Rank: Forum user 
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Good afternoon,
I've recently moved into a manufacturing role, and recently my colleague informed myself and managers that lifting equipment (beam clamps) were being used in the wrong configuration, specifically lifting beams on the underside of a fork lift truck, rather than being suspended from a beam with other lifting equipment or accessories incorporated in the actual lift operation.
Being new-ish to this activity, and believing him as he has lifting qualifications as an appointed person and slinging and rigging etc. I am trying to encourage a solution now we have identified its previous misuse (be the 'No we can't ....but we can do this...' guys)
The equipment specification and testing conditions are fully understood and this has been relayed, but given the principal forces are the same, even I struggle to justify the reasoning outside of PUWER/LOLER requirements of selection, use and standards.
My question is, what alternatives are there? Is there a standard (BS EN or other) that has tested beam clamps in both directions? or is there other equipment I'm not yet familiar with?
Any help and suggestions welcome - thanks in advance
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Rank: Super forum user 
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He seems to be talking of a spreader beam, which will require additional height.
Having a bit of difficulty imagining the lift you are trying to perform. By Beam what exactly do you mean ? "I" section or inverted "T". The clamps you are currently using (if inverted T ) are they plate clamps. Alternatively do they have lifting eyes bolted or welded on. What sort of dimensions is the beam and weight etc.
Its normally all to do with the angle of the dangle so to speak, hence the potential need for a spreader beam.
You may get a better answer with a little more detail.
Not sure heavy items swinging around under a FLT forks sounds that good, unless I have miss understood.
Regards
Chris
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Rank: Forum user
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Beam lifting clamps I've seen in the past look like this:
http://www.thecrosbygrou...c11-beam-lifting-clamps/
It all depends what the manufacturers instructions say, I think the hazard from the beam falling/dropping, and the likelihood of the clamp not being fully tightened or coming loose during work would result in quite a substantial risk.
I'm not 100% sure, but i'm sure items used for picking up beams should be of a self tightening nature. I've also seen beam "Tongs" used for picking up beams, which again are self tightening.
Hope this helps
Marc
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Rank: Forum user 
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Can you take some pictures and post them up? or alternatively send them to angeloshanahan@gmail.com
I am an AP/lift supervisor, we have to complete odd lifts all of the time
Kind regards
Angelo
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Rank: Super forum user
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The ones shown in the URL posted above are quite good when new, but the "teeth" on the grab wear quite fast, and then they're a pain....
Heavily-scaled metal, or very corroded metal are another risk.
They should also be avoided when lifting thickly painted items...never forgetting that when the load is unbalanced, they're positively dangerous.
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Rank: Forum user
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Hi guys,
thank you all so much for the help so far, apologies for the delay in responding but I actually sat one of our refresher training courses for slinging and rigging yesterday.
(as part of our management system - not for technical training but ticks a little box also).
The type of clamp is given in the link below (apologies for any commercial faux pas - I have no interest in the website).
We have been using an all terrain reach truck to lift our beams with accessories and equipment including a JIB attached to the forks, a chain set from the hook on the jib to the lifting eye of the (upside down) clamp.
I have seen similar instances of BS EN standards etc. being load tested in certain directions, and subsequent prohibition of use in opposing directions (though again, my own knowledge on lifting equipment doesn't extend passed NDip content).
I have photos for anyone who needs more information - but the key question is, are any designed to lift in both directions as I understand this 'misuse' is extremely common practise, and whilst I don't want to appear over-zealous, and am happy to take advice from our in-house competent advice, I would like to offer a solution rather than just a negative.
Thanks in advance and for everything so far.
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Rank: Forum user
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Hi guys,
thank you all so much for the help so far, apologies for the delay in responding but I actually sat one of our refresher training courses for slinging and rigging yesterday.
(as part of our management system - not for technical training but ticks a little box also).
The type of clamp is given in the link below (apologies for any commercial faux pas - I have no interest in the website).
We have been using an all terrain reach truck to lift our beams with accessories and equipment including a JIB attached to the forks, a chain set from the hook on the jib to the lifting eye of the (upside down) clamp.
I have seen similar instances of BS EN standards etc. being load tested in certain directions, and subsequent prohibition of use in opposing directions (though again, my own knowledge on lifting equipment doesn't extend passed NDip content).
I have photos for anyone who needs more information - but the key question is, are any designed to lift in both directions as I understand this 'misuse' is extremely common practise, and whilst I don't want to appear over-zealous, and am happy to take advice from our in-house competent advice, I would like to offer a solution rather than just a negative.
Thanks in advance and for everything so far.
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