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Monthly Archives: April 2019

Hugg & Hall Trainer Helps Write New Industry Standards

Hugg & Hall Trainer Helps Write New Industry Standards

Bob Hendricks (third from left)

Bob Hendricks, a trainer at Hugg & Hall Equipment Company (Hugg & Hall), recently assisted the Scaffold & Access Industry Association (SAIA) write the new American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A92 standards, a sweeping update which affects manufacturers, renters, dealers and purchasers/users of mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs).

“I met on the committees and went over the proposed changes and helped initiate some of the changes,” said Hendricks.

The new regulations replace prior ANSI standards A92.3, A92.5, A92.6 and A92.8 which covered manually propelled aerial, booms, scissors and under-bridge inspection machines. The standards dictate stability, testing and safety requirements to manufacturers so that consumers are provided certified and safe machines for use. The updates are focused on moving North American equipment toward current global standards to reduce variances.

Some of the major changes stemming from the update include terminology changes, platform load sensing technology requirements, new wind force requirements, new stability testing, new railing height requirements, new platform entry requirements and more. Recently, Hendricks noted that some of the most dramatic changes relate to requirements of end-users and supervisors.

“The users and the supervisors having to have more knowledge of how operations work and the risk assessments having to be done,” said Hendricks when asked the biggest change effectuated by the new standards, in his view.

Hendricks believes that the changes were absolutely necessary and that the updated standards will create safer work environments.  

“The risk assessment that the owners/users have to do as well as the risk assessments that the operators have to complete bring more safety,” said Hendricks. “There were too many gray areas created since the last major changes which were more than 20 years ago.”

Hendricks enjoyed assisting the SAIA in writing the standards for ANSI, which will ultimately be enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

“I loved it,” said Hendricks. “I felt like I was doing something important.”

Hendricks onboarded as a trainer with the company in 2014 and, throughout his time at Hugg & Hall, has trained more than 800 personnel from companies located in Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Tennessee, Louisiana, Arkansas and more. He has trained for several Fortune 500 companies, including: Siemens, Tyson, Walmart, Cargill, Georgia-Pacific, Firestone Tire, the U.S. Air Force and the Veterans Administration (VA). In addition to these organizations, he has trained for many more small and large businesses/organizations throughout the region.

The company is proud to have Hendricks on their team and thanks him for his hard work and dedication which contributes to safer job sites and a more responsible industry, overall.

Your Guide to Buying Used Equipment

Your Guide to Buying Used Equipment

Buying used equipment can be daunting. We’re here to help with our handy guide! 

Step 1: Determine What You Need

Determine what specific machine you need based on jobsite constraints and the in-and-outs of where the machine will be working. There are different options for equipment, even among like-type machines, so you need to know the function of the machine. You’ll want to know if, for example, you need a rough terrain scissor lift or a slab scissor lift. Look for factory-approved vendors. 

Step 2: Research Service History

After you determine what type of machine you need and find one for sale, you’ll need to research the service history. Depending on the seller, you may have access to the machine’s service record. You can also research the machine’s serial number, which may tell you when service was done. It’s important to track the machine’s service history, so you know the machine is in good shape and ready for your jobsite. 

Step 3: Evaluate Damage

Prior to purchasing, evaluate the equipment for any noticeable structural or surface damages. Even minor surface damage may hint at a significant collision. A reputable third-party, like a factory-approved repair company or partner yard, can help provide you relevant guidance. 

Step 4: Know Your History

It’s important to reach out to the manufacturer of any used equipment to try and confirm all previous owners of your new machine. Equipment previously owned by rental fleets may have many more hours of use, but it’s usually maintained better than privately owned equipment. 

Step 5: Train for Operation

Once you’ve done your research and purchased your new equipment, you should ensure everyone who will be operating the equipment has been trained. Operator training will affect future reliability, as an untrained operator is more likely to cause unintended damage or not notice a problem quickly. 

Need operator training? Contact us! 

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in April 2019. We updated it for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness in February 2023.

How to Avoid Common Jobsite Violations

How to Avoid Common Jobsite Violations

Violation: Over-Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica

Solution

There are three paths to complying to the new construction standard which requires workers not be exposed to more than 50 µg/m3 of silica dust in an eight-hour period (this is down from the prior standard of 250 µg/m3).

The first path is through complying via the standardized Table 1 method, which is a prescribed method of controls that is commercially available and easy to use. Please find a copy of the standardized Table 1, here.

The second path is via performance or objective data to document that workers are in compliance with the 50 µg/m3 exposure limit.

The third requires periodically testing for a particular application to validate if the user falls under the permissible 50 µg/m3 exposure limit.

Additional requirements include the below. Please see Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 29 CFR 1926.1153 for a full listing of requirements.

  • Keeping a written exposure control plan.
  • Designating a key competent person.
  • Compliant worker training.
  • Restriction of housekeeping practices.
  • Written records of trainings, control plans, etc.

Violation: Municipal Noise Ordinance

Solution

OSHA recommends that workplace noise levels be kept below 85 dBA as an 8-hour time-weighted average. As the noise level increases, it damages hearing more quickly.

The easiest way to help lower noise levels at work sites, according to OSHA, is to remember a three-step noise hazard control process:

  • Reduce It– reduce the noise by using the quietest equipment available. For example, choose a smaller, quieter generator.
  • Move It– move the equipment farther away with the use of extension cords, additional welding leads and air hoses (following current OSHA standards). Noise levels go down as distance from a noisy object is increased. Move the generator farther away or face it in a direction that is away from where most people are working.
  • Block It– block the noise by building temporary barriers of plywood or other onsite materials to keep noise from escalating.

Proper maintenance of equipment and tools can result in lower noise levels. Changing seals, lubricating parts, using sharp blades and bits, installing mufflers and replacing faulty or worn equipment or parts can reduce noise levels significantly on the job site.

Violation: Lack of or Insufficient Fall Protection

Solution

Fall protection infractions topped OSHA’s annual ‘Top 10’ list of most frequently cited violations in 2018, according to an article published by the National Safety Council. This is the eighth consecutive year that fall protection infractions topped OSHA’s annual list.

Falls are the leading cause of death in the construction industry, according to OSHA. As such, it’s vitally important to review OSHA’s fall protection standards to avoid safety violation and, more importantly, any safety-related incidences.

OSHA recommends organizations follow the below three-step process to ensure operations are conducted safely.

1. Plan for safety 

It’s crucial for employers to plan for safety. A safety plan may include mapping out the tasks involved and finding the safest route to completing these tasks. Another important factor is determining the equipment needed and making sure any safety gear is provided and all safety procedures have been trained for and are followed. Another important facet of a safety plan is to include all safety costs in the overall project estimates and have all the necessary equipment and tools available at the site.

A number of factors are often involved in falls, including unstable working surfaces, misuse or failure to use fall protection equipment and human error, according to OSHA. Studies have shown that using guardrails, fall arrest systems, safety nets, covers and restraint systems can prevent many deaths and injuries from falls. To avoid fall-related accidents consider using aerial lifts or elevated platforms to provide safer elevated working surfaces, erect guardrail systems with toeboards and warning lines or install control line systems to protect workers near the edges of floors and roofs, cover floor holes and/or use safety net systems or personal fall arrest systems (body harnesses).

2. Provide the right equipment

Workers who are six feet or more above lower levels are at risk for serious injury or death if they should fall. To protect these workers, employers must provide fall protection and the right equipment for the job, including the right kinds of ladders, scaffolds/elevating work platforms and safety gear.

3. Train for safety

Every worker should be trained for safety and fall protection protocols. OSHA provides many educational resources for workers and employers, here.

Employee Spotlight: Susie Teague

Susie Teague

Susie Teague

Meet Susie Teague our most recent Employee Spotlight!

Susie Teague works as the lead service administrator at the company’s Fort Smith, Arkansas location. Her typical day involves processing warranty work orders, creating & receiving purchase orders, assisting with day to day problems & concerns, and much more. Before receiving her current role as lead administrator, Susie worked as the service administrator assigned specifically to the Gerdau account.

Teague recently said that her favorite things about her job are all the friendships made along the way, in addition to the family like environment. When asked her favorite memory of her time with Hugg & Hall, Susie said, “When my youngest son got to meet our Bobcat salesman, Mr. Bobcat (Rob Ledbetter).”

Teague is married and she and her husband, Josh, have two sons: Brody (10) and Drake (7). Outside of work, she enjoys attending her boys’ sporting events and advocating for her husband, who has kidney disease, and youngest son (tourette syndrome and epilepsy).

The company would like to send out a huge thank you to Susie Teague for all of her hard work and dedication to Hugg & Hall! To start your own career with Hugg & Hall, visit our hiring site today!

MEWP Maintenance Tips

MEWP Maintenance Tips

Preventative Maintenance

Preventative maintenance refers to precautionary work performed on equipment with the express purpose of limiting the possibility of unexpected failure. Regularly inspecting your equipment, and making it a priority to schedule a preventive maintenance routine, will help you identify any small issues before they become big, expensive issues.

Preventative maintenance will also help prevent any major downtime related to your machine and any associated limitations to ongoing projects. Potential reliability issues are cheaper and easier to fix the earlier they’re spotted.

ANSI Standards

Scheduled inspections and preventative maintenance are the easiest ways to guarantee the best performance from your equipment. And as of the 2020 ANSI Standards, it’s also required.

ANSI Standards require you to have an inspection performed (by a person qualified to inspect the specific make and model of MEWP) no later than 13 months from the date of the prior annual inspection. 

A certified technician must inspect your machine. Once all points are met, your equipment will pass inspection.The inspection should include, but not be limited to, the following:

  1. All functions and their controls for speed(s), smoothness and limits of motion
  2. Lower controls including the provisions for overriding of upper controls
  3. All chain and cable mechanisms for adjustment and worn or damaged parts
  4. All emergency and safety devices
  5. Lubrication of all moving parts, inspection of filter element(s), hydraulic oil, engine oil and coolant as specified by the manufacturer
  6. Visual inspection of structural components and other critical components such as fasteners, pins, shafts and locking devices
  7. Placards, warnings and control markings
  8. Items specified by the manufacturer
  9. Emergency lowering means

OEM Parts

Another major maintenance tip is to always use replacement parts from your machine’s original equipment manufacturer (OEM). Non-OEM replacement parts may fit your machine, but often are far less reliable.

Replacement parts that aren’t factory-fitted might physically fit, but they may not work as well and often cause downtime. Joysticks, for example, can cause issues—they can be the wrong style, not work with your unit, work poorly (operating in one direction but not another), or only work for a very short period of time.

When operating with large machinery, it’s better to be safe than to save a dollar. Always use OEM parts to better ensure your machine is running optimally and to better protect yourself from unnecessary repairs, costs and downtime.

Performance Tracking

Another pro tip for keeping your machines running smoothly (with limited downtime) is to keep track of performance and costs. Tracking trends, especially those related to frequency and types of maintenance requirements, will save you time and money by allowing for the ability to prepare for events before they happen.

Waiting on parts to arrive and repairs to happen can be major causes of unplanned downtime. Your ability to quickly order and receive OEM parts is an important factor for your machine’s reliability.

Tracking the cost of repairs and upkeep on your machine will also be beneficial for the purpose of determining when your machine is no longer a cost-effective asset. Keeping track of performance and cost trends will help you know when it’s time to release or upgrade a machine.

 

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in April 2019. We updated it for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness in July 2023.