Tag Archives: heavy machinery movers

7 Situations When You Have To Move Heavy Equipment

If you use heavy equipment in your projects, there are plenty of reasons you might consider moving the equipment from one point to the other. Some of these reasons as given by heavy machinery moving experts include:

You need to replace the machine

Machines, like other systems, have an expected lifespan. After reaching that threshold, machines require part replacements or, in certain circumstances, full removal.

Replacements are also necessary when the equipment becomes obsolete or is broken beyond repair. Running broken or obsolete machinery will cause more harm than good.

It will not only slow down production and increase costs, but it will also pose a risk to everyone involved. When you are looking to replace your old or malfunctioning machinery, you need experienced machine movers to remove the machinery and install new equipment.

You need to relocate the machine

Is your business outgrowing its current space? Are you seeking a facility with cheaper rent and overhead? Moving or replacing your equipment may be necessary if you want to relocate your operation.

Rather than investing money in new machinery, you should consider hiring a professional rigging company to move your heavy equipment.

If you are relocating the machinery from one section of the business to the other, you can use your own forklifts, air bearings, and other equipment to move the equipment. However, if you are moving the equipment from one state or town to the other, you will need to hire a company to help with the relocation.

You are redesigning the site

Finding the ideal arrangement for your work site can be challenging. As you work, you might find a better and more efficient arrangement and you have no other way out other than to move the equipment around to fit the new arrangement.

You are discarding old equipment

You need to decommission and discard machines as soon as they reach a certain performance level and begin to lose efficiency. However, the size of rejected pieces can vary, and they must be removed from the facility before scrapping.

Such a large-scale movement necessitates the use of expert movers to transport it to the appropriate disposal location.

You are upgrading to better machines

Machines and their components require constant upgrades for optimal functioning. Upgrade parts can be of various sizes, ranging from small screws to massive dynamos and generators.

To avoid damage, you need to ensure that all improvements are transported and unloaded with extreme caution. Depending on the size of the part, movers load and unload the machine using equipment such as air bearings or crane systems.

You are selling the equipment

You can downsize, relocate, or make changes regularly, and often dispose of or sell your old equipment. Discarding occurs when a machine has completed its life cycle and has outlived its usefulness.

If the machine is still functional or requires minor repairs, the best way to handle it is to sell it. When you sell the machinery, you will need expert movers to transport it to the new owner’s location.

Why do you need a professional mover when moving heavy machinery?

Regardless of the reason you are looking to move heavy machinery, you should always hire a professional company to help you out.

If you have your team that can do the moving you must be wondering why you should hire a professional to help you out, right? Well, there are plenty of reasons you should do it. These reasons include:

You reduce the risk of injury

You are familiar with your machine and are aware of its weight and size. Regardless of your motive for moving, it will be extremely unsafe for your employees to try to move it. In some cases, one of your employees may get injuries, and you may incur financial costs.

Hiring a rigging company ensures that your machinery is moved securely by skilled specialists who adhere to their guidelines.

When you are hiring moving professionals, always hire experienced ones with an insurance policy. This way you are sure that even if an accident happens, you won’t be responsible for compensating them.

You don’t strain your moving equipment

Moving big machinery necessitates the use of specialist equipment capable of safely handling the weight of the object being moved. If your equipment fails when transferring your machinery, it may cause harm to critical components of your machine.

Professional rigging companies provide skilled machinery moving contractors with the necessary rigging equipment to properly transport and preserve your machinery throughout the relocation.

You save time

Moving large machinery while trying to do your daily tasks is not only a physical drain on your employees and equipment, but it also wastes time.

Instead of having your employees complete jobs that they excel at for your firm, moving equipment diverts their attention away from the skills they provide to your team.

With a trained rigging business, the jobs are accomplished swiftly and efficiently, allowing your personnel to focus on what will help your business flourish.

Also, if you attempted to move the machine, you would have spent too much time doing it because you don’t have the right machine or skills for the task. With professional movers, they have the right equipment for the task. At the same time, they have been doing the moving tasks for too long which means that they complete the tasks fast.

You exonerate yourself from responsibility

As mentioned, moving heavy equipment comes with plenty of risks. The heavy equipment can fall, and people can get hurt, among many other risks.

When there are too many risks involved, the last thing you want is to be responsible for the outcome.

When you hire heavy equipment movers VA, you lift all of the responsibilities off your shoulders and place them on the shoulders of the equipment movers. They will be responsible for anything that happens to the equipment and the people handling the equipment.

To be safe, ensure that you hire an insured company. As mentioned, when you hire an insured company you are sure that the insurance company will handle the responsibility should anything happen.

Best Practices when Moving Heavy Machinery

heavy machinery moving

Moving heavy machinery, such as huge crawler excavators weighing 80 to 100 tonnes, is difficult. These massive machines are designed to handle difficult tasks such as digging, lifting, and loading heavy materials for infrastructure projects and stone, sand, and other aggregates in quarry manufacturing facilities.

Due to their size, these machines require specific treatment from one job site to another or from a dealership to a quarry.

Are you looking to undertake heavy machinery moving? Here are the best practices to make your work easy and smooth:

Know the weight and height of the machine.

Understand your machine’s size and weight before you plan to move them. Consider the attachments you’ll need to transport when determining the size and height.

By doing this, you will easily match the transport vehicles, such as trailers or heavy haulers, to the equipment and adhere to gross vehicle weight ratings laws. Remember to keep the weight of the trailer in mind when determining the overall weight of the machine.

Get the necessary permits.

You’ll need a larger trailer with a higher weight rating when transporting heavy machinery. Oversize loads may require special approval or transportation permits along your route. The permit may also require escort cars to accompany you on the road to inform other drivers of your load.

To have an easy time, plan your transportation route. Keep an eye out for small highways and bridges with weight limits.

Check that your trailer and excavator can pass beneath bridges and overpasses. Choose a route that is simple to drive. Oversized loads should be properly marked with flags, signs, and lighting, so have these to avoid being on the wrong side of the law.

Properly load the heavy machinery.

Understand the owner’s manual’s basic operating and loading instructions before putting your heavy machine and accessories onto a trailer. To help you out, here are some loading and safety tips to consider:

Place the trailer on solid, level ground.
Check if the ramps can support the weight of the machine. If necessary, add blocks under the ramp for support.
Remove any oil, trash, or muck that could cause the machine to slip or slide from the ramp and equipment.
When loading the machine onto the trailer, travel up the ramp with the heaviest end first.
Start the engine at the lowest possible speed. When loading or unloading the equipment, travel at the slowest pace possible.

Distribute your machine’s weight on the transport vehicle. Remember that improper weight distribution increases the pull on the transport vehicle and causes tire wear. Sometimes, it can cause the transport vehicle to tip over if you use an uneven road.

The best way to determine if the load is distributed is to look at the transport vehicle’s suspension and ensure it’s balanced.

Properly secure the machine.

Secure your crawler excavator or any machine you are transporting in a way that prevents it from tipping or rolling off the trailer while traveling in accordance with laws. Your equipment must not be able to shift in a way that compromises the transport vehicle’s stability.

Once your machine is loaded onto the trailer or transport vehicle, proceed as follows:

Drop the bucket or attachment to the ground.
Turn off the engine and apply the parking brake. Set the battery disconnect switch to “off.”
Before transport, secure all doors and covers.
Chocks, cradles, or wedges should be placed before and behind each track. Install tie-downs at the front and rear points, as specified in your owner’s manual.

To prevent movement, most manufacturers require at least four tie-downs. D-rings, chain slots, or built-in strap rails are features of some transport devices.

These allow you to connect your equipment to the vehicle easily. Use the recommended connection points and securements at all times. It will help to reduce damage and increase the efficiency of carrying your excavator.

Inspect the tie-down points and equipment to secure your machine before carrying it.

All pins and connection points should be secure, and the hooks should still be functional.

Remove the tie-down equipment from service if any cracks, stretches, or fatigued links are discovered. All tie-down equipment should be able to meet or surpass the weight rating of the machine.

Be ultra-cautious when transporting the machine.

During transportation, secure the attachment or accessory to the machine. If that isn’t possible, use chain straps to ensure the attachment. Don’t overlook hydraulic attachments. The hoses should be routed so they do not interfere with the equipment on the trailer.

Hoses should not be lying beneath the machine, in the way of a tie-down, or connected so that they can become disengaged. You should secure all hydraulic hoses according to the owner’s manual.

Once you have loaded and secured the machine and attachments, ensure that you or the driver can see out the front and sides of the transport vehicle. Don’t obscure the view, as it might cause an accident. If you load the machine and it blocks your view, the transport vehicle is too small, and it’s time to get a larger one.

Safely unload the machine.

Once you’ve arrived at your destination, unload your machine and attachments carefully. Here are a few things to remember when unloading:

Remove any considerable debris from the unloading area and level the ground as much as possible.
While the machine is on the trailer or transport truck, walk around it. Check that nothing is out of place.
Release the burden by removing the chains and ties one at a time.
Back your machine down the ramp slowly.
Carry out a last inspection. Check the crane and attachments to ensure they are fully operational.

Parting shot

Transporting big equipment, such as crawler excavators and attachments, necessitates careful consideration and planning. However, if proper practices and local transportation restrictions are followed, it can be simple and safe.

Work with experienced heavy equipment movers VA to determine the proper processes to make your project successful.

Guide to Moving Heavy Machines with Precision and Care

heavy machinery moving

Moving heavy machinery can be challenging and dangerous, but it can be done safely and efficiently with the right planning and preparation. Here are some tips and best practices to keep in mind when moving heavy machines:

Choose a reputable and experienced heavy machine moving company

The heavy machinery moving company can make or break your project, so be cautious when hiring. As a rule of thumb, hire a reputable and experienced moving company that knows what it’s doing.

Many people make the mistake of hiring the first company they see in the search results. This is wrong. The best way to do it is to research and find at least five or more companies and then schedule interviews with them.

As you are interviewing the companies, Look for companies with a proven track record of safe and successful heavy machine moves.

Besides doing your research online, you can also ask colleagues, friends, and other businesses in your industry for recommendations on heavy machine moving companies.

Regardless of how you find the company, ensure it’s licensed, insured, and compliant with all relevant regulations and standards.

Have a solid plan and prepare for the move

You can’t just wake up and decide to move the machinery—you need to have a detailed plan that includes a timeline, logistics, and any special requirements or considerations for the move.

Work with the moving company and devise a plan and logistics for the move, including the route, necessary permits, and potential obstacles or challenges.

As a rule of thumb, ensure that the machinery is properly prepared for the move, including securing loose parts and disconnecting any power or fuel source.

To be on the safe side, closely monitor the move to ensure that it is done safely and efficiently, and be prepared to address any issues that may arise.

Use the right equipment.

The best equipment for moving heavy machinery depends on the specific machinery being moved and the conditions of the move. In general, however, some common pieces of equipment that may be used for moving heavy machinery include:

Heavy-duty trailers or lowboy trailers, which are designed to carry heavy loads and can be attached to a truck or other vehicle

Forklifts or cranes, which can be used to lift and move the machinery

Skates or rollers can be placed under the machinery to make it easier to move

Straps or chains can be used to secure the machinery during the move

Dollies or carts, which can be used to move smaller or lighter pieces of machinery

Choosing the right equipment for the job is essential to ensure that the machinery is moved safely and efficiently.

Thankfully, if you are working with a moving company with heavy machinery experience, you will have an easy time telling the best equipment to use for your specific needs.

Protect your machine

To protect heavy machinery during transport, you should observe the following tips:

Secure any loose parts or attachments on the machinery to prevent them from moving or falling off during transport.

Disconnect any power or fuel sources to prevent accidents or damage to the machinery.

Use straps, chains, or other secure fasteners to secure the machinery to the trailer or other vehicle. Make sure the fasteners are properly tightened and will not loosen during transport.

Use skates or rollers to support the machinery and make it easier to move. This will help prevent damage to the machinery and make it easier to load and unload.

Cover the machinery with a protective tarp or other material to protect it from the elements and prevent debris from getting inside.

Monitor the machinery during transport to ensure that it remains secure and is not damaged. Be prepared to address any issues that may arise during the move.

Follow safety protocols

Ensure all workers involved in the move are trained and experienced in heavy machine moving and follow all safety protocols and guidelines to prevent accidents and injuries.

For example, all heavy machinery movers DC should use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), such as hard hats, gloves, and safety glasses, to protect themselves and others from potential hazards.

How Do You Move A Heavy Machine?

Do you have a heavy machine and you are wondering how you can move it? There are plenty of ways to go about it. Some of these ways include:

Using a bulldozer

The bulldozer is an excellent machine to move your heavy machinery. The beauty of it is that it’s powerful, so it will easily push the heavy weight to your desired location.

If you are doing the moving yourself, you will need to hire a bulldozer from your local heavy machinery movers. When doing it, be cautious of the one you choose.

You have two options: track or wheeled dozer.

From the name, a track dozer has tracks instead of wheels, which makes it an excellent choice when looking to move your heavy machine in soft soil.

On the other hand, a wheeled bulldozer does everything a tracked bulldozer can but on nice solid ground. This means you should go for this when you want to move your heavy machine on decent ground.

There is no right or wrong bulldozer that you can use. It all depends on the equipment you are moving and the conditions of your location.

Utility machine skates

These are perfect for moving machines of medium load, and they make excellent alternatives for cranes or forklifts.

When using the skates, remember that they have a weight capacity of 37.5 tons. They also work best when moving your heavy machinery in straight lines or turns.

Roller dollies

These are best suited for heavy but not oversized equipment. There are a variety of dollies in the market, so take your time and find one that is right for you.

Their beauty is that they require less power as they have a central load-bearing plate. These dollies can move up to 15 tons and rotate to 360 degrees when properly maintained.

When moving your machinery using the dollies, always use a ratchet strap to help secure the equipment and prevent accidents.

Crane

A crane is an excellent choice if you are moving your machinery up or over a short distance. Like dollies, many types of cranes are in the market designed for different applications.

For example, if you are looking to move your heavy equipment upwards, a tower crane would be the ideal choice, but if looking to move it vertically over a short distance, a mobile crane would be the best choice.

If you aren’t sure about the right crane to get, seek the services of an expert.

A plan

No, this is not a machine you can use to move your heavy machinery, but you need an expert plan to move your unit.

You need to know the right unit to accomplish your work and the right route, among many other details. Remember that without a solid plan, you will lose time, money, and plenty of opportunities to be strategic in how you go about it.

Again, if this is your first time going about it, get the input of a professional.

To get your machinery to your desired venue on time and with as little disturbance as possible, plan to move it when there is little traffic. An ideal time would be on the weekends when most people are in their homes.

You also should always take the shortest distance possible.

To avoid complications, have all the necessary paperwork before you begin the big move. You don’t want to put your machine on the side of the road upon realizing that you don’t have some vital documents.

You will always have risks when moving heavy machinery, so you can’t avoid them. The best you can do is to prepare for it. A good rule of thumb is to have insurance for the machine.

This way, you are sure that in the event of an accident, your insurance company will step in and settle it. You don’t want to be in a situation where you leave everything to fate, as things sometimes don’t go as planned.

Parting shot

These are tricks on how to move your heavy machinery. You can move the machine yourself but work closely with expert heavy equipment movers VA for the best outcome.

Tricks to Having an Excellent Time Transporting Heavy Equipment

If you are looking to transport heavy equipment, you want a great experience, don’t you? And the good news is that it’s possible to do it. To help you out, here is how to go about it:

Work with the right transport company

Everything begins here. You will not have a great experience if you work with the wrong heavy machinery movers.

Thankfully, when you are keen, you can easily pick the right company. One of the things you should look out for is the company’s experience. As a rule of thumb, you want to work with a company that has been in the industry for a long time and knows what it’s doing.

To save money, work with a company that provides various services. For example, it would be good if you can work with a company that also provides packaging services. It also doesn’t hurt if the company can disassemble and assemble the equipment you are transporting.

The company also needs to have a team of experienced and passionate employees. From the drivers to the people loading the machine, they need to be properly trained and passionate about their work. You can tell whether the team is passionate by simply spending time with them. If they are always complaining about their work, it would be best to avoid them.

Only work with passionate workers, who will handle the work professionally and ensure your heavy machinery arrives safely.

Finally, ensure that the company has the right vehicles for transportation. Some companies say they can transport your machine and outsource the vehicles. While they will have done what you hired them to, you often pay more.

Before you sign the agreement, ensure that the company you are hiring has the relevant vehicles.

It will also be good if the company is insured. This way, you are sure that you will get full compensation in the event of an accident.

Secure the equipment properly.

Don’t you want your heavy equipment to arrive safe and sound? To make it possible, you should secure it appropriately. To help you out, here are tips on how to properly secure your heavy equipment:

Use four or more tie downs: You need to tie down your heavy equipment or machinery with no less than four tie downs. Sometimes, you might have to use more tie-downs to meet the general cargo requirements.

Using the tie downs isn’t enough—you need to ensure they are tightly secure. This calls for you to use hooks, clamps, or tie-downs that can’t come loose during transport.

For peace of mind, inspect the ties before you start the journey and ensure they are tight and don’t have any damage or weak sections.

Use chains if possible: If you have the budget, use chains to strap down your equipment as it will provide a better strapping. Another excellent option to go with is steel strapping.

Secure the wheels: If your heavy equipment has wheels, secure them in place using wedges, chocks, or even cradles that will prevent them from rolling during transport. Remember to check the tire pressure on the wheels and ensure the pressure isn’t low. The reason for this is that it has been shown that low pressure can cause the tie downs to loosen, and you don’t want this, do you?

Have the right on and off loading procedure

If the transport company doesn’t provide offloading services, you need to think about how to properly offload your equipment to protect the equipment from getting damaged.

This calls for you to source the equipment that will help you properly offload the machinery. Two excellent tools you should think about are skates and forklifts.

You use the forklift to lift the heavy equipment and place it on skates that have wheels that help you easily move the equipment to your desired area.

Parting shot

To professionally and safely move your heavy equipment from one location to another, you need to work with experienced heavy machinery moving MD. As a rule of thumb, ensure that the movers you choose know what they are doing. You don’t want to hire professionals that will drop your machine, do you?

7 Safety Tips For Moving Heavy Machinery

According to heavy machinery moving companies, safety is one of the most important factors to consider when moving any heavy machinery. And for you to ensure you are safe when moving the machinery, you need to consider several tips that include:

Work with the right professionals

Everything begins here. There is no way you are going to have a great experience if you work with the wrong people. Working with the right people begins with the moving company you hire.

If you hire the wrong company, you won’t find experienced professionals who know what they are doing.

Before you decide to work with any company, take your time to research the company and ensure that the company knows what it’s doing. This calls for you to ensure that the company has handled similar projects in the past. The last thing you want is a new company doing a trial run with you.

Besides the new company failing to have the right tools for the job, chances are also high that it won’t have the right people.

An ideal company should have successfully moved several similar machines. This way, you are sure that it will expertly move your heavy machinery.

Undertake thorough inspection before the move

Before moving, thoroughly inspect the machine you are moving and the moving vehicle. For the machine, you want to move, ensure that you have switched it off and there isn’t the risk of it accidentally coming on.

You also need to ensure that it’s strongly strapped into place with high-quality ratchet straps.

For the transporting vehicle, inspect the tires for any form of damage. Also, check the fluid levels, booms, hoses, and other components for damage signs. If there is any sign of damage, it’s time to replace the part.

Have a clear plan

Besides the plan helping you stay organized, it also comes in handy in protecting you from getting into accidents. When you have a clear plan, you know what you need to do, which prevents you from making hasty decisions that might land you into problems.

With a clear plan, you know the right routes, the equipment to use, and any other vital information.

Of course, you can’t develop a clear plan if you don’t know what to do, can you? To have an easy time coming up with a plan, work with an experienced company that will explain what to do and the process to achieve your desired results.

Use the three-point mounting and dismounting rule.

People have been hurt and even machines damaged as a result of careless mounting and dismounting of the heavy equipment. To avoid accidents on your site, use the three-point rule.

Use two hands and one foot or two feet and one hand to mount or dismount the heavy machinery.

Be cautious when loading and unloading the machine

Besides observing the three-point mounting and dismounting rule, you need to be ultra-cautious when loading your heavy equipment. As a rule of thumb, ensure that the transport vehicle sits on level ground. This way, you are sure that the vehicle can’t roll or slide.

It’s also wise to have a spotter on the site to inspect the loading and unloading and identify any problem that might be present, and prevent it before it turns deadly.

Look out for hazards before you start work.

You might be using the most experienced moving company, but if you aren’t keen on the hazards in the area, you stand having an awful heavy machinery moving experience.

Before loading the machine, look out for overhead and underground dangers such as gas lines, cables, and even hydro wires.

It will even be better if you can get a map of the area you are working in.

Know and obey the load limits

Every machine has a load limit, and you should be cautious about it as exceeding it will put yourself, your moving vehicle, and other people on the site in great danger.

Heavy equipment movers DC recommend you keep a close eye on the capabilities of your moving vehicle. You should also double-check the weight of the equipment you are looking to move and ensure that it’s not too heavy for your vehicle.

How Should A Heavy Machinery Moving Company Prepare Your Machine For Shipping?

When shipping your heavy equipment across the globe, you need to ensure that the heavy machinery moving company does it safely and efficiently.

To reduce the chances of the equipment getting damaged, a good moving company should professionally prepare the machine for shipping. Some of the things the company should do include:

Rustproof the machinery

During transit, it’s normal for the heavy machinery to sit in an open-air environment on cargo ships. This exposes the machinery to different weather elements such as salt and water. Even if you are transporting the machine using a train, the travel also exposes the machine to rain and snow.

This puts the machinery at a high risk of rusting. Rust significantly compromises the efficiency of the machine, so it’s vital you protect it from rust. Some of the ways of doing it include:

Painting: Paint sits at the top of the machine as a separate layer, covering the metal hence preventing corrosion. If transporting the machine over long distances, cover the machinery with oil-based coatings. While they will be difficult to remove, they will provide optimum protection.

Galvanizing: This is a “hot dip” method that coats the machinery in layers of steel and zinc. The final layer coating should be pure zinc. Since zinc is shock-absorbent, the outer layer protects the machinery against impacts and jostling. Galvanization is an extremely efficient protective measure when transporting the machinery over long distances.

The good thing is that the “hot-dip” substances don’t chip or peel and don’t require any maintenance

Plating: Plating is made up of zinc and tin and highly effective at providing an additional layer that keeps off corrosion. You can use plating in conjunction with a coating layer or without, depending on your mode of transport. Plating provides enhanced protection against chemical damage and abrasions.

Shrinkwrapping

Here you use a specialized plastic coating that is sensitive to temperature. You apply heat to its surface, causing it to shrink around the contours of the machinery. To attain a perfect fit, some companies use vacuum packing.

Shrinkwrapping forms a customized outer container that resists wind, water, and other corrosive substances while at the same time serving as a buffer to cushion the machine against impacts.

Since the surface of the plastic wrap is UV resistant, it protects the machine against dust and road grime as well as sea air.

Shrinkwrapping is also highly effective at keeping the essential parts of the machine together, preventing breakage and damage to the delicate parts.

To keep the machine stable, a good moving company should use a pallet to secure the large items. The company will shrink wrap the machinery reducing the chances of the machine shifting or sliding during transportation.

Containerization

This is simply the act of loading the heavy equipment in a metal shipping container. Shipping containers come in standardized sizes ranging from 20 to 53 feet. To increase stability, a good company should load skids or pallets into the container to increase stability.

If moving small equipment, the company should crate it and shrink wrap it before putting it in the container. In addition to making it easy to transport the machinery, containers are highly effective at protecting the machinery from corrosion and other forms of damage.

Large containers are used when transporting the machinery over water while the smaller ones are ideal when looking to ship the machine by air or rail.

Cleaning

Some people joke that they can’t clean the heavy machinery as it’s not going to a fashion show. While this is true, the purpose of cleaning the machinery isn’t to get points on the podium. It’s to remove any dirt, dust, and debris that can attract moisture during the shipping process.

This plays a vital role in protecting the machine when shipping overseas via ship. When you allow the machine to ship dirty, the saltwater will absorb onto the dried-on mud, which increases the chances of getting damaged.

Parting shot

These are some of the ways in which you can protect your heavy machinery from damage. For you to be ultra sure that the machine will arrive safely, work with reputable heavy machinery movers VA.

4 Ways To Prevent Accidents When Undertaking Heavy Machinery Moving

heavy machinery moving

While heavy machines make work easy, they have one main flaw: they cause accidents. According to heavy machinery moving services providers, the most common accidents are:

The machine getting caught between vehicles as they are backing up. This is common with large onsite vehicles with huge blind spots.

People getting pinned by heavy machinery
Workers getting struck by falling, frying or discharged objects
Workers getting hit by moving or rolling over machinery
Machine operators falling when mounting or dismounting the machinery
Workers getting crushed under collapsing structures

These accidents cause severe injuries such as head, neck, concussions, broken bones, digit amputations, electrical burns, severed limbs, and even death.

When injured, the affected workers have to incur huge medical costs, lost wages from time spent out of work, and lost earning capacity in the event the injuries cause permanent disability.

All of these are severe repercussions that you can prevent. Some of the things you can do to avoid them include:

Train the people handling the machine

Even if you want to move the machine from one place to another, you should never let an untrained operator in the cab of the heavy machinery.

To prevent the accidents from coming about, ensure that anyone handling the machine has a comprehensive understanding of how the machine works, what to do in the event of emergencies, and how to safely operate the heavy machinery.

Studies show that most seasoned equipment operators fail to train the people handling the machine, which it’s often out of ignorance. As mentioned above, always train the people handling the machine to prevent accidents from coming about.

Inspect the machines regularly

A faulty machine is a dangerous machine. When you are working with a defective machine, it can easily fail, leading to a dangerous situation.

For example, when you operate a machine with faulty brakes, the machine might fail to stop at the expected area resulting in significant damage to the surrounding structure and equipment.

If the machine has a damaged wire, the hook load can drop and destroy anything in the vicinity. God forbid if it’s the employees that are in the area.

Before you handle any project, take the time to inspect the machine thoroughly. Pay attention to the headlights, brakes, headlights, and fluid levels.

In addition to heavy machine inspection, ensuring you are safe when working, it also prolongs its life.

If you have the skills, you can inspect the machine by yourself, but if you have never done it before, ask an experienced professional to help you out.

Don’t be in a hurry

There is a common saying in the Special Forces: “slow is smooth and smooth is fast.” When you are falling behind in completing a task, it’s common to want to speed up things so that you can get a lot done within the remaining time. Don’t do this.

When you are in a hurry, you will most likely skip the safety checks, which increases the chances of accidents happening at the worksite.

When you are renting the heavy machine by the hour, it’s common to be tempted to hurry up, so you save some money, but this has been shown to result in errors and mistakes that can end up costing you more than you are looking to save.

For you to avoid accidents resulting from haste, set out enough money for the project. This way, you won’t have to hurry up to save a few coins here and there.

You also should start the project early enough. Some people wait until a few weeks or days before the project is due to start working on it. As you might guess, since they are in a hurry to get things done, they are more likely to cause an accident.

The best way of preventing an accident from coming about is to start your search for the heavy machinery early enough. Do it at least three months before the project commences. This way, you have enough time to visit several companies and compare the machines they have in stock.

Minimize employee distractions

Construction sites are extremely hazardous, and the many obstacles can be threatening to the heavy equipment movers DC. The last thing you want is an additional source of distraction. One of the easiest distractions to get rid of is the phone. To minimize distractions, have a “no phone” policy where you should confine the use of phones only to break time.

Heavy Machinery Moving Company: 6 Ways To Prevent Accidents When Moving Heavy Machinery

When dealing with heavy machinery, there is always the risk of accidents happening. When workers are injured, they not only waste time and money recovering, you also might be required to leave work altogether if the injury is severe.

In some cases, they sue the moving company which throws a spanner in the works. As a heavy machinery moving company, you need to ensure that you maintain the highest levels of safety. You can do this by:

Planning adequately for the move

Regardless of how many years you have been moving heavy machinery, you can’t wake up one day and execute the move. You need to take your time and plan on how to do it safely. The first thing you need to do is to identify a vehicle route with little traffic.

This is to minimize the number of vehicles the truck driver will meet on the way. It also minimizes the chances of the heavy machinery truck hitting people during the move. Using a less-trafficked route also speeds up the move as the driver has fewer distractions.

Plenty of accidents have been reported when picking the machinery. This often happens when there are blind spots at the site. For you to eliminate these accidents, designate a spotter all the time that will safely guide and direct the operator. The spotter will also communicate about any dangers that might be there.

Wearing the right protective gear at all times

It’s common for people to take their safety seriously early on in their careers but as time goes on, and they get used to their duties, they forget all about it. When moving heavy machinery, electrical hazards and falling objects are two of the main causes of injuries and fatalities.

For safety, all the heavy machinery operators and workers should wear the appropriate safety equipment. They should wear steel-toed boots, hard hats, high-visibility clothing, and any other necessary protective items.

Loading and unloading the machinery properly

You might be having the right staff and equipment but if you aren’t keen when loading and unloading the heavy equipment, things are bound to go wrong. Always load the crane or truck on level ground. This is to prevent objects or machinery from rolling over or slipping off the ramps.

Before you start loading, take time to determine the load limit of the machine. The last thing you want is damaging the machinery. If the truck can comfortably carry the machine, ensure that the load is securely in place and can’t fall off.

Keeping the lines of communication open

To ensure that everyone is on the same page, keep the lines of communication open at all times. Ensure that the operators transferring the heavy equipment are communicating with each other and with the people on the site.

The best form of communication is using a two-way radio. Ensure that the radio is working efficiently and there are no cutoffs.

Not leaving anything to chance

As mentioned, heavy machinery is unreliable and anything can happen when you are handling them. For peace of mind, don’t leave anything to chance. Before you move the machine, identify the power sources and lender them inoperable and inaccessible. This is to prevent the machines from starting accidentally.

In rare occasions, the machines release stored energy. To easily curb this when it happens, come up with protocols on how to control them.

Being professional and putting safety first

When people want to move machines, they don’t hire the first company they come across. They research to find a professional company. A professional heavy machinery moving MD company has all the necessary trucks and tools to move a wide range of machines.

The company will also have the right staff for the work. The staff will be properly trained to execute the move fast and safely.

The professional company gives the clients peace of mind as they are sure that their machine will get to the desired destination safely. Professional moving companies are insured; therefore, even if an accident happens, the burden isn’t on the client or the moving company—it’s on the insurance company.

To have more clients coming your way, have properly maintained trucks, work with the right team and ensure that you are insured.

Crane Rentals: 5 Tips To Consider When Using Cranes

crane rentals

Whether you have a brand new project that requires you to start from scratch or you are undertaking a renovation, you need a crane. If you don’t have one, you need to hire the crane from your local crane rentals. Cranes make it easy to transport large, heavy, and unwieldy materials.

For you to have a great time with the rented crane you need to consider a number of tips:

Understand your project requirements

What does your project entail? You need to know the ins and outs of it. This is to know the right type of crane you should hire. You need to know the nature of your terrain, the weather conditions, the weight of the materials, the height of the structure, among many other things.

If renting the crane for the first time, work with a professional who will guide you on the right crane to rent.

Work with the right company

You might be having all the details of your site but you will have a bad experience if you work with the wrong crane company. There are many crane rental companies, but no two are similar.

A good company should have high quality, properly maintained cranes. This way you are sure that the cranes won’t develop problems on the site.

It’s also wise to work with a company with many cranes. A company with one crane ends up being too expensive. In the event the one crane breaks down, you have to hire another from a different company, which leads to you paying double price for the crane.

When you work with a company with many cranes, you are sure that the company will replace the faulty crane with a new one in the event the one you are using breaks down.

Have the necessary permits

For you to legally use the crane in your project, you should have the necessary permits. If having your project in an urban area and you are using a large crane, you may have to block a portion of the road.

If you don’t have the necessary permits the city may temporarily shut down your project, which will be an inconvenience for you.

Before you start working, visit your local city offices and understand the permits that you need. You should note that sometimes it’s the responsibility of the crane company to get the permits. To cut your costs, first research who is responsible for the permits.

Organize your team and site

Don’t bring the crane before the site is ready. This is because you will end up wasting a lot of time and money. Most of the rental companies rent the machines by the hour. This means that if you don’t prepare the site early enough, you will be paying a rental fee while the crane is sitting on the trailer.

Before you go to the rental companies, ensure that the site is clear of any obstructions. Are there long trees in the area? Get rid of them before you begin your work.

Just as you should prepare the site, you also should prepare your team. For the rigging process to be a success you need to have a rigging team. Choose a team of experienced individuals to help you with the work.

If they haven’t been engaged in a similar project before, have them trained first. By the time you are getting the crane, everyone should know what the project entails, the responsibility of the team members, and how to avoid accidents from coming about.

Move the crane early

Unless you are hiring a mobile crane, you have to hire heavy machinery movers to help you move the crane. To avoid wasting hours in traffic, plan to move early in the morning before there are many cars on the road.

In addition to this saving you time, it also increases the safety issue as you have few things to deal with at that time.

Schedule lifting during the standard working hours

Unless you have to absolutely do it, you should undertake your lifting during the normal working hours. This is important if you have to hire a crane operator. By doing the lifting outside of this time, you will have to pay an extra fee which makes the crane services VA too expensive.