Lifting equipment are any type of equipment that is used to lift heavy loads. It is important to choose the right rigging and lifting equipment so that the work site is safe and secure. Choosing the right lifting equipment is very important because of the safety of the load, employees and the equipment itself relies on it. There are many types of lifting equipment that you can choose from:
1. Cranes
This machine uses an angle boom to move loads in any given direction. The crane is very versatile and they come in different sizes depending on the loads to be lifted. One of the most used cranes is the gantry crane and it can move very heavy objects around the site.
2. Forklifts
This is one very common lifting machine. It is much like a small vehicle with a lifting machine attached to it. Forklifts have two metal protrusions that are slid into a pallet containing the load to be moved. It can be used to lift and load goods onto vehicles or around the warehouse.
3. Winch
A winch is a device that is mostly used in towing. They are attached on a stationary position then its rope or cord is hooked to the load being pulled. The machine is then switched on and it automatically pulls the load.
4. Vacuum lifts
These machines use high pressured vacuums to stick to the load for lifting. They are perfect for lifting oddly shaped loads, for example, glass panes. Vacuum lifts can also be used to lift heavy cargo containers.
5. Hoists
A hoist generally pulls up various loads using a chain or a rope. Many of them are fixed permanently in one place and are mostly used in the manufacturing industries, repair shops, or warehouses like a car manufacturing industry to lift car engines.
How to choose the right lift
Getting the job done safely is not all about following the laid down health and safety requirements. It all starts with choosing the right equipment for the job.
Here are some of the factors that you need to put in mind when selecting the right lifting equipment:
1. The cost
Lifts do not come cheap, and when you think about buying a lift, bearing in mind the risks that it involves, cheap may not be the best.
Many industries opt to hire quality lifting equipment than to buy a cheap one and end up with low-quality equipment that will damage quickly, cause delays, and maybe even serious accidents.
Do not prioritise cost over durability and safety.
2. The environment and load weight
Knowing the temperature and the atmosphere of the work site will also contribute to the kind of lifting equipment that you should get.
You also need to consider the maximum weight of the goods that you deal with and get a crane that can carry a few tones more than your average maximum weight.
Getting a lift that can handle more than your maximum weight will help to avoid overworking and damaging the lift just in case the load gets a little heavier than usual.
3. Maintenance and spare parts
The right lift needs to be easy to maintain and repair while on site. Its spare parts should also be locally available.
This will help avoid any delays or downtime. The equipment should also be strong enough and durable too. Talk to the supplier concerning any challenges that you face with lifts so that they can help you select the best.
Conclusion
Lifting equipment are very expensive to buy and many business owners opt to lease them for as long as they need to. Whether you choose to lease or buy, you must make sure that you only choose the lift that will perfectly suit your lifting needs.
You should make sure that the lifting equipment is thoroughly examined by a qualified technician before you start using it.