Temporary Elevators

When a high-rise building is constructed, there should be a way to get the workers and construction materials up and down the unfinished building. Although the stairs inside are built already, it will be very inconvenient for the workers to go up several floors while carrying heavy materials. What the contractor does is install temporary elevators on the side of the building to transport workers and heavy load up and down. These elevators are very easy to spot but they don’t look like the normal elevators you see in hotels and malls. Often, they are not closed and are just made of metal railings.

Why Use Temporary Elevators

Temporary elevators or construction hoists are installed temporarily because they are removed once the building has been completed. They will just make use of the elevators inside the building to go up and down several levels. A construction hoist is very useful for workers but it is very dangerous, too. If something goes wrong with the lift, workers might plunge several floors down, causing their death. Thus, it is very important to follow the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration when it comes to installing construction hoists. Take a look at some of the safety guidelines below.

Load Capacity

One of the major problems that might cause the breakdown of the construction hoist is too much weight. Because of this, temporary elevators have load limitations, which specify how much load capacity the lift can take. The load limit will depend on the type of construction hoist you plan to install and usually, the manufacturer sets this. The construction team should be well aware of the maximum possible load they can carry or else, they could put themselves and others at risk of a fall.

Qualified Operators

Construction hoists should only be operated by qualified workers who have undergone training on how to properly and safely operate such machines. Learning how to operate the machine will lessen any risk for the workers as well as the people in the construction site. It is a general rule that construction hoists should not be operating on top of workers and passersby because of the risk that the load from the hoist might fall. Hence, look for a safe place where the hoist can be installed so as to not risk the safety of anyone. Furthermore, it is important to do some tests before completely using the machine to ensure that it is working properly.

Maintenance

Maintenance of construction hoists is extremely important to the safety of the workers. There should be scheduled maintenance checks regularly to see if the machine is working properly and to ensure that there are no broken parts that can lead to accidents. One of the most important things that you should get checked would be the hoist brake. Each brake has 2 braking methods; one is to keep the lift steady when it is switched off and the other is to control the speed of the lift. It is critical that both braking systems are examined thoroughly to make sure that that the machine will work as it should be.