www.cmco.com: In the construction and lifting industry, the smallest mistake can cause costly damage. One often-overlooked detail is using edge protection for slings when lifting a load.
Edge protection may seem minor, but it plays a critical role in preventing sling failure, protecting loads, and keeping crews safe.
Overhead lifting safety often comes down to the smallest details. The use of edge banding on steel beams and similar items makes perfect sense, but it’s easy to see how it might be overlooked. Steel edges are incredibly sharp, and when you’re lifting beams that weigh hundreds or even thousands of pounds, those edges effectively become knife blades that can cut through almost anything. Articles like this serve as important reminders to stay diligent with safety protocols, not just for your own protection, but also for the safety of everyone working around you. Knowing and applying the difference in each situation can prevent serious injuries. This point is especially relevant for those experienced in overhead rigging who may occasionally work outside their usual scope. For example, in the entertainment industry we often lift trusses or pipe, round objects with no edges. But when the task shifts to lifting an I-beam, the hazards change. It’s critical to recognize those differences and adjust accordingly, following best practices for each specific lift rather than relying only on what’s “standard practice” in the industry.
ReplyDeleteSafety is THE most important thing in rigging and therefore everything you can do to make things even more safe are necessary steps. In the case of edges, I can see how this would be a step that is easy to overlook, a lot of edges are super unassuming, but have a huge potential to slice things. similarly to how a piece of paper may not seem sharp it can give you a paper cut if it slides by your skin at the right angle, the edge of a steel beam can easily slice things if taken wrong. It can be incredibly easy to forget small steps like this that aren't always necessary, but maintaining safety standards to the utmost is the key to preventing all the mishaps and "freak accidents" that can happen with carelessness.
ReplyDeleteI have once again forgotten to put my name on this, sorry.
Delete