In today’s fast-paced work environment, efficiency is key. This is especially true in industries where workers frequently handle heavy and bulky items. Lifting and moving these items manually can lead to injuries and strain on the body over time. That’s why hands-free tools are essential in the workplace.
1. What is Hands-Free Tools?
Hands-free lifting can be defined as a lifting technique where personnel do not come in contact with any part of a suspended load that is connected to a mechanical lifting device. The technique involves lifting or moving the load without physically touching it, and it is considered hands-free lifting even after the load has been set down and all potential energy has been released.
2. Never Touch a Suspended Load
It is crucial to avoid touching a suspended load with any part of your body. Project Sales Corp emphasizes that Tool #1, which is the correct mindset, is the most important tool that cannot be bought with money. This involves changing the natural reaction to go near and hold the rigging in place until the tension is taken up to ensure that the load is properly slung and balanced. It is important to note that the most hazardous part of a lifting operation is when the load is lifted off and landed, and it is recommended to stay as far away from the load as possible.
3. Why Hands-Free Lifting Needed ?
Hands injury contributes to over 50% of all injuries in the workplace. Many injuries can be minimized if not eliminated with the use of the safer methods of handling suspended loads and use safer lifting apparatus, work practices, and tools. The objective of hands‐free lifting is to eliminate hand and finger injuries by removing them from the energy source – and avoid all caught-between, struck‐by, and struck‐against incidents. Hands and fingers represent a tool that enables you to do wonderful things with them, and unfortunately, there are no spare parts for these if you damage them.
4. How Can PSC Help You?
Since 2008, Project Sales Corp(PSC) has focused its effort in bringing in products that can help minimize if not eliminate hand injuries in the oil and gas industry.
Starting with KONG Original Impact Protection Glove in 2008, it has expanded its product portfolio to deliver the most exhaustive range of impact protection gloves, chemical handling gloves, hands‐off tools like PSC FingerSaver and PSC Chisel and Punch Holders, PSC LoadGuiders, PSC Shove‐it Push/Pull Poles, Tagline Retriever Tools, PSC Alpenco Safety Guiders, PSC Lift Assist and more.
Today we service several dozen oilfield companies across India delivering products and solutions just‐in‐time from our inventory of hand‐free lifting products, hands‐off tools and impact protection gloves. We sell direct and through several channel partners focussed on the oil and gas industry.
Chose us as your preferred supplier in your hand safety programs and we will partner you in your efforts to mitigate risks and eliminate hand injuries.
a. Mitigate Hand Injuries
Before we take you through the Project Sales Corp product range of hands‐free and hands‐off tools. It’s important to note that these products are to be used as a defense against hand injuries. Prior to use of the products please study ways to identify all possible hazards that can cause hand injuries and follow a hierarchy of control to remove the potential hazard.
- Eliminate the hazard
- Substitute or Replace the process with a less hazardous one
- Redesign the equipment, work or process
b. Hierarchy of Control
Elimination
The top stage in the hierarchy of controls is the elimination of hazards by physically removing them from the workplace, which is the most effective way to prevent negative impacts on employees. However, this stage can be difficult to implement and expensive, as it may involve significant changes to preexisting workplace processes.
Substitution
Substitution, the second stage of safety control, involves replacing a hazardous item or activity with a less hazardous one to remove or reduce its negative impact on employees. It can be a cost-effective method of hazard management, especially during the design or development phase of a workplace process.
Engineering controls
The third-most effective stage of safety control is engineering controls, which involves designing solutions that physically separate employees from hazards. Many organizations prefer this approach to remove hazards at the source and prevent employee contact with hazards. Although engineering controls can be expensive to implement, they often lead to lower overall operating costs due to the new safety features.
Administrative controls
The fourth-most effective stage of safety control is administrative controls, which involve changing the way employees work or perform certain processes to reduce hazards. Administrative controls are often used in conjunction with other processes where hazards are not completely controlled. While organizations may prefer administrative controls due to their low cost, they are typically less effective and require significant effort from employees affected by the changes.
Personal protective equipment
Personal protective equipment (PPE), which refers to physical equipment used by employees during their work to minimize risks. Generally, PPE is used in combination with existing processes where hazards are not fully controlled.
5. PSC Product Range
In situations where the controls mentioned above are not feasible, our product range can provide assistance in minimizing or even eliminating hand injuries in the workplace. Our products primarily focus on hands-free lifting and guiding of suspended loads, as well as hands-off tools that keep hands away from impact zones.
a. Tanglines
Taglines are otherwise known as guide lines, guide ropes, end lines, strap lines or pay-off lines depending on which part of the world you are in but the most common term for the use of a piece of rope is “Tag line”. Tag lines or restraint lines must be used when a rotation or swinging of the load is or may become hazardous or if the load needs guidance. In brief, loads requiring continuous manual guidance while in motion shall be provided with tag lines, and required tag lines must be used “on loads likely to swing or which need guidance.”
Taglines must be used whenever any of the following occur:
- The load suspended by the crane in a static (non‐ moving) condition swings, or is likely to swing back and forth (due to wind or other external factors), creating a control hazard. Not only for the crane operator and banks man, but a landing and placement hazard.
- The movement of the crane or boom causes, or is likely to cause the load to swing out of control, creating a hazardous condition.
- The load rotates, has rotated, or is likely to rotate in such a manner as to be out of control, creating a hazardous condition.
Catergories
- PSC LoadGuider Anti-Tangle Tagline
- PSC SafeGuider High-Viz Anti-Tangle Tagline
- PSC Guide-It Rigger Safety Tagline
b. Push/Pull Poles
What are these ?
For Hands-Free Guiding of Crane, Fork Lift Loads & Retrieving Taglines
Push pull poles aid in “Hands-Free” Guiding, spotting and landing suspended loads, maneuvering drill pipe and all types of tubular on pipe racks or on the platform, snagging taglines and sling legs, etc.
Push pull poles provide a safety zone to personnel to manoeuvre and guide suspended loads while avoiding pinch points and crush points. With these use of these tools workers do not place themselves in danger by working in an unsafe proximity to hazardous suspended loads.
There are over a dozen varieties available from different manufacturer’s worldwide including the well known Stiffy™, PSC Shove‐it™ and PSC SafeGuider from USA, and few from other countries. These are made out of hardwood, aluminum or fiberglass with variations with heads made out of rubber, nylon, aluminum, etc.
PSC LoadGuider Push/Pull Pole Safety Tool
PSC GUIDE-IT Tool
PSC Shove-It Tool
PSC Tubular Guider Hand Safety Tool
c. PSC Hands-Off Tools
Project Sales Corp has the most complete range of tools that help keep hands away from impact zones during hammering operations or devices that allows workers to perform tasks like moving or lifting or small loads in a manner so as to avoid pinch and crush injuries.
PSC FingerSaver Tool
PSC Chisel and Punch Holder
PSC Ezy Lift Pipe Lifting Tool
PSC Lift Assist Manual Lifting Aids
Hands-free tools are essential in the workplace, reducing the risk of injuries and improving efficiency. When choosing hands-free tools for your workplace safety needs, it’s essential to consider the type of tasks your workers perform and the specific hazards present in your workplace. At PSC, we provide a range of high-quality hands-free safety products to meet your workplace safety needs. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you maintain a safe and efficient workplace.