4 Tips To Keep Your Lift Working in the Winter

It can be a pain to work outside in the winter, but that doesn’t mean your lift equipment should suffer. Your custom lifts should work in all weather conditions. All it takes to make that happen is a little more awareness and preparation.

Here are a few tips to make sure your lift table is ready for this winter.

1. Check Fluid Levels Often

Before it gets too cold, be sure you are using the proper lubrication for your specific type of lift. Friction from sediments and debris from snow and ice can cause damage to your lift, which can compromise it.

Having a properly lubricated lift means the parts will glide freely and smoothly. It also acts as a shield from outside particles that can cause jams and buildups. Just remember to check your product manual to make sure you’re using the proper lubricant.

2. Store Your Lift Properly

You should always store your lift inside when it isn’t being used. Also, never leave your lift out overnight, especially in winter weather. Harsh weather can slowly hurt your lift until it just breaks. At that point, it’s usually too late to fix.

Storing your lift inside ensures that any ice will be long gone by the next time you plan to use it. This is especially important for battery powered lifts, because cold batteries perform slower and lose their charge faster. Best practice is to store all batteries on the charger in a warm environment.

3. Let Your Lift Warm Up Before You Use It

It’s best to let your lift warm up a while before using it. Turning a cold lift on and operating it right away can be dangerous, and it can damage your lift.

Much like you’d warm up your legs before a run or your car before a long commute, you should also let your lift get a little warm before using it. This is so all the fluids and electrical wiring have a chance to prepare for the work ahead.

4. Prepare an Emergency Backup Lift

Much like the weather, operating machinery can be unpredictable. Even if you take every precaution and every step to ensure your equipment is dependable, there are some instances where events are out of our control.

Case in point: Cold weather can cause the wiring to short circuit or cause the battery to die in half the time as usual. These kinds of speed bumps can, however, be partially predicted. We know it’s possible it could happen, but we can’t say when. The best solution is to have a backup lift or battery on hand so that you can be prepared for when it happens.

Contact Your Local Lift Experts

If you have any questions about Lange Lifts or which lift is best for you needs, contact us today. We offer custom lifts that are suitable for unique jobs and as backup lifts in the winter.

5 Safety Rules You Should Follow When Using a Hydraulic Hoist

A hydraulic hoist is handy for lifting heavy loads. However, with that much power comes danger. One wrong move and you could end up losing a finger.

To make sure that your finger count remains at 10, be sure to follow these five hydraulic lift safety tips.

1. Don’t Get Complacent

Of the hundreds of cases of injuries reported in the manufacturing industry every year, a number of them could have been avoided if the operator had been following the safety protocols already in place.

Hydraulic lifts become a hazard only when operators become complacent when using them. They’re too comfortable, so they cut corners or put their hands where they shouldn’t be just to save time. Whenever operating such a machine, always keep in mind just how powerful it is and how much damage it could do if you’re not careful.

2. Use Barriers

It should be common sense, but people need to stay out of the area where a hydraulic lift is working. Unfortunately, some people will disregard that rule or not pay attention, leading them to inadvertently walk into a danger zone.

For that reason, barriers must be put in place so that nobody accidentally puts themselves at risk. This will vary depending on the location of the machine and what you use it for, but there are two basic types of barriers:

Gates

For large pieces of machinery, locked gates should be put around the machinery so that people cannot walk into a danger zone without realizing it.

Light Curtains

This safety feature can be placed around the most dangerous parts of machines. If your hand crosses them, they shut the machine down instantly, saving you from injury.

3. Keep Machines Maintained

When machines start malfunctioning, they can become dangerous. They may then require more manpower or special nudges to get the job done. However, that makes it easy to put yourself in danger.

Any time there is an unusual movement or sound, the machine should be inspected to try to find the source of the problem. Regular maintenance should also be scheduled to catch small problems before they get bigger.

4. Lock Down During Maintenance

If maintenance is being done on a hydraulic hoist, then it needs to be completely locked down. That means using a lock with a single key that you keep on your person. Lock the power supply up so that it can’t be accidentally turned on while the machine is being repaired or cleaned.

5. Monitor Hydraulic Hoist Usage

Monitoring who can use the hydraulic lift will help you make sure that only those who are properly trained and qualified are using it. Those who have not been trained should not have access.

While not every employee will need to know how to operate the hydraulic hoist, everyone who works there should receive ongoing training to be aware of the safety concerns involving this machinery.

Learn More

Now you know how to stay safe while working with a hydraulic lift. If you want to learn more about these machines and how they can help you with your business, contact us today.

Top 5 Benefits of Improving Ergonomics in the Workplace

Around 1 million people take time off work every year because of musculoskeletal injuries. Unfortunately, many of these injuries could have been avoided with the use of ergonomics in the workplace.

By providing ergonomic solutions, employers can limit the number of workplace injuries that occur. But that’s not the only reason to use ergonomic solutions in your work environment. There are many benefits of using ergonomic equipment and protocols.

Keep reading to learn the top five.

1. Reduce Workers Compensation Payouts

One of the ways an ergonomic workplace can help your business is by reducing the amount that you have to pay in workers compensation. By preventing injuries, you can avoid these unnecessary costs.

Work-related injuries have indirect costs that come with them as well. These can often be higher than the actual compensation payout.

2. Lower Insurance Costs

The more often your employees need to use their insurance to cover work-related injuries, the more everybody will end up paying for insurance. You can save your company and employees some money by switching to a more ergonomic environment where injuries don’t occur as often.

Here’s a great example of how this works:

A small manufacturing company is currently spending $75,000 annually on direct and indirect insurance costs. They invest in an ergonomic lift that costs $5,000 and reduces claims by 10%.

In the first year, the company saves around $15,000. The lift has already paid for itself and saved them an additional $10,000. Over the next five years, they’ll save an additional $75,000, which is more than enough to replace all of their equipment with more ergonomic options.

3. Increase Employee Engagement

Lower insurance costs aren’t the only way that ergonomics can help employers save money. An ergonomic environment can help employers and business owners make money in several ways.

First of all, when your employees see that you care about them, they will become more engaged in your company. Engaged employees care about your business and will work harder to help the company succeed. You may see employees arriving on time consistently, staying later without complaint, and offering ideas to help your business improve.

4. Boost Employee Morale

Being in pain makes for a miserable work experience. So, if you want to instantly improve the morale of your employees, start implementing ergonomics. As they physically feel better, their emotional state will improve as well.

This can help your business in unexpected ways. Happy employees speak positively about your company, which helps with your brand image. It can also help draw in new prospects as they hear great things about the way you treat your employees.

5. Improve Productivity

There are two ways ergonomics can improve productivity in the workplace. On a day-to-day basis, decreased pain will help employees do their jobs more quickly and efficiently. They’ll also need to take fewer breaks.

Productivity is also reduced when people need to take time off. This can also be prevented with ergonomic systems in place. When everybody is healthy and able to work, your company can continue to function like a well-oiled machine.

As you already know, the more productive your business is, the more money you’re able to make. You may be surprised at how quickly an investment in ergonomic equipment can pay for itself.

Want to Learn More About Ergonomics in the Workplace?

Now you know how ergonomics in the workplace can help you save money by lowering costs and helping your employees. To learn more, check out our blog. Or, if you’re ready to invest in ergonomic equipment for your workplace, see our many product offerings.