If you search the web for lifting safety, most of the "hits" will deal with avoiding back injuries. Important as that is in the workplace (back pain is said to be the leading cause of disability among American workers below the age of 45; see "How to get relief from lower back pain," EA May 1999), safe crane or hoist usage is also a serious concern. Government regulations and industry standards have much to say about proper selection and use of heavy lifting equipment. Although many manufacturing operations don't require lifting heavy objects, such work is routine in every electrical apparatus service center. Overhead bridge cranes do some of the lifting, particularly in the larger shops (see "Getting the proper lift from bridge crane technology," EA March 2000). Most heavy lifting, however, is done by small hoists of capacity from one to five tons. The chain hoist, suspended from a beam-and-column support, is the usual means of handling small motors, shafts, transformers, gearboxes, or switchgear com- ponents (Figure 1).
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