Social Distancing at Work: How Lifting Equipment Can Help.

How can Lifting Equipment help with Social Distancing?

Lockdown measures to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 are changing how we all live and work. However, it can be difficult to maintain social distancing at work when it comes to those who still have to work in essential capacities. Of course, the current government guidelines state that we should all stay at least 2m apart to minimise the spread of coronavirus. This isn’t necessarily easy to do when operators are used to working as part of a team in a warehouse or production environment.

Machinery and Automated Assistance

This is where we all need to start thinking a little more creatively about how operators undertake their roles. Where some would typically rely on multiple workers to help lift and move heavy items, for example, we will likely need to start relying on machinery and automated assistance instead. One of the best ways to comply with social distancing at work is to implement manual lifting equipment!

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Why Use Lift Assists?

Not only can lifting equipment help to take the physical strain off a single worker, it also means that they won’t have to rely on one or more other workers to help lift a heavy load. For example, any loads heavier than 25kg in total will generally need the support of at least two operators or workers. Therefore, it may be time to consider putting heavy lifting equipment into effect.

HSE Advice

Unfortunately, there will be circumstances in warehouses and other environments where you must lift items and equipment with other people assisting. Thanks to social distancing measures, this is no longer a possibility. What’s more, the HSE advises that employers must continue to abide by LOLER and PUWER regulations and social distancing advice.

Of course, social distancing at work is a necessary inconvenience. If we do not distance ourselves, we will run the risk of getting ill or harming those who are vulnerable.

Lifting Boxes, Sacks, Totes, crates, Sheets, Glass, and Mechanical Components

With lifting equipment – such as our Solution Electric Balancer – you can quickly and easily lift items as heavy as 300kg using a single operator. The worker operates this lifting equipment using the sensitive control handle to remove the need for physical support and, therefore, adhere to social distancing advice. The articulated aluminium arms allow the operator to easily move the load throughout the production operation/process with minimal effort. This is great for lifting boxes, sacks, totes, crates, sheets, glass and mechanical components.

 

Staying Healthy and Safe

These are trying times, and the most important thing is to stay safe and healthy for you, your operators, and those who are most at risk of illness. Our Electric Balancers and other lift assists will ensure your operators not only maintain distancing but also protect them from straining unnecessarily and avoid any Repetitive Strain Injuries.

Health and safety measures

Crucially, ensuring you are sticking to existing health and safety measures is essential! Otherwise, your operators are at risk of causing injury not only to themselves but also to those around them. It may be tempting to let operators lift heavy items on their own to maintain social distancing, but this will only result in injured operators and you potentially paying out in compensation claims for Repetitive Strain Injuries and Musculoskeletal Disorders.

Protecting your operators

Therefore, you must consider investing in support and assistance in lifting aids – this could save you thousands in fines and ensure compliance with the manual handling regulations, ultimately protecting your operators!

 

Is Your Lifting Equipment up to Scratch?

As mentioned, HSE insists that employers maintain equipment and services under LOLER and PUWER regulations, even during the lockdown. This means 12 monthly and six monthly examinations must go ahead. It’s important to remember that, even under pandemic conditions, you must continue to work safely and ensure the safety of your workforce.

Preventive Maintenance of all Your Equipment

Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that your equipment is still safe to use during this time. We highly recommend you continue to arrange inspections, servicing and preventive maintenance of all your equipment – any lifting equipment and accessories you may already have in place, as well as those you intend to purchase and upgrade to.

Social distancing at work

The last thing you will need is your lifting equipment failing on you. At a time when social distancing at work is so necessary, you must make sure your tools are up to scratch and compliant with the law. Otherwise, you might find yourself needing to rely on a multiple-person lift. At this point, that isn’t possible. Why risk it?

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Need Lifting Equipment? Discuss your requirements with our expert team!

Who Should I Call For Help?

Whether you are setting up new lifting equipment and tools or want to make the most of your current setup, you must contact an industry expert. Yaplex supplies a wide variety of cranes and dedicated handling systems, which will help to lessen the burden during these tense times.

In a period when we sadly can’t rely on multiple operators to help lift heavier loads, it makes sense to ensure that your processes are brought up to scratch. We supply a full range of lifting equipment and manipulators that you can use to ensure that even the heavier items in your warehouse/factory are safely picked up and placed.

Regular inspections

There is no reason for operators to strain themselves. Regular inspections and full maintenance of your equipment on a schedule, too, is paramount. Otherwise, in situations such as these, you will be left potentially risking lives. For efficiency, physical support, and for wide-reaching health and safety reasons, it’s never been more critical to set up the equipment you can rely on.

 

Contact Our Team

Yaplex is a leading name in the supply of lifting equipment, maintenance and support. With all equipment manufactured in the UK, we take great care to provide companies worldwide with various standard and bespoke lifting solutions, which will support you and keep your production running.

Safety of your operators

Of course, once the COVID-19 lockdown ends, you will still have fantastic lifting equipment and support to ensure the safety of your operators. You could even increase productivity by using the spare operators elsewhere in your facility. Buying lifting and manipulation equipment from Yaplex is a good investment – one which you and your team can rely on for years to come – our comprehensive warranty package backs this up.

Therefore, why not look at our full range of cranes and dedicated handling systems? Our experienced experts are here to help you stay safe and maintain social distancing at work!



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