Safety First: Best Practices for Using Industrial Lifting Equipment
On March 27, 2024 by adminIndustrial lifting equipment like forklifts, cranes, and hoists provide indispensable lifting and moving capabilities for worksites. However, these powerful machines also pose serious risks if not operated safely. Following proper procedures and preventative measures helps mitigate hazards when using lifting equipment.
Ensure operators are trained and certified. Extensive hands-on training teaches how to maneuver equipment properly, judge load weights, and respond in emergencies. Untrained users account for many lifting accidents. Retraining at set intervals reinforces good habits.
Inspect equipment thoroughly before shifts. Check for leaks, damage, loose parts or frayed cables daily. Confirm brakes, horns, backup alarms, lifting mechanisms, and safety guards are functional. Defective equipment should be immediately reported and taken out of service for repair.
Use equipment only for approved purposes. Cranes designed for lifting cannot hoist workers aloft. Bulldozers lack attachments for suspended loads. Know the equipment’s limitations and don’t jury-rig unsafe adaptations that override safety features.
Follow the weight capacity guidelines. Exceeding a crane or hoist’s maximum load rating risks breakage and collapse. Include the weight of accessories like rigging, magnets and personnel platforms when calculating total lifted load. Maintain a 15 percent safety margin.
Use outriggers and stabilizing elements. Forklifts must lower and set wheel braces before hoisting heavy loads high up. Crane outriggers widen the base of support. Never attempt lifts without fully stabilizing equipment first.
Define and clear the drop zone. Know exactly where loads will be picked up and deposited. Barricade and signpost the area to prevent workers from passing underneath suspended loads in motion. Keep sights on loads.
Rig loads properly. Use appropriate slings, chains, forks, and attachments to securely rig the type of load being lifted. Periodically inspect rigging hardware for damage. Unstable, shifting or swinging loads are hazardous.
Never lift people without proper equipment. Man cages, platforms and certified personnel lifts maintain stability. Operators need special training on smooth, gentle load manipulation when lifting workers. Make fall protection mandatory.
Take it slow and steady. Rapid starts, jerky motions, and abrupt stops add risk. Smoothly accelerate then decelerate for gentle load handling. Double the estimated lift or lowering time for extra caution near workers.
Safety and maintenance should be top priorities when operating industrial lifting machinery. Keeping equipment in optimal condition, following operational protocols, and reinforcing training prevents accidents and downtime.
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