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When safety depends on quickly removing heavy objects, fire and rescue need to handle tremendous weight in mere moments. These situations test the efficacy of firefighter rescue equipment, including manual lever hoists –indispensable tools for any mobile fire brigade.
An expertly engineered lever hoist system enables adaptability to high-stress situations by increasing the load handling capacities of even small firefighting units.
Emergency Scenarios Depending on Effective Lever Hoists
A lever hoist is potentially the only, and often the best, means of contending with numerous firefighting applications because they provide necessary strength to lift and maneuver heavy loads encountered during fire incidents, search and rescue missions, and other emergency scenarios, including:
- Collapsed walls and other structural elements
- Fallen trees/branches, boulders, etc., hindering escape
These and countless other common objects can easily trap people in confined spaces or otherwise block safe passage. Whether for removing obstructions to an accident victim's escape or enabling first responder access, the ability to quickly remove heavy, bulky objects is critical.
That's all the truer when access for larger equipment (like truck-mounted winches) is limited. Handheld manual lever hoists also give firefighters the ability to move equipment where needed, such as delivering portable water pumps via elevated building exteriors with inaccessible main entry points.
As OSHA Subpart E, Exit Routes and Emergency Planning, explains at length, one of the most essential aspects of fire rescue operations is removing physical barriers to emergency exits. Such barriers could include:
- Rubble
- Locked doors
- Construction materials or equipment
- Exterior obstructions
Maintaining a clear line of sight is also necessary (per subsection [b][4]), even when an exit route is free of impediments to movement. Further, flammable substances may require removal at a distance, where a hoist rated for extreme temperatures may be the only safe method.
Lever Hoist System Design Requirements
Adaptability for changing situations is essential for effective firefighter rescue equipment. It's imperative that a lever hoist system design emphasizes:
- High load capacities
- Compact form
- Ease of use
- Failsafe design
- Equipment longevity
- Low maintenance and servicing requirements
This latter point is almost as important as the hoist's usability. OSHA 1910 Suppart L, Fire Protection standards, requires regular maintenance to "assure the safe operational condition of the equipment" (re: subsection [d]).
It's vital to always consult the OSHA or CCOHS regulations affecting your area when selecting any firefighting equipment. The right manufacturer can help you more effectively meet compliance standards with ongoing support services, including equipment servicing and inspection – which subsection (d) requires, at minimum:
- Annually
- Whenever there's reason to suspect damage
Basic Design Fundamentals
Certain design features are important for any hoist application, and outright critical for emergency operations. Consider the following build characteristics fundamental to any manual lever hoist system:
- High tensile alloy steel and build quality meeting or surpassing ANSI/ASME B30.21C's "Manually Lever-Operated Hoist code"
- Equipment tested and rated for extreme temperatures
- Anti-corrosion chains built to ISO T standards
- Easy, secure controls to quickly but deliberately transition between neutral, forward, and reverse chain directions
- Free-spinning 360° swivel hook with integrated overload indicators
- Even, controlled lowering rates, even at maximum capacity
- Durable lever, tapered for a comfortable and controlled grip
- Reasonable lever effort at full capacity – aim for less than 60 lbs (27 kg), where possible; though less than 80 lbs (36 kg) is more than acceptable for extreme loads
- Good balance between weight, size, and load capacity (especially for portable usage)
Further, it's vital that any firefighter rescue equipment features safety mechanisms, such as automatic braking, to the maximum extent possible. Such features often also improve usability while improving confidence in the equipment.
Advanced Technical Standards for Lever Hoists
In emergency situations, the dependability of firefighting rescue equipment cannot be overemphasized. Wherever possible, take extra pains to ensure your lever hoist system or manual lever hoisting devices include state-of-the-art designs, such as:
- Wind-through chain system for fast and accurate positioning
- Freewheel braking mechanism with double ratchet to stop unintended load shifts, even at neutral position
- Closed bearing design for reduced wear and tear
- Precisely angled lever, to keep hands away from the chain's vertical plane
- Compatibility with numerous chain dimensions
Overall build quality is also essential for emergency applications. It goes without saying that responders must move quickly and do not have the luxury of treating equipment as carefully as those in less severe workplace settings.
Even if not always required, it's essential to ensure the safety of your fire brigade, and the people who depend on them, on equipment built to as many industry standards as possible. Moreover, OSHA has raised the issue of "de minimis" violations – those which don't directly pose safety/health risks, but are still finable offenses – on the topic of portable firefighting equipment in general.
The takeaway is that, whenever possible, it's important to adopt an attitude of surpassing regulatory standards whenever it is reasonably easy to do so. With the right firefighter rescue equipment manufacturer, it is.
Choosing the Right Lever Hoists for Your Needs
More advanced hoist designs make matching a manual hoist's total weight capacity with the widest range of applications is easy. In forms as small as 9.2 x 2.8 x 3.6 in. (23.3 x 7.1 x 9.1 cm) to 24.8 x 9.1 x 7.9 (63 x 23 x 20 cm), our advanced lever hoist systems come fully tested and rated for an enormous range of weight capacities:
- ¼ ton / 500 lb (250 kg)
- ½ ton / 1,000 lb (500 kg)
- ¾ ton / 1,500 lb (750 kg)
- 1½ ton / 3,000 lb (1,500 kg)
- 3 ton / 6,000 lb (3,000 kg)
- 6 ton / 12,000 lb (6,000 kg)
With just a few extra inches of dimensional space, first responders can achieve greater lifting capacities on the order of hundreds, even thousands, of pounds – all without sacrificing the need for portability and quick deployment.
Fast, Reliable, and Effective – Firefighting Equipment Solutions from Tractel
Fire brigades must continually meet and overcome the most trying emergency situations, and so too must their equipment. We've covered just several reasons why it's necessary to take the strictest possible view of both safety compliance and build quality when selecting the right hoisting solution.
The firefighter rescue equipment from Tractel has been created and galvanized with real-world emergency scenarios in mind. To learn more about our cutting-edge manual lever hoists, download our bravo™ Lever Hoist technical data sheet, or contact our knowledgeable technicians.