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#1 Posted : 16 March 2005 11:49:00(UTC)
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Posted By Hilary Charlton Following a recent fatality at the Land Rover plant where a maintenance contractor used the motor eyebolts to lift a vertical trunk pump and was crushed when the eyebolts failed, I have to re-examine the products that we sell to eliminate the risk of this arising from our pumps. We too sell pumps and motors each of which has an individual eyebolt for the component, neither of which should be considered adequate for lifting the complete assembly. For many years our Installation and Operating Manuals have stated that these eyebolts should only be used to lift the individual component and not the assembly. I now need to find a better way of doing this. We need the individual eyebolts to move the item round our plant and for assembly purposes. I would welcome any suggestions on this that would serve to make it safer for our customers. Thanks in advance
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#2 Posted : 16 March 2005 12:14:00(UTC)
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Posted By Phil.D.Baptiste Hilary, when all the components come together, can't the final operation, before inspection, be to remove the eyebolts? Or, if the process is one like Topsy, it just gets bigger, as each component is fitted the individual lifting eyes are removed or up-graded? Or assemble the component in one place and then remove/upgrade.... Failing that, don't use lifting eyes at all and find another way of transporting the components and finished article around. Philby
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#3 Posted : 16 March 2005 14:25:00(UTC)
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Posted By steve e ashton And, if the 'installed assembly' is likely to need moving in the future - would it be possible for the designers to include lifting arrangements that ARE adequate for the task? A dedicated and clearly marked jacking point, clear slinging groves, or a purpose fitted eyebolt....? Producing a lifting plan for unusual loads is far easier when the designers of the load have made appropriate provision at the outset... Steve
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#4 Posted : 17 March 2005 10:37:00(UTC)
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Posted By Hilary Charlton Thanks for the responses. It is not possible to provide an eyebolt to lift the whole assembly as the pump is standard but the motor can change on the back of it which moves the centre of gravity which could lead to an uneven lift which may prove more dangerous than using the eyebolts. I am still musing on this and discussing with my service colleagues who actually have to go and lift the individual parts of the assemblies later on. I will get back with a decision just in case anyone else needs it. Hilary
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#5 Posted : 17 March 2005 11:10:00(UTC)
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Posted By Seth Pierce Just a suggestion, as I'm not 100% certain on the make up/properties of the assemblies to be lifted, but have you thought of an industrial magnet, attached to an electronic, hand operated fork lift system? Another system we used was to design two load bearing points into the equipment (basically 2 holes were fabtricated into the equipment, that would enable the assembly to be securly attahced to a customised vice fitting consisting of two high strength nylon pins with male/female attachments. We were then able to attach the assembly and vice to a suitable trolleys and wheel the assembly to the required locations. I realise these actions are probably very specific to our work place as we designed and fabricated all of the equipment but it may give you some food for thought. Best regards Seth
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#6 Posted : 17 March 2005 23:56:00(UTC)
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Posted By Stuart Nagle Hilary. Remove them before shipping and put a 'blank' into the 'assembly'. ....Have a supply of suitably graded eye-bolts that will lift the whole assembly, and sell them to customers as an optional 'extra' to supply with a suitable disclaimer requiring customers to ensure, if fitted, they are thoroughly examined and tested on site prior to use etc... Just a thought... Stuart
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#7 Posted : 18 March 2005 09:38:00(UTC)
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Posted By Hilary Charlton Stuart I like the way you think - more money making ideas, excellent! But on a serious note, I think we will be blanking the holes and labelling very clearly but providing the eyebolts for lifting each individual component on a "bag and tag" basis. Most of our customers remove the eyebolts anyway because they do not have a certificate for them and then they substitute their own so I think this will probably be the way forward. The heavy duty magnet is a good idea but unfortunately our pumps are magnetically driven which means they contain a large amount of rare earth magnets - what the effect of a heavy duty magnet on these would be I don't even want to contemplate. Thanks for your help everyone Hilary PS If anyone has any answers to how to stop my desk squeaking as I type that would be even more useful!
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