Safety Tips On Using Lifting Gear

Using any form of lifting gear, whether it is a small item like a shackle or chain sling

, or a bigger machine like an electric hoist or jib crane can be hazardous if particular operations aren't followed. Some time ago new regulations were announced regarding the safe use of lifting gear, it is generally known as L.O.L.E.R; or lifting operations and lifting equipment regulations. These regulations additionally comprise inspection strategies for lifting devices to make sure they meet the requirements set.

We will now check out perhaps the most important factors of safety regarding using any lifting gear product.

The safe working load (SWL) of any lifting gear is imperative to its safety, and should be easily noticable on every product, if not then it will require testing to determine the SWL and a test certificate needs to be issued to confirm this. The swl is the maximum weight the device can lift safely, and so must never be loaded over this limit, it is often recommended to utilize a device with added capacity to what you might be likely to need to allow for mistakes however providing improved safety.

One more major factor to take into consideration is care and maintenance of all lifting equipment in use. Prior to every use, especially if it's not been used for some time, it's recommended to give the item the once over, checking for just about any problems which can be detrimental to its safe use, this might be something as simple as a loose bolt of even slight cracking in the welded joints. If any flaws are observed then the item really should not be used until it's been corrected and re-tested if necessary. It is also important to note that all lifting gear products should undergo safety inspections frequently, 6 or 12 monthly is the norm.

Another excellent safety practice to perform prior to each use is the trial lift, highly recommended by experienced lifting gear operators. This procedure is done by securely connecting the item to the selected lifting device and then very slowly and gently elevate it just off the floor, the item may then be assessed to ensure it is held securely and is well balanced, at this stage it can be simply lowered and corrections made if needed. Carrying out this procedure prior to the entire lift will really decrease the risk of the lift failing and causing injuries.

All lifting processes must be carried out in a careful manner to minimise the risk of injury, especially if the user of the appliance is not experienced, for instance if you are using a chain sling to lift your load, there a variety of different types of hitches appropriate for different loads, and needs years of experience to recognise the most effective one to evenly balance your load about the centre of gravity so that it will not tip. Where possible it's best to have the users taught properly to operate some lifting gear devices, or at the very least abide by the user guidelines which should come with the product.

The above described basic guidelines should always be adopted, failure to do so could possibly result in accidents, leading to fines , or even worse, a severely disabling injury or maybe death. Remember, safety first.

by:Nikki Dale

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