Gone are the days when workers had to spend time lifting, carrying, holding, pushing, or pulling loads of material on construction sites. Mechanical devices for handling of materials are very common today. People have understood that lifting and carrying of materials often or for long periods of time leads to constant stress on the back and shoulders and may eventually lead to the development of serious muscle or joint injuries. So employers have decided to not only reduce risks but also increase efficiency by stopping manual material handling and implementing advanced material handling equipments.
One of the most effective solutions is to use materials, building components, or work methods that are less labor-intensive. Lifting equipments used at work should be strong and stable enough for the particular use and marked to indicate safe working loads. They should be positioned and installed to minimize any risks at sites. If used safely, and in accordance to the work plan, in an organized manner should yield competent performance and effective output.
Lifting equipment includes any equipment used at work for lifting or lowering loads, including attachments used for anchoring, fixing or supporting it. These cover a wide range of equipment including, cranes, fork-lift trucks, lifts, hoists, mobile elevating work platforms, and vehicle inspection platform hoists. We can enlist the following equipments into various categories of lifting equipments:
a) Cranes, hoists and winches - hand or power operated.b) Ropes, chains and slings of all materials used for lifting purposes.
c) Eyebolts, shackles, pulley blocks and gin wheels.d) Lifting beams - portable or runway.e) Specially designed lifting rigs, e.g. for handling of magnets, specialized equipment included in the experimental rigs etc.
f) Lifts - passenger and goods.g) Fork lift trucks, power workers, similar devices and attachments used with the equipment.
When an item of lifting equipment is acquired or otherwise obtained, it must be accompanied by a test certificate. Wire and fiber slings are exempt from the above requirement but a certificate must be obtained showing the safe working load and also include a reference to the batch sample test carried out on the material from which the rope of sling was made. In addition to these lifting operations should be planned, supervised and carried out in a safe manner by people who are competent. A copy of the design information, including calculations, material specifications and limitations of use, shall be kept together with any relevant drawings which include the safe working load and the proof test requirements.
One of the most important categories of material handling equipments is the lifting equipment. Healthy and safe use of modern day lifting equipments can ensure increased productivity and output with minimal risk for all heavy industries.
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