Product of the Month – Secondary Safety Device
Our Product of the Month for July is the secondary safety device.
A bit of an unusual one, this. We have showcased some of the most sophisticated lifting equipment available in the UK in past PoTM articles, including pick and carry cranes, spider cranes and glazing robots.
But the secondary safety device is a strap. A clever strap. But just a strap, nonetheless.
Before we get into the detail of the secondary safety device, we thought we would ask a quick quiz question: where does the saying, ‘strap yourself in, it’s going to be a bumpy ride’ come from?
The answer will be given later in this article.
Quick to fit
Hird’s secondary safety device is a strap system that can be used to enhance safety when lifting glass – and is compatible for use with many different types and makes of glass lifter.
The secondary safety device can be quickly fitted around a panel held by a glass vacuum lifter. It is then looped around the crane hook holding the load.
Then, if there were to be a catastrophic failure of the glass lifter’s vacuum system, the strap would still hold the load, preventing it from falling.
Flexible system
Once the glass panel has been lifted into position, the secondary safety device can then be just as quickly released and removed so the glass can be installed.
The secondary safety device is made from super tough but flexible woven polyester.
It has variable length side straps, allowing the device to be fitted to glass panels of different sizes and lengths.
Hird’s secondary safety device will support loads weighing up to 1,500kg. If necessary, straps to support heavier loads can be supplied.
Exemplary safety
There are a number of reasons our glass lifter hire customers may want to use our secondary safety devices.
Glass vacuum lifter technology has developed rapidly and its safety record is excellent.
There are multiple safety systems in place to ensure the load is under control at all times.
Hird’s vacuum lifters are fitted with load monitoring sensors and alarms to alert operatives to issues like low suction.
Dual independent vacuum pumps on glass vacuum lifters, like the Wirth Oktopus GL-RN-F 600, greatly diminish the risk of vacuum failure.
If one vacuum circuit fails, the other will still hold the load.
Equally, the fitting of non-return valves means the vacuum will be maintained, even if there is a system power failure.
Taking extra care
Why, then, do you need a secondary safety device to support glass lifting and installation?
Two things apply here – sod’s law and client assurance.
Sod’s law tells us that, even if you think all eventualities have been covered, they almost certainly haven’t.
Therefore, there is a case for saying you can never be too careful.
The equipment in Hird’s vacuum lifter hire fleet has an exemplary safety record. But there is no room for complacency.
Also, using a secondary safety device reassures other people working on a site, who are likely not to be familiar with glass vacuum lifter technology, that the installation process is safe.
Client reassurance
Which brings us to the second point: what does the client think? Reassuring the client about your safe system of work and RAMS is vital.
Our glass lifter hire customers must work to the operational and health and safety policies and procedures of their clients.
If they require all lifted loads to be held securely by slings, straps or chains (or any other approved method), then that is what must be done.
It will be the glass vacuum lifter doing all the work. But the secondary safety device will be in place to meet on-site safety rules.
Therefore, despite all the high-tech innovation that goes into the glass vacuum lifter systems in Hird’s hire fleet, there is still a need for simple lifting systems.
Hollywood legend
Which brings us to the Quick Quiz question.
Who where does the saying, ‘strap yourself in, it’s going to be a bumpy ride’, come from?
The answer is a legendary film – All About Eve – released in 1950, and starring the equally legendary Bette Davis.
Her line was actually, ‘fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy night’.
Since then, ‘night’ has become ‘ride’ and straps and buckles have been added to the things that need to be fastened.
So, here is another evolution of a famous Hollywood one-liner:
‘Fasten your Hird secondary safety device – it’s going to be a reassuringly safe glass installation project.’
Find out more
The secondary safety device is just one of a range of lifting accessories available from Hird.
Others include glass handling straps, lifting slings, glass trolleys, material trolleys, mobile lifting gantries, hand glass cups and material hoists.
Talk to Hird’s lifting experts today about all these accessories, and all the big kit they can be used with, including glass vacuum lifters, and mini cranes.
Email: [email protected]