Some heavy-duty manual labor calls for the right gear to lift and move heavy loads, and logging chokers or other cable chokers may be just right for the job. In other cases, web slings or rubber or chain link slings may be used to lift loads with a crane. This hardware should always be used correctly to ensure a good fit and prevent workplace accidents, and worker safety can be further enhanced when cable railing parts are used on a partially complete building. Any responsible foreman will get cable railing parts for their work site, and such cable railing parts will prevent unintended slip and fall cases. OSHA has set a number of guidelines for preventing falls and other accidents, and cable railing parts play a role in this. What should workers know about these load slings, chokers, and cable railing parts for maximum safety and effect?
What Chokers Can Do
A choker is a cable with a loop on each end, and while these are simple items, they can do a lot of good for lifting and moving heavy items. The logging industry in particular may make generous use of these. A cable choker, once looked around the cargo, will thread a loop through another to make for a tight but later reversible fit. The other loop, meanwhile, can be gripped by a crane’s hook or other assembly to lift it. Using a single such choker may work for a lighter item or a load that is not very long. But a longer item such as a heavy log may call for two cable chokers, one on each end. This helps keep the load stable and prevents the item from spinning around, and keeping the item steady may help prevent unwanted injuries or property damage during work. A good cable choker will be used for a load of the right weight and size, as cable chokers may vary in their length, thickness, and the maximum weight that they can handle. Responsible workers will only use such chokers on loads that they can handle, and such workers will also know when to find and replace damaged chokers. A worn out choker might snap if used, and that could result in property damage or injury.
Slings
A sling is a multi-armed, flexible assembly that can encapsulate an entire load and carry it without anything slipping through. Such slings are often used by cranes to pick up loads ranging from palettes of bricks to heavy concrete pipes, and slings may be made either from synthetic materials or chain link. Here too, the sling’s weight and size limits and its condition must be noted, or else accidents may take place. A sling will be rated for a maximum weight of its load, and a synthetic sling may have this data printed on it. Otherwise, a construction crew may find out this information when they buy the sling from a provider. They may also call the supplier later and ask them again. And of course, a damaged sling should not be used, or else it might snap. Workers should be diligent about checking synthetic slings for tears or holes, and checking chain link slings for rust, broken or worn links, or tangles in the chain. Such repair issues should be taken care of at once, and a sling may be sent back to its manufacturer for work. In the meantime, a sling in good condition may be used or ordered.
Work Railings
Slipping and falling may sound mundane to some, but this can be a real hazard on a construction site. In fact, slip and fall cases are the primary cause of workplace deaths in the construction industry, as the floor of a building may have slippery papers or spilled liquids on it. A worker may fall several stories and land on sheer concrete or brick piles, which may cause serious injury or death. To prevent this, cable railing parts can be installed, and temporary guard rails across the work site can catch workers and give them something to hold on to if they lose their balance. When the construction project is over, these cable railing parts may be taken back down again without a trace, now that their job is over.
