Health and Safety issues for lifting heavy machinery

Health and Safety issues for lifting heavy machinery

Are you self-employed or an employer who provides the usage of lifting machine at work? Or perhaps you have control over its usage, then; you must ensure its safety.

The first thing you need to think about is the risks that may be present as well as how they can be managed. For instance:

• The deterioration of the machine as a result of wet, corrosive or harsh environments;
• Attempts to lift weights, which are very heavy, and at the same time surpass the machine load limit;
• Failure of the equipment;
• The use of the equipment or planning of the lift by unskilled workers;
• People being hit by moving components of the equipment or by items dropping.

Safe lifting should be appropriately planned, supervised and carried out by an expert. Any machine you make use of must have been designed properly, manufactured and tested. Likewise, do not forget to maintain it properly.

The factors to be considered as far as safe lifting is concerned are:

• What exactly are you lifting?
• How weighty is it?
• At exactly what point is its centre of gravity?
• How would you assign it to the lifting device?
• Who controls the lift?
• What exactly are the bounds of the equipment?
• Could the lift be rehearsed?

THE DOS AND DON’TS OF LIFTING MACHINERY SAFELY

DOS

• Make use of only licenced lifting equipment that is labeled safe for working load and likewise, not overdue for a test;
• Keep the records associated with the declarations of conformity or detailed evaluation and test certificates as well;
• Be certain that the load is correctly mounted on the lifting machine. If required, safely bind the load to avert it from falling or slipping off;
• Before lifting any unbalanced load, locate its middle of gravity; lift it a couple of inches above the ground and pause. This is to ensure it is well balanced;
• Make use of packaging to prevent the sharp sides of the load from destroying slings. Never allow tackle to be destroyed by being dropped, pulled from under loads or exposed to unexpected loads;
• When making use of jib cranes, ensure that any signs for safe loads are adequately working and are correctly set for the task along with the way the equipment is designed;
• Make use of outriggers where essential;
• Whenever multi-slings are used, ensure the sling angle is considered;
• Endeavour to have a reliable banks man or slinger and also, make use of a recognised signalling system.

DONTS

• Never use inappropriate machine, e.g. damaged or severely worn chains that are shortened with knots, makeshift, twisted or kinked wire ropes, rotted or frayed fibre ropes;
• Never surpass the safe working load of the equipment or gadgets like slings and grabs, chains. Bear in mind the load in the lower limbs of a sling rises as the angle between the legs rises;
• Never carry any load should you be in doubt about its weight or the capability of the equipment.

What does LOLER apply to?

The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations ( LOLER ) apply to any lifting equipment used at work, including: employees' own lifting equipment for lowering or lifting loads, attachments used for anchoring, fixing or supporting it. However, these regulations do not extend to fixed anchor points that form part of a structure or building.

LOLER covers a wide variety of equipment, which include:

• Hoists
• Mobile elevating work platforms
• Vehicle inspection platform hoists
• Lifts
• Fork-lift trucks
• Cranes 

The regulations also include lifting accessories such as slings, eyebolts, chains etc. LOLER doesn’t apply to escalators, which are covered by the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations.

For more information on we take this seriously, and to book a heavy lifting machine for your next project, call 0845 603 7180 or fill in our enquiry form and talk safety.

Vacuum Lifting for Glass Lifting Projects

Vacuum Lifting for Glass Lifting Projects

Glass is a material which has been used for many years in architecture and with the rise of more courageous designs, glass as a preference for building material is growing.

One problem with this is the need to lift and move the vast sheets of glass during construction. To overcome this, vacuum lifting systems have been used to transport and install glass panels over the last 50 years. When it comes to a smooth, non-porous glass surface, a vacuum lifting system is best suited for the job.

Furthermore, there is the possibility of using other elevator systems purely for load design.

In addition to the "normal" requirements for manual vacuum lifting, there is equipment that can rotate 360°, 180° and 90° with a load capacity of 300 kg and 800 kg. Heavier loads require motorised operations for these movements. However, the vacuum lifting system with a capacity up to 600 kg is the most widely used.

Nowadays vacuum systems like this are required more often because of the increase in complex contours of buildings, increasing demands for thermal insulation, higher buildings and the growing size of the glass panels installed.

Self-closing mechanisms for turning movements and rotation allow controlled positioning of the glass load, in a safe and economical manner. With detachable arm extensions, one can set the system to move pieces of different sizes, making it a very versatile way to operate.

The vacuum lifting equipment of larger capacities is often used in conjunction with hydraulic or electrical systems when heavy loads are handled. These systems can be manoeuvred by cable or radio remote control.

The hydraulic system performs the rotation of the load. This piece of equipment does not depend on any external power source.

Positioning systems with a hydraulic drive can also be combined with special suction tools, for installing convex or concave panels. In some cases, three hydraulic cylinders are accurately positioned, easily allowing the suctioned panels to be applied. The rotating suction cups, which are adjustable, make this system able to handle different formats of glass panels.

Installing glass facades using lifting equipment mounted on scaffolding vacuum is a challenge. Normally there are only 30 cm of separation between the scaffold and the façade, insufficient to operate the lift system with built-away glass panels. This is especially true when the panel must be rotated to fit in the place of installation. The necessary pivot joint and binding crane arm require that the depth of the system is at least 18 to 20 cm. In these conditions it is not possible to secure installation of the glass panel.

One such system that is very popular amongst contractors is the Glassboy – a state of the art piece of Vacuum Glass Lifting Equipment.

The key benefits of this is that it is both compact and reliable, being powered by an internal, re-chargeable battery. The GlassBoy glass lifter has a 360° rotation with locking facility every 90°, alongside a lifting capacity of 500kg. Being compact, it is also easy to transport and install in many locations, making it an ideal choice for lots of different kinds of glass lifting projects.

See our Glassboy information

If you need any more advice or to book our glassboy for glass installation, call 0845 603 7180 or fill in our inquiry form

Types of Roto Telehandler

The story of the design and implementation of construction machinery we see today operating on our roads and in our construction sites are dotted with developments of the early models and concepts that have brought us to where we are today. An example of this is the well-known Merlo Roto telehandler, which debuted back in 1991 but still is one of the spearheads for construction and industry across the UK.
Of course, technical changes aimed at improving this model have been made, and the new telescopic handlers such as the Roto 60.24 and Roto 40.30 are the result of this philosophy of always aiming at improvement. With a flow rate of 6 tonnes, the Roto 60.24 sets a new standard in the work on site while with a working height close to 30m; the Roto 40.30 allows swift interventions at incredible heights.
During the operating steps, security it is constantly monitored by the computerised system MCSS (Merlo Continuous Slew Safety), while the continuous rotation of the turret is made possible by the exclusive rotating joint created by Merlo. The hydraulic system is load-sensing, as are the levelling hydro-pneumatic suspension and stabilisers, independently operated. Finally, to improve visibility in the heights of working, the cab is tilted upwards up to 18°.

Technical Specifications of the different Roto models

• Roto 60.24 MCSS 




Operating weight with forks  20,000kg
Lifting Height (m) 23.9
Capacity at maximum height (kg) 3.500
Turret rotation (degrees) 360 continuous
Turbo (brand / cylinders) Nef / 6
Tier 3 engine power (kW / hp) 130/176
Maximum speed (km / h) 40

• Roto 40.30 









Operating weight with forks (kg) 19,800
Lifting Height (m) 29.2

Capacity at maximum height (kg) 2.000

Turret rotation (degrees) 360 continuous
Turbo (brand / cylinders) Nef / 6
Tier 3 engine power (kW / hp) 130/176
Maximum speed (km / h) 40

• Roto 33.16 KS







Year Built: 2006
KW capacity: 74.9
Capacity in HP:
Maximum speed: 40 km / h
Turbo:
Transmission: Telehandler Rotating in perfect condition

• Roto 38.13









3,800 kg
Lift height 13m
Cab type Enclosed cab
Engine power 90 hp
Transmission: Manual Change
Weight 8,700 kg
Load capacity 3,800 kg
Maximum range 13 m








• Roto 40.25
Capacity weight:  4,000kg
Max lift height: 25M,
1200mm forks,
Edge smooth bucket 2250mm;
Quick coupler,
Frame levelling,
Diesel engine,
4X4 W / 3 way steering,
Enclosed cab

• Roto 45.21 

Steering working platform: Yes
Max. Capacity: 4.5 T
Lift Height: 20.8 M
Height: 2.95m
Max. Speed: 25mph
Engine Power: 106.6 kW

Construction Health & Safety

Construction Health & Safety

Improving the safety, health and working conditions ultimately depends on the co-operation of people working together, whether employers or workers. The safety management includes the functions of planning, identifying problem areas, coordination, control and management of security activities on site, all with the aim of preventing accidents and diseases.

The prevention of accidents is often misunderstood, as most people mistakenly believe that "accident" is "injury", which presupposes that an accident is irrelevant unless it involves an injury. A construction manager should obviously be concerned about injuries to workers, but their main concern should be the dangerous conditions that cause them: the "incident" rather than "injury" itself.

On a construction site, there are many more "incidents" than injury. A dangerous action can be performed hundreds of times before it causes an injury and so efforts should focus on eliminating these potential hazards. Therefore security management means taking safety measures before accidents occur. Effective security management has four main objectives:

·        A secure environment;

·        Make work safe;

·        Make the workers are aware of security;

·        Make the equipment, vehicles and machinery safe.

Telescopic Handlers and MEWPs

Construction site machinery and vehicles are major components in the area of health and safety. Without proper supervision, training and maintenance, these machines can be fatal.

Where telescopic handlers are concerned, the machine should be carefully chosen, maintained and operated by qualified drivers. Most injuries and other accidents with telescopic handlers happen when the machinery is moving and hits a person, especially whilst reversing. The other main cause is when the vehicle is lifting and overturns. These types of hazard must be identified through a thorough risk assessment where specific measures can be implemented.

The right telehandler should be picked for the job. However, in general, the telehandler must have good all round visibility around the driver, both in rear and forward positions. The vehicle should not be overloaded as this can cause the telehandler to overturn. Using the vehicle on unstable ground is another hazard worth avoiding as this will affect their operation to varying degrees. Lastly, the telehandler should adhere to the site speed limit, especially when turning round corners.

In terms of health and safety, the use of an MEWP (multi elevating work platform) shares many of the same aspects as a telehandler. The main cause of accident and injuries is through entrapment in the basket, falling, collision with people or vehicles or if the MEWP overturns.

A careful risk assessment should be in place to identify all the potential hazards for the event of an accident. All operators should be trained and the vehicles must be regularly maintained. Any overhead structures and cables need to be identified, alongside ground conditions. The weather can affect the operation of MEWPs, so this is also a factor to consider. Making sure outriggers are extended, guard rails are in place and if necessary, the securing of a harness and work restraint lanyard are all other aspects of health and safety with MEWPs.

Safety Policies

The conditions of safe and healthy working do not happen by chance: it is necessary that employers have a written safety policy in the company to establish the health and safety that aims to achieve this. This policy shall appoint the head manager that standards are applied and authorised to delegate responsibilities for management and supervisors at all levels to fulfil them. The security policy should cover the following aspects:

·        Devices for training at all levels. You need to pay special attention to key areas such as putting up scaffolding and crane handling, and where errors can be especially dangerous.

·        Methods or safe systems of work for risky operations; workers performing these operations must be involved in its preparation;

·        The duties and responsibilities of supervisors in key positions;

·        Devices to disseminate information on health and safety;

·        Measures to establish safety committees;

·        Selection and control of subcontractors.

The organisation of safety on a construction site depends on the size of the area, the employment system and the way the project is organised. You must keep records of health and safety that facilitate the identification and resolution of such problems.

In construction projects where subcontractors are used, the contract shall include the responsibilities, duties and security measures expected in the workforce of the subcontractor. Such measures may include the provision and use of certain safety equipment, methods for specific tasks safely, and inspection and proper handling of tools. The charge of the work must also verify that materials, equipment and tools brought to the same project meet minimum safety standards.

Training should be provided at all levels: management, supervisors and workers. You may also need training to subcontractors and their employees in safety procedures of the work, as different teams of specialised workers can affect their mutual security.

A system should also exist for the management to receive information quickly about unsafe practices and faulty equipment. The tasks of health and safety should be specifically allocated to certain persons. The following are examples of some of the duties that must be included:

·        The supply, construction and maintenance of security installations such as access roads, footpaths and barricades;

·        Construction and installation of safety signs;

·        Testing of lifting equipment such as cranes and cargo cranes and lifting accessories such as ropes and rings;

·        Inspection and correction of access facilities such as scaffolding and ladders;

·        Inspection and cleaning of the common welfare facilities such as toilets, changing rooms and dining rooms;

·        Emergency and evacuation plans.

No plan or security policy will be feasible unless each specific task is assigned to a specific person or is completed within a specified period. The safety plan or policy should be transmitted to the level of workers whose health and safety it is, after all, seeking to safeguard.

Safety managers and supervisors

Construction companies of any size must appoint one or more qualified individuals whose primary and special responsibility will be to promote health and safety. Whoever is appointed should have direct access to the head of the company, and their duties are:

·        The organisation of information to be transmitted from the direction of the workers, including those working for subcontractors;

·        Organising and conducting safety training programs, including basic training for construction workers;

·        Research and study of the circumstances and causes of accidents and occupational diseases, and to advise on preventive measures;

·        Providing consulting services and technical support to the safety committee;

·        Participate in pre-planning of the work.

To fulfil these functions, the safety officer should have experience in the industry and have adequate training and also belong to a professional association recognised in health and safety. You can find out much more on all aspects of health and safety on constructions sites at http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/

Contract Lifting

If you don’t have a particular expertise in construction or lack the qualified experience of heavy lifting on such a site, then there are other options. Hiring in a specialist lifting company is often the best way to go, as the teams of trained experts handle the whole operation for you from planning to completion. This eliminates any worry and stress you may have over a project.

GT Lifting provide such a service and are the leading specialists in their field. With a team of highly skilled telehandler and MEWP operators, you can rest at ease, knowing that your project will get off the ground without a hitch.