Sky Hook Lifting Device - Lift 500 Lbs. with a Turn of a Wheel!

Have you heard of the Sky Hook? It is an ergonomic, portable lifting device that allows one person to lift up to 500 lbs. and pivots 360 degrees allowing high functionality in tight working conditions.

We are now selling two Sky Hook models on our website: the Model 8550 with a floor mount base, and the Model 8557 with a mobile base. Both models are ideal for maintenance and service departments. The Sky Hook fits into alternate bases and can be custom modified to meet your specific work application.

Features:

• Model 8550: Bolts easily to floor or any suitable flat surface.

• Model 8557: Designed to straddle the corner of benches, pallets, etc.

• Uses one hand operation that does the work of 4 people.

• Rotates 360 degrees.

• Operates in tight working conditions.

• Totally maintenance free.

• Disassembles for easy transport.

• Meets applicable OSHA and ASME requirements.

• Utilizes roller chain and Friction Brake.

• Clutch Brake and Cable Chain available upon request.

For additional information or to receive a Sky Hook brochure, please contact our Sales Representative at 800-242-3477 or email us at smartlift@wiscolift.com.

Remember, “Working Safe is Working Smart.”

MSDs Affect 31 Percent of Workers

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2015, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) resulting from overexertion in lifting, accounted for 31 percent (356,910 cases) of the total cases for all workers. BLS.gov (Nov. 2016)

The good news is that those statistics are down from prior years, however, most MSDs occur in private industry where work included laborers and freight, stock, and material movers. Workers in the age group of 45-54 had the highest number of days away from work cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that by 2020, a quarter of all workers will be 55 or older, making occupational safety and health a priority for many industries.

OSHA recommends that employers evaluate their ergonomic hazards in the workplace and implement a systematic plan to resolve them:

1)    Commitment by Top Management
The Employer’s commitment is necessary to integrate an ergonomics program and carry it out with managers, supervisors, and employees.

2)    Written Program
The written program should establish clear goals and objectives and have dates of completion for each program element.

3)    Employee Involvement
The program should allow employees to bring safety concerns forward to be evaluated and corrected without fear of reprisal.

4)    Regular Program Review and Evaluation
Procedures and mechanisms should be developed to evaluate the implementation and progress of the program on a regular basis.

5)    Onsite Analysis
All areas should be evaluated as to existing hazards and if the risk hazards can be reduced or eliminated by using different equipment.

For the full report of ergonomic guidelines, go to: OSHA.gov.

Do you need assistance with ergonomic equipment for your workplace? WiscoLift is a leading material handling distributor for ergonomic lifting devices. For your free consultation, please call our office at 800-242-3477 or email us at smartlift@wiscolift.com.

Remember, Working Safe is Working Smart.

#ergonomics #safety #materialhandling #wiscolift

Get a Helping Hand with a Vacuum Lift

Do you want to streamline material handling procedures yet don’t know the best lifting device to use or cannot find the exact device to accomplish your tasks efficiently?

When an application involves rotating, holding and manipulating product or material, a vacuum lifter can easily handle multiple tasks and custom vacuum lifters offer precise application efficiency, saving on staff and possible injury.

As you probably know, employees that have material handling tasks are at risk due to awkward postures, repetitive motion, and forceful exertion, all of which can lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

Vacuum Lifters are a good solution because they grab the load using suction cups and can be controlled by a single operator and their non-marring pads are effective on a wide variety of materials.

Before You Buy

There are certain specifications that ASME B30.20-2013 Below the Hook Lifting Devices require of a vacuum lift’s construction:

•      The vacuum pad capacity, electrical equipment, and design should comply with ASME BTH-1 (Design Category A).
•      The horizontal lift should not be greater than 50% of the Ultimate Pad Capacity (UPC) for horizontal surface lifts.
•      The vertical lift should not be greater than 25% of the Ultimate Pad Capacity (UPC) for vertical surface lifts.

In addition, inspections should be performed at every lift, and at additional intervals based on usage. Dated inspection reports should be available for each scheduled inspection, when the vacuum lifter is either altered or repaired, or has been out of service for a period of time.

To ascertain that the vacuum lift has been designed according to ASME regulations and has been properly load tested, only use a reputable manufacturer.

A Unique Solution

Below is a Vacuum Lift that WiscoLift designed and load tested for two customers that needed a custom lifting device built for their application.

This Vacuum Lift was designed with automatic vacuum sensing valves so it can be used on different sizes of material without the operator having to turn on/off the vacuum flow at individual vacuum pads.

For additional information on how a custom vacuum lift can assist with your application, please call our Sales Representative at 800-242-3477 or email us at smartlift@wiscolift.com.

#materialhandling #ergonomics #lifting #wiscolift

50% Off Harrington and Coffing Hoists

WiscoLift is offering 50% OFF from now until January 1, 2017 on most of their CLOSEOUT products. Included are:

• Harrington Manual Trolley, 1/2 ton
• Harrington Lever Hoist, 1-1/2 ton
• Harrinton Hand Chain Hoist, 1-1/2 ton
• Harrington Hand Chain Hoist, 1 ton
• Coffing Electric Chain Hoist, 1/2 ton with 460 volt, 3-phase power
• Cargo Slings
• Nylon & Polyester Eye to Eye Slings
• Wire Rope Sling
• Lifting Beams

To get 50% off the listed price, enter the code "50OFFSALE" at checkout. Quantities are limited, so don't wait too long!

Visit Closeout Deals!

Merry Christmas!

#harringtonhoist #materialhandling #deals

Employee Fall Protection Still Lacks Concern

Given the fact that OSHA has had Fall Protection on its Top Ten list of violations for the last 5 years, you would think that employers understand the big picture on the importance of having fall protection equipment for their employees when it is required. Whether an employee is working above 4’ or not, if they are working over dangerous equipment and machinery, fall protection should be used.

Looking at the chart below, the number of citations has decreased from 2014, however, it is still significant since employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace. If a Fall Prevention Program is not in place, implementing one will show employees that you are serious about their well-being on the job.

Implementing a Fall Prevention Program

It is better to implement a program to address workplace hazards than to stick your head in the sand and hope that no one gets injured on the job. Following are some pro-active steps to improve safety on the job.

1. Get a Free On-Site Consultation from OSHA
   
   OSHA offers free on-site consultations for small and medium-size businesses to help you identify workplace hazards. This does not count as enforcement and will not result in penalties or citations. The consultant will assess your specific needs and review their findings after a complete walk-through.|
   
2. Download Free Documentation
   
   OSHA’s Plan.Provide.Train program provides free educational materials and resources for workers and employers on Fall Protection and other work hazards.
   
3. Purchase Fall Protection Equipment
   
   OSHA’s Fall Protection Information states:
   
   All fall protection products fit into four functional categories. 1. Fall Arrest; 2. Positioning; 3. Suspension; 4. Retrieval.
   
   Fall Arrest
   
   A fall arrest system is required if any risk exists that a worker may fall from an elevated position, as a general rule, the fall arrest system should be used anytime a working height of six feet or more is reached. Working height is the distance from the walking/working surface to a grade or lower level. A fall arrest system will only come into service should a fall occur. A full-body harness with a shock-absorbing lanyard or a retractable lifeline is the only product recommended. A full-body harness distributes the forces throughout the body, and the shock-absorbing lanyard decreases the total fall arresting forces.
   
   Positioning
   
   This system holds the worker in place while keeping his/her hands free to work. Whenever the worker leans back, the system is activated. However, the personal positioning system is not specifically designed for fall arrest purposes.
   
   Suspension
   
   This equipment lowers and supports the worker while allowing a hands-free work environment, and is widely used in window washing and painting industries. This suspension system components are not designed to arrest a free fall, a backup fall arrest system should be used in conjunction with the suspension system.
   
   Retrieval
   
   Preplanning for retrieval in the event of a fall should be taken into consideration when developing a proactive fall management program.

In addition to employees wearing fall protection, there are a variety of other ways employees can be protected such as guardrails, safety nets and appropriate training. Don’t become another OSHA statistic…recognize and evaluate fall protection hazards in your workplace before it’s too late.

If you would like information on Fall Protection Equipment for your company, please call our WiscoLift Sales Representative at 800-242-3477. Remember, “Working Safe is Working Smart.”

#fallprevention #safetyfirst #wiscolift

Why Lock Out/Tag Out Training Is So Important

According to Occupational Health & Safety (Aug. 2016), Lock Out/Tag Out (LOTO) continues to be found in OSHA’s top 10 most frequently cited standards.

Employees servicing or maintaining machines or equipment may be exposed to serious physical harm or death if hazardous energy is not properly controlled. Compliance with the Lock Out/Tag Out standard prevents an estimated 120 fatalities and 50,000 injuries each year. Workers injured on the job from exposure to hazardous energy lose an average of 24 workdays for recuperation. OSHA.gov

OSHA 1910.147(a)(3)(i) states, “This section requires employers to establish a program and utilize procedures for affixing appropriate lockout devices or tagout devices to energy isolating devices, and to otherwise disable machines or equipment to prevent unexpected energization, start up or release of stored energy in order to prevent injury to employees.”

Employers are required as part of their energy-control program to train employees on the following:

• Energy-control procedures for removing the energy supply from machines and for putting appropriate lockout or tagout devices on the energy-isolating devices to prevent unexpected reenergization. When appropriate, the procedure also must address stored or potentially reaccumulated energy;
• The energy-control program, including the safe application, use, and removal of energy controls; and
• Inspect the procedures periodically (at least annually) to ensure that they are being followed and that they remain effective in preventing employee exposure to hazardous energy.

If employers use tagout devices on machinery that can be locked out, they must adopt additional measures to provide the same level of employee protection that lockout devices would provide. Within the broad boundaries of the standard, employers have the flexibility to develop programs and procedures that meet the needs of their individual workplaces and the particular types of machines being maintained or serviced.

Developing an LOTO Energy Control Program

• It is important to identify all energy sources in your facility including electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic pumps, hydraulic lines, mechanic, steam, water under pressure, gases and fluid, chemicals or coolants, gravity, and thermal.
• Once identified, they need to be tagged with detailed instructions and how to isolate the energy, check the machine and remove the lockout.
• Create a statement on how to use the procedures.
• Define specific steps to designate the safe placement, removal and transfer of Lock Out/Tag Out devices and identify who is responsible.

Employers are required to provide initial training before starting service maintenance activities.

If an outside contractor maintains your machinery, the onsite employer and contractor must inform each other of their respective Lock Out/Tag Out procedures. The onsite employer must also ensure that employees understand and comply with all requirements of their LOTO Energy Control Program.

Do you need assistance with your LOTO program? WiscoLift has a complete team of certified service technicians and electricians to tag your energy sources and provide documentation for your company. Call us at 800-242-3477 or email smartlift@wiscolift.com.

Remember, “Working Safe is Working Smart!”

#industrial #LOTO #safety #materialhandling

What is the Difference Between a Recovery Strap and a Tow Strap?

Tow Straps and Recovery Straps are often confused as being the same thing. After all, they look similar and do similar things, so to clarify the definition of each, we answered some of the most frequently asked questions.

What is the difference between a Recovery Strap and a Tow Strap? 

A recovery strap is made with nylon fabrication so that it stretches similar to a rubber band. It provides some give to “recover” a stuck vehicle while a tow strap can tow a disabled vehicle to another location yet has no “give”. In addition, most tow straps come with hooks at the end. Recovery straps do not and should not be used with hooks because it will reduce the capacity of the strap.

How do I attach the recovery strap to another vehicle? 

You should pass one end of the strap through the loop at the other end to secure it. NEVER use a knot or additional hardware to attach it. DO NOT attach it another vehicle in a way that it may be cut or damaged.

Is it possible to pull a vehicle so hard with my strap that it will hit my vehicle? 

Nylon straps are safer and easier to use than chains. DRIVE VERY SLOWLY when pulling the vehicle out. Sudden tugs may lead to damage to either vehicle or the strap. A tarp may also be used ON TOP of the recovery strap as a safeguard. If by chance the strap should break, the tarp will slow the recovery strap down before it can cause damage.

How do I know how large a recovery strap to buy? 

A general rule of thumb is that each inch of width will allow you to pull out about 10,000 lbs. and the larger the width of the strap, the less “give” it has. That is why we sell 1” through 6” wide straps on our website. For most people’s use, these widths are the most common. For special applications, please call our office at 800-242-3477. Custom straps are available at no extra charge. Following are recovery strap ratings for single and two-ply:

SINGLE PLY RECOVERY STRAPS – 1 thickness of webbing between end loops 

2 inches = approximately 19,600 lbs. material breaking strength
3 inches = approximately 29,400 lbs. material breaking strength
4 inches = approximately 39,200 lbs. material breaking strength
6 inches = approximately 58,800 lbs. material breaking strength

TWO PLY RECOVERY STRAPS – 2 thicknesses of webbing between end loops 

2 inches = approximately 39,200 lbs. material breaking strength
3 inches = approximately 58,800 lbs. material breaking strength 
4 inches = approximately 78,400 lbs. material breaking strength
6 inches = approximately 117,600 lbs. material breaking strength

For HEAVY DUTY RECOVERY STRAPS, our division Wrecker Supply USA, offers FOUR PLY recovery straps with and without steel oblongs. Custom lengths are available by calling us at
877-670-3130.

FOUR PLY RECOVERY STRAPS - 4 thicknesses of webbing between end loops

4 inches = approximately 133,000 lbs. material breaking strength
6 inches = approximately 188,000 lbs. material breaking strength

If you would like additional information such as care and use of recovery straps, please email us at smartlift@wiscolift.com.

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WiscoLift, Inc. has been in the industrial material handling business since 1974 and specializes in lifting products and services including: cranes, hoists, lifting magnets, industrial lifting beams, lift tables, plate clamps, vacuum lifts, and web slings. Services include #crane installation, maintenance, and inspections in #Wisconsin, #Illinois, #Michigan, and #Minnesota.