03Dec2015

Should You Be Wearing PPE?

Admin health & safety

Construction sites are very dangerous places to work, being surrounded by heavy machinery, noisy power tools, large trucks and lorries, entering confined working spaces, or being in contact with potentially hazardous materials (Asbestos) chemicals and gases, can greatly increase the risk of accidents. So if you are working on, visiting or managing a building or construction site, you need to ensure that you and your staff are dressing appropriately.

When is PPE Needed?

According to the HSE (Health and Safety Executive), PPE should be used “when all other measures are inadequate to control exposure”. PPE is generally advised to be used as a last resort, when risks to employee health cannot be avoided or controlled in any other way.

Do I need PPE?

If your workplace is found to have risks to your health that cannot be controlled by any other means, you might need PPE. If PPE is needed, it is the responsibility of the employer to ensure PPE is provided to all employees who may be exposed to a risk to their health or safety while at work. It is also the responsibility of the employer to provide said PPE free of charge, whether it is returnable or not (Section 9 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974).

Workplace PPE from SafetyLiftinGear:

We at SafetyLiftinGear, take Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) extremely seriously. Here is an example of the products that we stock in our specialist PPE section:

Ear protection

When you are working in loud environments where you are exposed to loud noises it is important to take care of your hearing, prolonged exposure to loud noises can lead to noise related hearing loss, or tinnitus. You can protect yourself against noise by using our Ear defenders. Our ear defenders offer comfort and protection with a noise reduction rating up to 34dB.

Click here to view our full range of ear defenders

Eye Protection

By law eye protection must be worn when you are in a hazardous area, if you are employing people to work on your site it is your responsibility to provide eye protection. When choosing eye protection it is important that they are comfortable, and that they are designed to protect you from the potential hazard such high speed flying metal particles, small stones, or chemical splashes. You will also need to consider if you are going to be using ear protection with them, or a respirator, as these items can affect how the glasses fit.

Here at SafetyLiftinGear our safety goggles have a soft, adjustable head strap to ensure that they are comfortable and can be used with your ear protection and respirators if needed. Click here to View.

Dust Masks

Every year people are dying because of prolonged exposure to hazardous substances while at work. Dust masks help prevent the development of respiratory illnesses caused from the inhalation of hazardous substances while you are working. Many hazardous substances are fine dusts, smoke, gas and vapour, most of which you cannot see.

When you are choosing your dust mask, make sure it is suitable for the potential hazards you could be facing in your workplace. Here at SafetyLiftinGear we stock a huge range of dust masks that will protect you from a range of hazardous substances, click here to view our comprehensive range.

High Visibility Clothing

When you are working on a building or construction site, you are at increased risk of injury by large trucks, and Lorries when they are entering, navigating and exiting a work site. High visibility clothing is made from materials with florescent pigments and reflective bands over the shoulders and around the waist. Make sure that you are choosing the correct high visibility clothing for the working conditions, and the task that you are carrying out.

Here at Safety Lifting Gear we stock a huge range of high visibility wear, including safety jacket harnesses, high visibility overalls, and high visibility jackets. Click here to view our full range of high Visibility clothing.

Did you know that here at SafetyLiftinGear we can also offer Custom branded workwear? Just head over to Safety Life Gear where all of the Personal Protection Equipment is Customisable. So if you want to proudly display your companies name and logo on your high visibility jacket you can!

26Nov2015

How To Use Our Machine Moving Skates

Admin products

If you are considering moving a storage container, a large machine, or a large awkward piece of equipment or furniture, then you will need one of our high quality machine moving skates. Machine moving skates make the transportation of a 55 tonne storage container easy work.

To use machine skates simply get 4 low profile toe jacks to lift up the equipment that you wish to move. By using the toe jacks, jack the object high enough to slide the moving skate under all four corners. Slowly release the toe jacks when you are sure that the machine is in place. Attach the steering bars and move your machine to its new place.

Because of the weight that you could be moving with machine jacks, it is important that you chose high quality machine skates. Our ranges of machine moving skates all have polyurethane wheels. Polyurethane wheels have a higher load bearing capacity than rubber wheels and are oil and solvent resistant, they are also tear resistant, weather resistant, and resistant to extreme temperatures. On top of all these benefits, they also reduce the risk of damaging your work place floor.

Click here for more information about our range of high quality machine moving skates.

25Nov2015

Equipment Rental: Is it Better to Hire or Buy?

mike products

Here at SafetyLiftinGear, we pride ourselves on stocking a comprehensive range of lifting and material handling equipment, both of which are essential in order to provide a safe and secure working environment. One of the many benefits of ordering from us, is that we offer the option to buy or rent your equipment, allowing you to fine tune your purchase according to your budget and time-scale.

If you're not sure which of the two choices is right for you, take a look at our list of pros and cons to weigh up which option is the best fit:

Equipment Hire

Pros:

The up-front cost is cheaper than buying the product outright.
It can be great for one-off jobs, and saves you from investing in a product that you are unlikely to get much use from.
it provides you with the guarantee of a certified and tested solution for each job.

Cons:

It can cost you more long-term if you're repeatedly having to hire the same equipment.
You may have to extend the rental period if the job goes on for longer than expected.
You could be subject to extra costs if an item is damaged.

Purchasing Your Equipment

Pros:

Having a good selection of equipment at your disposal whenever you need it.
Saves you money in the long term if you will be using the equipment regularly.
You will not have the hassle of returning the item once the work is complete.

Cons

You will need a stable, and long-term storage space to house your equipment.
The initial cost is more expensive, which means you could loose out if it's only for a short-term job.
You will need to maintain and keep track of each item yourself.

Once you have decided which of the two is the best for your specific job, you can visit our lifting equipment and material handling pages to browse our full selection of items. Once you have made your choice, select either the 'buy now' or 'hire me' option, for a fast and efficient order process.

18Nov2015

Winter Workwear: 3 Essential Items

jodie products

winter construction work

Winter can be a difficult time for workers who operate outdoors. Cold, damp conditions are typical in Britain at this time of year, and this can make it difficult to work efficiently while also maintaining proper health and safety standards.

Here at SafetyLiftinGear, we offer a wide range of winter workwear that help workers stay safe and comfortable during the winter months. Below are some essential items for cold and / or wet conditions:

Jacket safety harness

Jacket Safety Harness

This windproof and water-resistant jacket includes an integrated safety harness, which makes it ideal for working at height in winter.

The harness has front and rear 'D' ring attachment points, making it highly functional and easy to use. The harness can also be removed in order to use the jacket alone or to be inspected as part of health and safety protocol.

Buy Now >

Winter workwear - face cap

Full Face Stretch Cap

This full-face stretch cap by ERGODYNE is a great piece of winter workwear that provides extra insulation in cold temperatures. With this item, you can keep the sensitive skin on your face protected from frost and wind without restricting your vision. It may also come in handy for keeping you healthy when the annual winter cold is being passed around the workplace!

Buy Now >

Hi-vis bomber jacket for winter

Hi-Viz Yellow Bomber Jacket

Another difficulty that workers often have to deal with in the winter is poor visibility, caused by inclement weather and shorter days. Our Hi-Viz Bomber Jacket is designed to ensure the safety of outdoor workers outside of daylight hours while maximising warmth and comfort at the same time.

This jacket comes in 300D polyester-coated fabric and has a concealed hood, making it ideal for use in cold, wet and windy weather. It also has fleece-faced quilt lining and elasticated adjustable cuffs for maximum comfort. Choose from M, L, XL or XXL.

Buy Now >

To see more high-quality winter workwear and PPE, visit our PPE & Workwear department.

16Nov2015

New 250 Litre Mortar Tubs

adam products

Another new week, another batch of new additions to the SafetyLiftinGear range! Today, we're pleased to announce the arrival of two new mortar tubs - each one has a maximum capacity of 250 litres, and they're ideal for transporting mortar and rubble around the construction site.

Click here to purchase your mortar tub, or read on to find out a little more about these new products.

250ltr UNI Mortar Tub

This rigid, hard-wearing UNI tub can be lifted via forklift as well as by crane. Each tub is supplied with a one-piece surround frame as standard.

Specifications at a glance:

Dimensions: 1065mm (L) x 760mm (W) x 560mm (H)
Capacity: 250 litres
Made of rigid moulded plastic
Lift with crane or forklift
Tested and certified before dispatch

250ltr Crane Lift Mortar Tub

This mortar tub is specifically designed to be lifted using a crane (along with suitable lifting equipment, e.g. two-leg chain slings). Aside from this, however, it shares all of the UNI tub's features: a rigid design, outstanding durability, and a generous 250-litre capacity.

Specifications at a glance:

Dimensions: 1065mm (L) x 760mm (W) x 560mm (H)
Capacity: 250 litres
Made of rigid moulded plastic
Lift with crane only
Tested and certified before dispatch

For more products like these, visit our Site Lifting & Handling department.

11Nov2015

Lifting Equipment Sale: Browse Our Latest Offers

jodie products

We currently have some great items on sale here at SafetyLiftinGear, here are some of our favourites:

Webbing Lifting Slings, Strops 2 Tonne

These polyester duplex webbing lifting slings are available in a variety of lengths, from 1mtr to 10mtr. They have a reinforced becket eye and a 60mm wide load bearing surface. They have the benefit of being light and durable, which makes them ideal for awkward loads. They also have a safety factor of 7:1.

Battery Powered Electric Chain Hoist, 250KG, Lift 3mtr to 10 mtr

This Battery Powered Chain Hoist is super lightweight, weighing only 6.7 KG. It has a lifting capacity of 250 KG, and a lifting speed of 4.5 metres per minute. The pendant control has an emergency stop function, and it also includes a friction clutch and an over load warning alarm, making it a thoroughly safety-conscious piece of equipment to use! It is fully tested and certified, and complies with EU standards. (Comes with 1 year warranty)

To see more of SafetyLiftinGear's latest offers, click here.

06Nov2015

3 Safe Lifting Tips

Admin health & safety

As the name suggests, here at SafetyLiftinGear, we specialise in supplying lifting equipment to manufacturing companies, warehouses, event riggers, and more. It is important when you are using heavy lifting equipment that you use it correctly to ensure that your equipment lasts a long time and to create a safe work place for you and your employees. Here are 3 tips on how to use your lifting equipment safely:

Do not exceed capacity of your lifting equipment

If your try and lift a load that is over the Working Load Limit (WLL) you are putting your equipment under structural strain and could result in your equipment becoming irreversibly damaged or even break when in use, causing your load to fall which could cause your load to be damaged, or worse, fatal injury to you or a colleague.

Exceeding the WLL could also cause your load to swing, causing damage to your load, structures around you, or even people working in and around the area. It is crucial that you know the weight of the load that you are lifting, so you know which equipment is best for the job.

Click here to view our range of load weighing equipment

Make sure your find the loads centre of gravity

If you are lifting heavy load, even or uneven loads it is important that you test the centre of gravity, this is to stop your load from falling from height and causing an accident. To test the centre of gravity of your load, lift it up a few inches off the ground, and stop – if your load falls then there will be little harm if it falls.

Use a load arrestor as backup in case your primary lifting method fails

If you have accidently over loaded your equipment or you have not found the correct centre of gravity of your load, you could end up dropping your load from a great height. Load arrestors are designed to halt the decent of your load and helps to help prevent accidents always connect your load to a load arrestor.

Click here to browse our range of Load Arrestors.

You will find that most of our products have a different WLL, please ensure when purchasing a heavy lifting product that you select the adequate product for the loads you need lifting. If you are lifting a load that is 3.5 tonnes then you will need to select the piece of equipment above 3.5 tonnes not 3 tonnes. The WLL of all of our products are clearly labelled in the product description if you have any questions regarding the WLL of any of our products please contact us and an member of our customer service team will be happy to help.

Get in touch to learn more about our training courses!