All posts by mike

31Aug2016

Company Fined £30,000 for Unsafe Lifting Practices

mike health & safety

Lifting large objects can be dangerous business, and it's critically important to carry out the right safety measures in order to minimise the risk of an accident. Failure to adhere to the lifting safety regulations can lead to serious injuries (or worse), and the responsible parties may face prosecution, hefty fines, and even imprisonment.

To see just what can happen when lifting safety guidelines are ignored, you need look no further than the example of Knowsley Engineering Services Ltd, a Merseyside firm that was hit with a £30,000 fine this week after pleading guilty to a breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

What happened?

On the 30th of June, 2014, two workers were moving a structure using a forklift truck. Their goal was to lift the structure from its trestles and manoeuvre it away, but as the structure was being raised up, it twisted around and swung into the cabin of the forklift truck, striking its driver.

That forklift driver, a 46-year-old man from West Lancashire, came away from this incident with serious flesh wounds and a broken arm. This week, his employer (Knowsley Engineering Services Ltd) plead guilty to workplace safety violations at Liverpool Crown Court, resulting in a £30,000 fine (plus costs of £7,670).

How could this have been prevented?

Speaking after the court hearing, a representative from the Health & Safety Executive issued the following statement:

"Had the company taken basic steps, such as providing suitable training so that those undertaking the lift were in a more informed position to assess and then adequately manage the risks, this incident would have been avoided."

With that in mind, here's a breakdown of how this unfortunate incident and the subsequent court hearing could have been prevented:

Employee training. Workers who are required to undertake tasks such as this one should be fully trained to identify risks and take any necessary safety precautions in order to ensure the safe completion of the job at hand.
Risk assessment. Trained workers should know how to carry out a full risk assessment ahead of commencing a lifting/handling job. In an ideal version of this scenario, someone would have completed a risk assessment and spotted the possibility that the structure might twist towards the forklift.
Use of the correct equipment and safety measures. Preventing accidents means taking the right precautions and select the right tools/equipment for the job. In this case, it seems likely that a forklift was entirely the wrong solution for the task at hand, and a different piece of lifting equipment should have been utilised instead.

Source: SHP Online

24Aug2016

New Arrivals: Multi-Directional Screw Clamps from Elephant

mike products

We're always scouring the market for the very best lifting equipment available, and as a result, our product range is constantly expanding. The latest exciting addition to the SafetyLiftinGear range: multi-directional screw clamps, made in Japan by Elephant Lifitng.

These remarkable products boast the title of 'Lightest Clamps in the World', but don't be fooled - just because they're incredibly lightweight doesn't mean they're not also exceptionally strong! The clamps are made of a special steel alloy, and Elephant's manufacturing process utilises a unique heat treatment technology that endows the clamps with a very tough finish.

More details about these impressive new products can be found below.

Premium Screw Clamps: At a Glance

Multi-directional functionality allows the clamps to lift in both the horizontal and the vertical positions
Circular double cam lock method allows you to lift, drag, and suspend heavy loads
Two attachment points (one for vertical suspension, one for horizontal)
Loads can be hoisted at angles of up to 10 degrees without slippage
Extremely resistant to vibration
Hexagonal screw heads are compatible with ratchet wrenches

Our multi-directional screw clamps are available in three different weight load limits:

1000kg
2000kg
3000kg

Click here to view them all, or contact SafetyLiftinGear if you have any questions about these top-quality lifting products.

22Aug2016

Lloyds Bank Manufacturing Team Complete Sponsored Walk for BBC Children in Need

mike general news

SafetyLiftinGear recently sponsored the Lloyds Bank Manufacturing team on a 40-mile charity walk. This sponsored walk aimed to raise money for BBC Children in Need, and we were pleased to hear that the Lloyds team managed to raise more than £13,000 for this very worthy cause.

A charity walk may not sound particularly challenging, but be assured that this was no ordinary stroll: 40 miles is a very long way, and the Lloyds Manufacturing team took two days to complete it. That's two days of uneven terrain, sore legs, and painful blisters!

With this in mind, we'd very much like to congratulate the team for completing their walk and for raising so much money for BBC Children in Need. Well done everybody!

11Aug2016

Shaun Gash Takes on Kilimanjaro, With Support From SafetyLiftinGear!

mike general news

If you follow us on Twitter, you may have noticed some very exciting goings-on over the past few weeks, as Shaun Gash set off on his inspiring ascent to the top of Kilimanjaro!

You may remember our work with Shaun from this post back in April 2015, which was shared just after he completed a gruelling 10 kilometre, military-style obstacle course - just one of many challenges Shaun has undertaken to push his physical boundaries, while also raising money for charity. The challenges Shaun has undertaken are highly demanding, and are made all the more impressive by the fact that he has managed to achieve all of this as a T5/6 paraplegic, after suffering a car accident 24 years ago.

Before taking on the Born Survivor course, Shaun came to us with a request for a bespoke safety harness, which was used by him and his teamates to help him complete the course. We are happy to say that Shaun was obviously pleased with the equipment we provided, as we are also providing the kit for his latest endeavour!

Shaun set off on the Rongai route of Kilimanjaro on the 5th of August, and we are eagerly awaiting updates on his progress over on the Kiliwheels Twitter page!

To find out more about the challenge, and the fantastic charities being funded by this amazing feat, head over to the Kiliwheels site.

04Aug2016

More Height Safety Disasters!

mike health & safety

As we've noticed so many terrible examples of poor, or even non-existent height safety during the past few weeks, we decided it was about time that we created a post to highlight our concerns, and show just how common these idiotic actions can be! Just try to look at these photographs without feeling a little bit ill...

(Pinterest)

Lesson #1: The material lift equivalent of giving your mate a boost is never a good idea...

(Pinterest)

In fact, getting your work mates to hold you up is probably one of the worst ideas when it comes to height safety, which is why lesson #2 is to avoid a dizzying situation like the one pictured above!

(Stupid Humans)

Lesson #3: Your workplace probably isn't the best place to practise your tightrope skills. Stick on a harness, and learn how use a scissor lift properly!

(Pinterest)

Lesson #4: If you really want to be air lifted, just keep working like this! The emergency services will soon have you sorted...

(Pinterest)

Lesson #5: For goodness' sake, use the right ladder! It will save you the hassle of improvising this contraption, as well as a few dozen broken bones...

We hope that our latest disaster round-up inspired you to avoid any improvised shortcuts and crazy solutions in the workplace! If you'll excuse the pun, working at height is dangerous on all levels, which is why you should always have the proper safety measures in place, and ensure that you're making full use of the correct height safety equipment!

26Jul2016

Event Rigging Equipment from SafetyLiftinGear

mike health & safety, products

Here at SafetyLiftinGear.com we have expansive range of Event Rigging Equipment for live performances and staged events. We have a great record when it comes to event rigging. We have supplied equipment to a number of big names, including the BBC and Pinewood Studios, and we've even been used by touring rock bands including the legendary Foo Fighters.

Our rigging department includes hoists, harnesses, clamps and many more, and the majority of our range is black in colour, so they're less visible on stage. All of our equipment is fully certified and tested, so you can rest assured that they will keep the live event running safe and efficient.

Here are some of the products in our Event Rigging Range:

Beam Clamps

View Here >

These Beam Clamps have been designed for live events and are capable of supporting extremely heavy loads but the maximum weight capacity varies between products so please ensure the beam clamp you've selected is fir for purpose before purchasing. All of our beam clamp range is painted black to ensure that they don't attract the attention of the audience at the live event.

Chain Hoists

View Here >

Our Chain Hoists can be used to lift weights of up to 1 tonne but maximum weight capacity differs between products, so please check before purchasing. Our chain hosts are lightweight and compact and coloured black to blend into the background.

Load Arrestors

View Here >

It's important when lifting a heavy load that you ensure the load will not be allowed to fall to the ground. Our Load Arrestors halt the descent of overhead loads if the primary support system fails. All of our Arrestors come in a range of maximum lengths and weight load limits, so it's important you check you've chosen the right one that meets your requirements.

Safety Harnesses

View Here >

If you're providing a stage rigging service, you may find yourself working at height. To prevent any injuries resulting in accidents or falls you must ensure that the correct safety equipment is worn. We stock a fantastic range of harnesses, and we're confident that no matter what you're requirements are, we are confident you will find the harness to ensure you conduct your work safely.

To see our full range of Event Rigging Equipment, Click Here.

25Jul2016

Pallet Truck Service and Repair: Keep Your Pallet Truck in Top Condition

mike general news, health & safety, products

If you're planning on buying a pallet truck or some of our material handling equipment then you'll be pleased to know that we also offer a fantastic aftersales service across England and Wales, to ensure that your product is properly maintained for years to come!

Whilst all of our products are designed to be durable and tough, we realise that sometimes things can go wrong if they are used incorrectly, due to issues such as overloading, neglect and not using the product for its correct purpose. Years of everyday use can also take its toll eventually, which is why we offer an inspection, service, repair and testing service, to ensure that your purchase is working at the top of its capabilities. This service won't just ensure that your equipment is safe and in full working order, it will also prevent the unnecessary replacement of your equipment and saving you a bit of money.

The services that we offer include:

Engineer coming to the site
A full inspection and PUWER 1998 assessments
Minor repairs, lubricating and adjustments
Wheel care services such as removing trapped string, tape or any other loose items from around the axels
Full documentation of work, available with a unique online login

Prices, with Quantity Breaks:

1 Truck - £49.75
3 Trucks - £39.95 each
6 Trucks - £36.95 each
+VAT

You can get in touch by using the details on our contact page or by calling 0808 123 69 69

Get in touch to learn more about our training courses!