more light and better views. Another breakthrough in the development of lifts was brought about by solutions for their acceleration. When the steam engine became too slow, there were high-speed hydraulic lifts introduced by Otis Elevator, the company responsible for some of the biggest breakthroughs of the time. Another technological change was the introduction of electric motors - a solution that was implemented in 1880. Automatic lift doors were also invented in 1880. In contrast, the first electric passenger lift was developed in the first decades of the 20th century and is still considered the industry standard today. Today, a lift is a device that is permanently mounted in a metal, glass or masonry structure. It consists of a cabin or platform raised by means of a winch.

Based on the purpose, we can distinguish between passenger, passenger-freight and goods lifts, as well as construction, theatre, hospital and special lifts. Lifts can also be divided into hydraulic and electric. Hydraulic lifts have a drive based on the action of a special pump, while electric lifts operate thanks to a winch that is set in motion by a motor.

There are different types of cranes because of their use:

  • Construction - used on construction sites; used for the vertical transport of building materials and people, which takes place in a cabin or on a platform that moves along vertical and sometimes slightly inclined guides.
  • Passenger - these are designed to enable the vertical transportation of people to higher floors in a special cabin that moves along rigid vertical guides.
  • Freight - do not carry passengers in the cab and only serve specific stop levels. They cannot be controlled from inside the cab. They are designed in such a way that they cannot accommodate anything other than the vertically transported load. Also goods lifts, e.g. catering lifts, are lifts without access of persons to the cabin. The reason for this is to ensure health and safety in the food industry. Lifts are also used in the construction industry and in trade.
  • Freight and passenger vehicles, which are used to move goods including those responsible for loading and unloading.
  • Hospital vans are used to transport hospital beds together with medical equipment and persons. They have functions suitable for emergency driving.

Breakdown of lifts by different types:

  • drive - hydraulic and electric cranes
  • construction - single cabin and double cabin
  • construction of drive mechanism - with and without reducer
  • control method - external, internal, adjustable, group, dispatchable
  • shaft construction - hoist with or without engine room, panoramic
  • purpose of the lift - passenger, goods, passenger/freight, building, hospital or special purpose

According to the Council of Ministers' Decree of 7 December 2012, construction cranes are subject to technical supervision. Any equipment intended for use on a construction site must have an up-to-date operating permit in order to be used in accordance with the law. The document is issued by the Office of Technical Inspection. It requires a written notification for technical examination. After the document has been analysed and the unit has been checked by an employee of the unit (in the event of a positive result), we receive a decision that allows the construction crane to be operated. This is a temporary permit, which must be renewed. It is therefore advisable to conscientiously record all repairs to the crane, as well as any servicing. The employee operating the construction crane should first check the technical condition in accordance with the guidelines set out in the operating instructions. Among other things, the markings, safety devices, control panel, as well as lighting and signalling should be checked. The results must be recorded in the logbook. If there are any irregularities, the crane should be stopped and the employer should be informed immediately. Regular maintenance is very important to ensure safe working conditions. Maintenance must be carried out in accordance with the rules of technical inspection and in accordance with the User's Manual. The person authorised to carry it out is a maintenance technician with the relevant UDT licence. All work carried out by the hoist technician must be recorded in the maintenance logbook. Refurbishments or repairs may only be carried out by specialised firms which are authorised by the Office of Technical Inspection to do so. This guarantees that the next time the crane is inspected, it will not lose its operating licence.

People who operate cranes must complete specialised training and pass an exam in order to obtain a UDT licence. During theoretical and practical classes, various topics are covered, including

  • practics of crane operation
  • HEALTH AND SAFETY
  • operation of lifts in accordance with UDT regulations
  • rights
  • construction of lifts and classification
  • obligations of the operator

Categories of authorisations for cranes granted by the Office of Technical Inspection:

  • Building cranes
  • In-house and hospital cranes and passenger lifts

The invention of the crane has had a significant impact on the development of the modern world. Every day millions of goods and people move around commercial, office, industrial and also residential buildings. Hardly anyone nowadays, when riding a lift, thinks about its history or how our lives would be if it had never been invented. However, it is worth appreciating how lifts make our daily activities easier when we are impatiently waiting for it to come to our floor or for its doors to open.