To maintain the physical plant of any facility, whether it is a power plant, warehouse, office building, a datacenter or an industrial factory, the maintenance team will require a variety of lifting equipment. How does a maintenance supervisor decide which pieces of equipment to own? Let’s dive into some of the questions that can help the decision making process on which pieces of lifting equipment to own.
#1 – Capacity Requirements
One question will be on the heaviness of the typical lifts. Most maintenance groups need to maintain a wide range of infrastructure. There could be large pieces of machinery that require either a crane truck or high capacity forklift to maintain it. There will also likely be smaller midsized loads such as air compressors, air conditioners or a transformer in the 2,000 to 10,000 lbs range that might be easily handled by a lightweight and portable gantry crane. Some equipment may only need to be raised for maintenance, allowing simply a jack to suffice. Most operators will be faced with a complex environment to navigate and will need a full assortment of lifting equipment to fully maintain the machinery.
#2 – Labor Force Skill & Licensing
How skilled is the labor force that will carry out the maintenance. Do the workers have the correct qualifications and licenses to operate the necessary equipment? In today’s tight labor market, finding ways to complete critical tasks with less skilled labor is becoming a necessity. Highly automated machinery might not be useable without the properly licensed work force, so using low tech cranes, davits and other manual ways to lift devices might be the way to go.
#3 – Regulatory Considerations & Long Term Costs
In the past it was common to install large overhead cranes to help maintain infrastructure. However, overheads can require annual inspection from an outside inspector, making them more expensive to maintain. Smaller, portable cranes can typically be inspected by the maintenance group, saving considerable cost over the life of the equipment.
#4 – Worker Safety
It goes without saying that worker safety should be a top priority for every organization! Organization should invest in durable equipment that has a very strong track record of reliability. The last thing any organization wants is to save a few dollars and buy low quality gear that could fail at the worst time. Knowing the history of your lifting equipment manufacturer is key. Understand how easy it is to receive support from them, as well as researching their safety and reliability history.
Lifting equipment matters because it ensures the job is done correctly without cutting corners. While using the right lifting equipment is vital, you must also ensure that workers are adequately trained, and safety protocols are followed. This way, your workers can be safe while performing their duties, and the maintenance activity can be executed properly.
If you are looking for a gantry device, Easily Moved Equipment has what you need! We offer lifting equipment of various sizes to ensure your operations will go smoothly. Call us today at 1 888 679 5283 to get started!
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