As every employer knows (and as we’ve discussed in numerous articles on this site), OSHA standards can be extraordinarily complex. That’s especially true regarding material handling equipment. While OSHA’s standards set out some basic rules for ensuring worker safety, interpretation becomes significantly more difficult when considering removable attachments and their various applications. When those attachments carry workers — as is… Continue Reading
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Industry Knowledge Base
Cable Drum Winding Machines for Delivered Solutions
Traditional cable drum winding machines require a complex series of set-up actions before you can even begin filling the take-up drum. For cut-to-length wire and cable distributors, who repeat the process with every order, these additional steps add up to substantial lost productivity. For instance, take a standard shaftless, pintle-loading cable winding machine. In order to fill an order using… Continue Reading
Cable Reel Rollers vs. Jack Stands: Which Is Better for Pulling?
Safety and efficiency are critical factors to consider when handling industrial cable spools and reels. Both factors depend largely on the right equipment. For electricians, utility suppliers, and distribution warehouses managing cut-to-length orders, that means choosing between reel jack stands and cable reel rollers — or some combination of both. Each of these products serves the same basic function: They… Continue Reading
Battery Washing Machines vs. Manual Cleaning
Battery washing machines are an essential component of a well-equipped forklift battery room, and any operation that uses lift trucks regularly should invest in wash equipment that optimize efficiency while complying with OSHA standards. For some operations, that means incorporating portable battery wash cabinets for improved versatility, but before making that decision, it’s helpful to understand the options. First, a… Continue Reading
Understanding the Difference Between OSHA and State Workplace Safety Plans
Employers have a duty to comply with workplace safety regulations, and that leads most of them to research standards from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. However, this isn’t the only workplace safety authority in the United States. In fact, in about half the nation, state programs make the rules that employers must follow to keep their workers free of… Continue Reading
End-of-Year OSHA Reporting Requirements for Workplace Injury and Illness
All year long, employers diligently fill out OSHA Form 300 to report workplace injuries and illnesses within the allotted time frame. This isn’t enough to comply with OSHA reporting rules, though. Businesses must also complete a few legally required steps before January 1 of every new year. Since we’re right in the thick of reporting season, we thought we’d take… Continue Reading
OSHA Fall Protection Rules for Construction Electricians
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issues fall-protection rules for workers in the construction industry, including installation electricians. While construction electricians may not face the same risks as electrical workers in other fields — linemen, for instance, or wind-turbine maintenance techs — wiring a new construction often requires electricians to work at height. The risks of such work are… Continue Reading
Lighting Installation on a Tight Timeline: Labor-Saving Strategies
Not every electrical contracting firm can deliver on a short-schedule lighting installation project. However, those who can leverage time-saving strategies, advanced equipment, and robust prefabrication facilities to meet tight deadlines are often the most successful companies in the industry. It is not easy to improve productivity without sacrificing quality. With the rise of fast-track construction and aspirational project timelines in… Continue Reading
The HVAC Industry Guide to Forklift Battery Room Ventilation Systems
Even for commercial HVAC technicians, installing a forklift battery room ventilation system is rarely a common job. Many HVAC workers have never confronted this unique area of the industry. Battery room ventilation can be a difficult field to jump into; because of the risks involved with charging forklift batteries, hoods, ducting, and fans must meet strict criteria in battery charging… Continue Reading
Sustainable Forklift Fleets: Save Energy on Core Material Handling Tasks
Electric lift trucks are the best choice for green warehousing operations working to build a sustainable forklift fleet. But not all electric forklift fleets are equally green, and going electric is not a guarantee of sustainability. The switch from diesel or propane to electric lift trucks is a terrific first step in the effort to reduce a warehouse’s carbon footprint,… Continue Reading
