Maintenance of Hoists and winches

Hoists and Winches have made all heavy handling works quite easy. When there were no lifting or handling equipments, people used to lift items manually by their physical strength. After the invention of mechanical and electrical hoists and winches, all lifting and material handling have become far easier.
However, the invention has brought many fatal accidents in the field of rigging and material handling.
In most cases the reason for those fatal accidents is due to poor condition of lifting equipments due to improper and inadequate maintenance.
The government of RTA NSW has posted the following requirements for all of the lifting equipments:
"All cranes, hoists and winches must be used in accordance with the general provisions of NSW OHS Reg. (2001) and with AS 2550 - Cranes, hoist and winches-safe use.
Procedures must be in place to incorporate hazard identification, risk assessment and control of all operational phases including: Planning, selection, placement, erection, commissioning and dismantling, operation, maintenance, inspection and repair."
Basically, a trained person can operate lifting equipments such as a crane, Hoist, Winch etc. if he obtains training and a certificate from a recognized authority on these particular machines. In addition to this training he must possess basic skills of maintenance of these machines.
The company who own and operate hoists and winches must prepare, educate and implement effective risk assessments complete with management, procedures, all hazards and safety concerns.
As an operator one must ensure regular inspection of hoists and winches along with all other lifting gears related to lifting operations.
Wire, chains, roller-bearings etc. need to be greased periodically.
General lifting gears are to be tested once in a year or six months based on the requirement set by the company and regulatory authorities.
Some companies set a rule of testing and color coding for lifting general gears being used in everyday operation. This is to ensure that the conditions of lifting equipments are stable and safe. Although this regulation is set to prevent accidents and losses, it is the responsibility of the user to ensure that the condition is safe and usable.
As the rate of lifting related accidents increase in the shipping and construction sectors, many companies are now implementing barricading of the areas affected and designating them as lifting zones. Common people who are not involved in a particular lifting are not allowed to enter into the lifting zone.
There are tags of safe working load (SWL) for each of the lifting gear, wire, winch and hoist. All gears are tested and tags are duly updated every year.
Special care has to be taken for hoists considering the weather and condition of the wire used resting within the hoists. If any defects are found on the wire it should be replaced.
In conclusion, wires of the hoists and winches play very important roles during any lifting. The operator must ensure that a proper and regular maintenance of all lifting equipment is being used in the workplace.
Additionally, training must be provided to all people involved in the lifting operation.
The hoists and winches are very useful in our everyday operations and thus we must take proper care of them.

Article Source: http://www.gamblingarticlessite.net

Hoist and Winch - Hoist And Winch supplying Hydraulic Winch, Air Winch, Jib Crane, Shackle, Round Sling, Web sling, Lever hoist, Manual hoist, Wire rope hoist, Explosion proof hoist

Please Rate this Article

5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 

Not yet Rated