Your safety helmet should have the capability to withstand the impact of hazards. Apart from providing you with the highest level of protection, your safety helmet should offer comfort and most importantly, it should not create any additional safety issues.

You should consider the following parameters while selecting a safety helmet:

• The type of job: Safety helmets primarily provide protection against falling objects, but they should be designed to protect you from head injuries caused by other factors as well. For example, people involved in construction projects should have helmets that will protect them from lateral impacts which are more likely to be caused by contact against protruding or swinging objects. People performing electrical works should wear electrically-insulated helmets.
• Style: Safety helmets commonly appear in the form of hats and caps. The caps are lightweight options and are more suitable for use in narrow, constricted places. The hat-styled models are designed to provide a higher degree of protection against dust and the elements. Importantly, you should select a helmet that goes well with all other accessories you need to execute a project.
• Colour: Light-coloured helmets reflect heat and are more suitable for undertaking projects in darker environments. For workmen who need to do tunnelling work, helmets whose colours create a contrasting appearance against the background are ideal. You can have retroreflective material stuck to your helmets and you may want to call your manufacturer before you try testing this out.
• Accessories: Your helmet should be compatible with the accessories that you may have to use to successfully undertake operations. For example, if you need to work in darker environments, you will need to select helmets that have headlamps fixed to them. If you need to battle windy weather conditions, you will have to look for helmets that come equipped with chin straps.
• Comfort: Make sure that your safety helmet sits properly on your head. Select a helmet with the appropriate shell-size and with easily adjustable chin strap, headband, and nape. A high-quality helmet is lightweight as well as hardy. It comes with sweatband that can be cleaned or replaced easily.

Safety helmets should meet quality standards with regard to fire-resistance, shock absorption, electrical insulation, and penetration resistance. Make sure that the helmets you choose to comply with the European Standard EN 397. The helmet should bear engraved information with regard to the standard, the name of the manufacturer, the helmet-type, and the helmet-size and range. Additionally, each helmet should come with documents carrying information on safe practices and usage.

Weld on hooks are primarily used to facilitate axial loading. Additionally, they also promote the addition of fixed anchor points on spreader beams and farm machinery. Every weld on hook comes with complete welding instructions that one should abide by in order to ensure safe and efficient use. First off, make sure that there is no paint, rust, or grease on the welding surface. Clean the surface carefully. Before using the weld, it is a good idea to get it inspected. Importantly, you should get trained personnel involved in periodic visual inspections. Such inspections are normally undertaken to detect signs of cracks, gouges, wear, nicks, and distortion.

If you find the hook to be bent or distorted in any manner, it is recommended that you do not use it. Moreover, if the throat opening is found to be widened and if the hook tip bends by more than 10 degrees, you should refrain from using the hook. This is mainly because of the fact that the latch will not work if the tip of a weld on hook gets bent or worn out.

When you use a lifting sling to attach the load, use the bottom part of the hook while making sure that the latch remains closed. Make sure that you do not attach the load directly to the tip of the hook or to the latch. You should also avoid side loading. Keep only one sling attached directly to the hook. When you conduct the lifting operation, make sure that the activity does not generate any jerking movement. Simply put, the load should not be in motion during the lifting action. Most importantly, you have to make sure that the working load limit is not exceeded.    In such a case, the hook will break, leading to injury and damages.

Important Points to Consider

• It is not a good idea to repair, reshape, or rework a hook through heating, burning, welding or bending.
• The hook should be positioned in such a manner that it can support the load in all positions. Apply the load in the hook’s plane. The hook should not act as barriers to the proper functioning of other mechanisms.
• Appoint a qualified welder who is adept at deploying standard procedures.
• Check the electrode manufacturer’s recommendations to have a clear understanding about the welding electrode.

After the welding is completed, get a detailed visual inspection conducted before you move to the painting stage. The hook should not contain cracks, notches, and undercuts. In case you have any doubt, get the hook verified through Magnetic Particle or Liquid Penetrate methods.

The expense that you may incur for overhead crane repair does not only include the cost of replacement parts, but it also includes the cost of downtime and the consequent loss of productivity. There are several variables that determine the cost of overhead crane repair and you may want to understand them well in order to formulate an appropriate equipment-maintenance and repair budget.

First off, you need to consider the age of your overhead cranes. Generally, you will have to spend more to repair old cranes compared to their newer counterparts. This is mainly due to the fact that old cranes and hoists become obsolete, demanding reverse engineering for the replacement of out-of-stock parts. This, in turn, translates into bigger costs. On the other hand, the repair of newer cranes will cost you less and most importantly, they will come with warranties.

The cost that you will incur on account of reactive maintenance is just one half of the equation with the other half being the cost that you will incur due to the loss of production time and revenue. The success of a repair activity depends on your ability to manage and minimise downtime. Many industrial establishments prefer to get their cranes repaired during the weekends in order to maintain the continuity of their operations. However, you may need to pay more for the repair works that you get completed during the after-hours or the weekend.

Some repairs become obligatory after you use overhead cranes for a certain period of time. However, you can prevent breakdowns by keeping a preventive maintenance plan in place. Regular inspections will help you prevent emergencies that may translate into expensive issues later. The replacement of damaged crane wheels and rope drums demands heavy cash outlay and regular inspections can help detect issues that may trigger serious incidents at a future stage. Sometimes, you will find it to be more profitable to invest in new equipment than to spend an equal amount to buy replacement parts for a device that has almost completed its lifecycle.