We were recently presented with the task of designing and installing permanent access systems on the underside of Hastings Pier.

The pier suffered extensive fire damage in October 2010, destroying an estimated 95% of the superstructure. The Hastings Pier Charity was formed shortly afterwards, and funding was secured from the Heritage Lottery Fund, which enabled restoration work to commence in January 2014.

Due to the nature of this project, no steel sections were able to be drilled, so we at SafetyLiftinGear had to design and fabricate bespoke stainless steel brackets for the mounting of our permanent horizontal safety lines.

The safety lines will provide over 170 metres of safe access for engineers when completing future maintenance and inspections along the underside of the pier.

This project is yet another example of SLG's ability to provide a bespoke solution for any brief. Visit our Height Safety department or contact us now to get what you need for your project.

Here at SafetyLiftinGear, we aim to meet the needs of every single customer - and, with a customer base as diverse as ours, that gives us a colossal variety of different needs to meet! We understand that everybody's requirements are different, and we pride ourselves on stocking a truly comprehensive collection of lifting equipment, offering a suitable solution for any situation.

Our electric hoist range is a great example. We supply many different types of hoist to cover the vast majority of weights and loads, but one thing that almost all of our electric hoist products have in common is the fact that they need to be plugged in.

However, there is an exception. Our battery powered chain hoist is specifically design for use in areas where mains electricity is unavailable; its batteries (included) are rechargeable, and it can lift its full capacity for 25 minutes on one charge.

We have two battery powered hoists to choose from:

• 250kg Battery Powered Hoist
• 500kg Battery Powered Hoist

These hoists are portable, lightweight, and suitable for a wide range of loads. When you purchase your chain hoist from the SafetyLiftinGear website, please ensure that the product you have selected is suitable for the weights you intend to lift.

Here's an inspiring story for the start of the week. Shaun Gash is a 44-year-old man from Lancaster who recently completed 'Born Survivor', a gruelling military-style obstacle course that takes place over 10 kilometres of mud, river, and rough terrain in Cheshire.

Photo from Shaun Gash's Twitter profile.

The twist? Shaun Gash is paralysed from the waist down, and completed the course using only his arms, an off-road wheelchair, and the help of his team mates. Click here to learn more about this spectacular accomplishment - you can see the bespoke safety harness that we made for Shaun 40 seconds into the video!

Do you need some specially-made safety equipment? Get in touch with SafetyLiftinGear now!

If you don't want to purchase your safety equipment over the internet, why not visit SafetyLiftinGear in person? We have five locations throughout the UK (in Bridgwater, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds and London), and no matter which of our trade counters you visit, you can count on a warm welcome and excellent service.

For example, we recently received some positive feedback from a gentleman named Terry. Here's what Terry, who works for a local scaffolding firm, had to say about his visit to our trade counter in Bristol:

"I would just like to say that your trade counter is looking better and better every time I come in. Also, the young chap who served me - his name was Lee - was really helpful; he provided a quick and friendly service, he was easy to talk to, and he listened well. He was also a funny young man!

"I am glad I shopped at SafetyLiftinGear and I will be recommending your business to others in the future. Thanks again, and see you soon."

We would like to thank Terry for his comments and for his continued custom. All of the products on our website are available to purchase or order from our trade counters - feel free to drop in whenever you need to!

Click here to see the addresses for each of our trade counters, or call SafetyLiftinGear on 0808 123 69 69 for more information.

If you don't want to purchase your safety equipment over the internet, why not visit SafetyLiftinGear in person? We have five locations throughout the UK (in Bridgwater, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds and London), and no matter which of our trade counters you visit, you can count on a warm welcome and excellent service.

For example, we recently received some positive feedback from a gentleman named Terry. Here's what Terry, who works for a local scaffolding firm, had to say about his visit to our trade counter in Bristol:

"I would just like to say that your trade counter is looking better and better every time I come in. Also, the young chap who served me - his name was Lee - was really helpful; he provided a quick and friendly service, he was easy to talk to, and he listened well. He was also a funny young man!

"I am glad I shopped at SafetyLiftinGear and I will be recommending your business to others in the future. Thanks again, and see you soon."

We would like to thank Terry for his comments and for his continued custom. All of the products on our website are available to purchase or order from our trade counters - feel free to drop in whenever you need to!

Click here to see the addresses for each of our trade counters, or call SafetyLiftinGear on 0808 123 69 69 for more information.

(image via Flickr)

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) account for roughly one-third of all workplace injuries. Common MSDs include tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and lower back injuries.

Just because your job isn't based around manual labour doesn't necessarily mean that you won't be affected by musculoskeletal problems. In this blog post, the SafetyLiftinGear team will share some health and safety tips that should help you and your employees/colleagues to steer clear of musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace.

• Use ergonomic equipment. Perhaps the most common causes of workplace musculoskeletal disorders are poor posture and repetitive strain. Employers can address this by providing ergonomic equipment for their workers - you can get ergonomic chairs, keyboards, computer mice, and a variety of other items that are designed to prevent musculoskeletal disorders and related complaints.
  
  
• Lift heavy items properly. We recently published a safe lifting guide, which explains, step-by-step, how to lift heavy loads without injuring oneself. If you repeatedly lift heavy objects in a manner that puts strain on your body, it's likely you will end up with a workplace musculoskeletal disorder - so lift with care!
  
  
• Use the correct material handling equipment where necessary. Material handling injuries are very common across many different working environments. It's not always sensible to lift heavy objects using manpower alone - some loads should only be transported using a forklift, pallet truck, or similar.
  
  
• Carry out a workplace risk assessment. Conducting a thorough risk assessment is key to keeping the workplace safe for all who use it. Risk assessments should be carried out by trained health and safety personnel, and renewed whenever there is a significant change in the working environment.

By following these simple health and safety steps, you can drastically reduce your chances of a workplace musculoskeletal disorder. 

(image via Flickr)

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) account for roughly one-third of all workplace injuries. Common MSDs include tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and lower back injuries.

Just because your job isn't based around manual labour doesn't necessarily mean that you won't be affected by musculoskeletal problems. In this blog post, the SafetyLiftinGear team will share some health and safety tips that should help you and your employees/colleagues to steer clear of MSDs at work.

• Use ergonomic equipment. Perhaps the most common causes of musculoskeletal disorders - at least in office environments - are poor posture and repetitive strain. Employes can address these factors by providing ergonomic equipment for their workers - you can get ergonomic chairs, keyboards, computer mice, and a variety of other items that are designed to prevent MSDs and related complaints.
  
  
• Lift heavy items properly. We recently published a safe lifting guide, which explains, step-by-step, how to lift heavy loads without injuring oneself.
  
  
• Use the correct material handling equipment where necessary. Handling injuries are very common across many different working environments. It's not always sensible to lift heavy objects using manpower alone - some loads should only be transported using a forklift, pallet truck, or similar.
  
  
• Carry out a workplace risk assessment. Conducting a thorough risk assessment is key to keeping the workplace safe for all who use it. Risk assessments should be carried out by trained health and safety personnel, and renewed whenever there is a significant change in the working environment.