Winches aren’t the best choice for lifting heavy loads. So if you need to lift or lower cargo loads of great volume, invest in the right lifting tools. This is where chain hoists come in handy. By using hoists, you can easily take on more heft for your loads.
What are hoists?
Hoists are designed with a chain or wire rope. They can either be operated manually or with the use of a powered motor. Manual chain hoists typically include ratchetted, levered or hand cranked types. Powered ones are driven by electric as well as pneumatic motors. Some also run on hydraulic powered motors.
How to choose the right one?
Whether powered or manual chain hoists, these hoists are rated based on the maximum amount of time they can be used. Timeframes usually last for an hour. This, along with the maximum number of starts for every hour that they can take on, is a factor in figuring out how well they last under pressure. Light duty hoists can only provide 75 starts or stop in an hour and run for no more than 15 percent. Heavy duty ones are fit for industrial use and often offer 50 percent for the work period. These hoists can also offer about 300 starts or stops in an hour.
What to consider?
The National Institute for Occupational Health & Safety continues to provide lifting guidelines to ensure better working conditions for employees across the country. One of these includes recommendations on safe lifting as well as advice on how to make lifting safer. This covers the proper use of hoists. Three of the main problems of hoists is improper use, misuse and abuse. So make sure you pick out the hoist that’s right for the task you have in mind. That’s going to make a massive difference in safety compliance and operational efficiency.