Load Measurement & Control: The Equipment You'll Need for a Full Load Measurement System

Before you ever attempt to lift a load, you must make sure you're using the right lift equipment for the job. For big lifts, heavy-duty winches and hoists are indispensable, but you also need load measurement devices and a load monitoring system in place to make sure you’re lifting within the acceptable ranges of your equipment. More than simple scales or gauges, load monitoring systems are sophisticated technology that allows you to monitor your lifting equipment and the loads it handles before and during jobs, giving you vital information and heading off potential overloads and dangerous equipment failures.

Heavy Lifting and Handling

Whether your employees need to lift inventory up to a warehouse mezzanine, haul heavy equipment on a trailer, or winch materials between the levels of a construction site, you must make sure it's done efficiently, safely, and up to OSHA or Canada Occupational Health & Safety standards. Load measurement is an important part of this safety obligation. You need to select hoists and other lifting equipment capable of performing the job safely. But you also need to know the weight of your load and to keep track of the forces being exerted throughout the job.

But how do you get these data points? The load limits and nominal capacities of lifting and handling equipment are readily available from their manufacturers. But determining the accurate weight of each load and the tension it creates during lifting and handling requires the proper selecting and use of load measurement devices. 

Why Load Measurement Devices Are So Important

To be certain your equipment can support and control the loads it bears you can’t get by on guesses and estimates. Unit counts of material can provide a somewhat-accurate range of weight and tension that a given load is likely to place on your equipment, but to be sure, you need to take direct, precise measurements before (and in many cases, during) each job. A miscalculation or lack of real-time awareness about weight can mean accidents that damage your equipment or the load, not to mention personnel or even bystanders.

Load Management Systems

A load measurement or load monitoring system that integrates the devices appropriate to your needs is the best way to be sure of how much force is actually being exerted on your lifting and handling equipment. It allows you to test the load weight as you begin to lift it. It will also let you track the load's weight and the tension on equipment throughout the lifting and handling procedure, keeping full control.

But not all load measurement equipment is the same, and you’ll want to be sure you’ve got the proper devices for your needs.

Choosing the Right Load Measurement Devices

When it comes to choosing safe, effective, OSHA and Canada Occupational Health & Safety  compliant equipment for lifting and handling, you cannot be too careful. If you don't provide your workers with adequate protection and proper equipment, you can face fines, penalties, and other punishments, in addition to the risk of accidents.

Before you select, invest in, or implement the use of tensiometers or other load measurement devices, consider the following:

What will be the average load weight?

A precise measurement will come from the use of tensiometers, but you’ll want to know the approximate weight in order to select the correct one. Devices are available with maximum capacities ranging from a few hundred pounds or kilograms up to top-end models which can measure up to 250 tons/225 metric tons with +/- .2% accuracy.

What type and capacity of the lifting equipment will you be using?

Wire rope hoists, chain hoists, or other device models are usually differentiated by their nominal capacities. Select devices with slightly more lifting capacity than your anticipated maximum load to help avoid overload.  

What type of lifting and control task is being done?

Whatever material you are handling, it may need to be lifted overhead, lowered, pulled on inclined or irregular surfaces, or towed behind a vehicle. All of these affect the measurement and management of your load. You may need to select tensiometers capable of multidirectional use (overhead lifting, inclined pulling, towing, etc.).

What type of hooks, shackles, and other connections will be used?

Your load monitoring system needs to fit onto your  lifting and handling system so they can directly measure the tensions being handled. Some low-capacity measurement devices use simple S-hooks, but heavier-duty models are compatible with standard bow shackles and clevis shackles.

Who will monitor the weight, and from where?

Many tensiometer models have an integrated display, allowing workers operating a hoist to watch the device directly. But a load management system that is incorporated into an elevated platform, behind a vehicle in motion, or other situation needs to be monitored from a distance. Models of load measurement equipment are available which can link via Radiofrequency or Bluetooth to external measurement devices such as an HHD (handheld display) or high visibility display (LED panel) mounted on a device or wall at a worksite. Advanced models are also compatible with manufacturer-provided mobile apps for use on mobile phones and tablets.

What environment will the work be done in?

Worksites of all kinds require load management, and the devices needed must sometimes be able to handle extreme conditions. Some loadlink  models are water-resistant, and can handle temperatures from well below freezing up to 122°F/50°C.

You can’t afford to guess on any of these factors, and it’s always a good idea to consult with a qualified safety expert before you select and use lifting and handling equipment or a load monitoring system. That way you can rest assured that you are using the most appropriate equipment to provide maximum safety. You can also be sure that you’re in compliance with local and federal regulations.

Tractel® - Your Load Measurement & Control Specialists 

When you need to lift and control heavy equipment and materials, you have to be extremely careful. The safety of your employees and the success of your company depends on it. An overloaded hoist or a surprisingly heavy load can mean disaster. To be 100% confident in your current lifting equipment or your load measurement systems, contact Tractel®. One of our qualified safety experts will be happy to consult with you regarding your needs. We'll help you determine which load indicator and other measurement tools for lifting equipment are most suitable for your application.

You can also visit our load measurement dedicated page to learn more about our solutions.