What Employees Need to Remember When Using Lift Tables
Using special equipment like a mechanical lift can improve productivity rates significantly.
In fact, here are just a few of the ways lift tables can transform a work environment:
- Machines like this transform the energy levels and efficiency of your employees.
- Lift tables take the stress off your employees’ bodies.
- These powerful machines lighten a team’s load significantly and allow employees to focus on other details.
Yet, they don’t come without their own risks. Here are a few things your employees should keep in mind when using these tools.
1. Protection Comes First
Make sure your employees are wearing the proper protective gear. They should never have any loose clothing on, and they should always be wearing helmets.
Also train them to be aware of their surroundings. Proper safety measures aren’t just about clothing, but the working environment as a whole. Every employee should be following a strict process when handling a lift table. This establishes an easy-to-follow routine, which can lower safety risks.
Another good measure to take is to avoid areas of high danger. Tell your team to never put their hands or feet in the scissors mechanism. Remind them it’s not okay to walk under a lifted table, either.
2. Secure the Load
Always remind your employees to secure their loads before they lift anything. It doesn’t matter if they are lifting something relatively small or if they are close to reaching a table’s weight limits. Either way, they need to make sure whatever is going up is doing so safely.
This might seem like an extra step to some people, but in truth, it can be a lifesaver. Remember, a small wood pallet can be dangerous if it falls at the right angle or speed. Even worse, something much heavier can come crashing down when it’s not properly secured.
The more your employees get used to double-checking for capacity and security, the less people will get hurt. Train them to lift a table with patience and to watch for signs of a load becoming unstable.
Don’t ever allow a lifted table to be moved, and be sure to avoid windy conditions.
3. Do Routine Maintenance Checks
Another good thing to keep in mind is to take advantage of time between jobs. When employees aren’t actively working with lift tables, they should be working on a table’s parts.
Keep a checklist of things to look for on your tables. Show your team the red flags of a faulty table, and run a few checks with them. This should include everything from the platform stability to the cables.
Also, check the hydraulics and tell your team to do a look-over around the area they are working in.
Once you are confident they know what to check for, let them take the reigns. Check in with them every once in a while to make sure they are keeping maintenance up to standard.
Avoid Accidents with Lift Tables
When it comes to any project, safety should always be a top priority. No matter how big or small of a job, the most important assets you have are your employees. Train them to work with lift tables correctly in order to keep accidents to a minimum.
For more on the value of quality hydraulic tables, click here. If you have any questions about using your lift tables, please do not hesitate to drop us a comment below or contact us today.
