Safe, Versatile Lifting & Handling Solutions for Water Technicians in the Field

One of the biggest concerns regarding water technician safety is how to safely move equipment, tools, supplies, and workers up to elevated surfaces or into confined spaces, especially out in the field. It's not just moving the equipment and technicians that's tricky; deciding what lifting equipment to use, and where to use it, is also tough.

Confined Space Safety

Water pipes, sewer lines, pits, wells, and vaults are commonly accessed by water technicians during the course of the day. These spaces are large enough for someone to fit in, but not meant for continuous habitation, and have limited access. Per federal and local guidelines, these characteristics define this as being a confined space. As such, it's a dangerous place for workers and precautions must be taken including but not limited to:

• Providing a safety harness, lanyard, and lifeline for fall protection.
• Air quality testing to ensure there are no harmful environmental factors.
• Ensuring workers entering the space have a qualified attendant present.
• Providing lifting equipment to assist in moving tools and equipment to the space.
• Keeping a rescue team with adequate equipment on standby when someone's in the confined space.

Visit our confined space page to discover our dedicated solutions.

Lifting and Handling Tools and Equipment

Safety is imperative while moving workers in and out a confined space or up and down to work on an elevated surface. It's also important that the tools and equipment they need are at hand. The problem is, it's difficult for workers to carry those supplies while still maintaining their own personal safety. The best way to accomplish both is with the help of lifting equipment. Keep a few things in mind when considering this type of equipment.

Manual Chain Hoists and Wire Rope Hoists

Regulation-compliant equipment lifts and hoists are available in a number of forms, but two of the most trusted are manual chain hoists and wire rope hoists. The type of lift that will work best for your application depends upon how you'll be using it and where you'll be using it. Key factors you'll want to consider is how much weight the lift will have to bear at any point, as well as the distance and angle you’ll need to lift the load to. Consult with your qualified safety expert to determine which type of lift is best for your application.

What's the Cargo?

You may think that a hoist is a hoist and as long as it does the job, you can go ahead and use it. But hoists aren't all designed the same. It’s essential to water technician safety that any permanent or portable lifting devices on your worksite intended for raising, lowering, and rescuing workers are specifically certified for man-riding.

Load Measurements: Weight Matters

Be sure to choose a hoist or equipment lift system that can handle your average maximum load weight with some capacity to spare. Estimates can be inaccurate, and unpredictable factors of movement and space in the field may increase the effective weight of a load. In order to prevent injuries and damage to your equipment lifting devices, you need to measure and test each load to ensure it's within the limits of the lift. Keep in mind that hoists are separately rated for one nominal capacity while lifting equipment and another, lower man-riding capacity (if they are certified for lifting people).

Practical Anchor Points in the Field

While water treatment facilities should have permanent anchor points for fall arrest and lifting devices, water techs commonly face anchoring challenges in the field. Finding a good anchor point for lift equipment can be difficult; there often isn't any suitable overhead structure, meaning crews need to be prepared. Portable lifting devices can often include a tripod, davitrac, or mast-style anchor point to ensure safe lifting while lowering a tech during confined space work, or in the unfortunate event of a rescue.

Water Technician Safety Training

Simply having the right safety equipment and lifting devices on site isn't enough to keep workers safe or to protect your valuable equipment. In order to truly protect your employees, you need to train them to use the safety equipment properly and to be diligent about following all safety protocols. 

How to Choose the Right Lifting and Handling Equipment

It can be difficult to determine what type of lifting and handling equipment is appropriate for your application. After all, your water techs face a variety of situations on a daily basis, and you need a solution that can help them do their jobs and protect them under every circumstance. The best way to determine what portable lifting devices you need is to:

• Perform a thorough safety inspection of the worksite. 
• Determine the hazards that are present.
• Ensure full compliance with all regulatory water technician safety requirements, particularly for confined spaces
• Evaluate worker's need for tools and equipment.
• Determine how much the average load of equipment weighs.
• Decide whether a type of lifting and handling equipment is most appropriate.
• Establish a suitable anchor point.

Connect with an Industry Leader in Lifting and Handling Equipment

If you're concerned about your water industry technicians’ safety, contact the experts at Tractel® today. We'll be happy to help you determine what types of safety equipment you’ll need, whether it's portable lifting devices, fall protection, or anything else in the work safety field. You can rest assured that all of our lifting equipment and other safety devices will enable you to meet or exceed OSHA and Canadian Occupational Health and Safety standards.

Contact Tractel®