Making sure your rigging equipment is stored safely and using verified rigging storage solutions not only prolongs the life of the equipment but also keeps your colleagues safe. Meeting OSHA rigging requirements is crucial, investing in a safe storage solution for your wire rope and supplies you won’t need to worry if you meet the requirements or not.
Maintaining the maximum service life of your rigging equipment is important. If you are unaware of rigging storage solutions, check out these tips!
Storage Solutions
Keep Equipment Dry
If equipment gets wet it can cause corrosion. It is best to try and keep all rigging supplies dry if possible. If keeping the equipment dry isn’t possible while operating, allow it to completely dry afterward.
Store Supplies
Wire rope rigging hardware may become damaged if not stored properly. You want to store your hardware or lifting devices in a space that is free from dirt, heat, moisture and movement. Environmental factors can damage materials over time and will make them unsafe for use.
Try not to Drop Supplies
If slings are dropped numerous times they will start to accumulate dirt. These hard particles will generate friction with the rigging materials when they come into contact with other materials. The friction from the dirt particles will increase the surface wear and reduce the equipment’s service life.
If supplies are dropped on concrete they can become deformed or scratched. Concrete can miss-shape and scrape away at materials. This is why it is important to protect rigging materials from dropping.
Avoid UV Rays
UV rays have the power to damage synthetic materials. Most slings are made from these materials and when exposed to UV rays it will reduce their operating density strength by 50%.
Rigging Racks
There are rigging racks that are customized for the storage of rigging materials. By keeping your rigging supplies on a rack, it prevents them from becoming damaged by elements and other equipment.
Store Away From Mechanical Equipment
Since slings are made from synthetic materials, they can easily be damaged by mechanical equipment. By storing your rigging slings in a dry and cool location you can prevent them from damage. Also, it is best to store these supplies away from moving machinery in case of accidents.
Temperature
If you are using a rigging storage container, the temperature inside should be below 93 degrees Celsius which is around 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
Do Not Store on Floor
Although this might be the easy thing to do, leaving rigging supplies on the floor can lead to damage. Here are some ways rigging slings can be damaged when left on the floor:
- Foot Traffic: not everyone is aware of the importance of rigging materials and may not be careful when they see them on the floor.
- Forklifts: a forklift driver may not see rigging gear and drive over it, causing the gear to become uneven and causing fatigue. It also prevents hazards to the moving vehicle if not kept in a rigging basket.
- Weld Splatter: rigging materials need to be protected from byproducts of welding. Molten drops of metal can stick to materials and damage the risk of additional wear and tear.
- Grinder Spray: grinder spray will lead to corrosion.
Keep all rigging materials off the floor to prevent safety hazards and to prolong the service life!
Storage Solutions that Matter!
Rigging storage is crucial for the life of your supplies and the safety of your employees. Get more great tips on rigging storage with our rigging training at Silver State Wire Rope and Rigging! Contact us today and we will help you find the best solution to storing your rigging equipment!