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Monthly Archives: August 2022

Why You Should Choose Scissor Lifts vs. Scaffolding

Scissor Lifts vs. Scaffolding

Extended scissor lift

One of the questions we often hear at Hugg & Hall is “Do you have scaffolding for rent?” For safety reasons, we don’t rent scaffolding, but scissor lifts are a great alternative. When we mention scissor lifts, the next question is usually, “What can scissor lifts do that scaffolding can’t?” We’re here to set the record straight. 

While scaffolding has historically been one of the safest ways to work in hard-to-reach places, there are now safer options: scissor lifts and other MEWPs (Mobile Elevating Work Platforms). Here are some myths and truths about scissor lift safety and maneuverability.

 

 

  • New features like all-terrain wheels and self-leveling allow them greater range than ever before.
  • Smaller scissor lifts can even fit through standard doorways when not extended.

Scissor Lift

  • When adjusting a scissor lift, it only takes a few minutes to lower it and move it. Scaffolding has to be dismantled and reassembled when it’s moved.
  • Scissor lifts cut down on labor time and operating costs, making them worth their upfront cost to rent. 

 

  • In June of 2020, new ANSI standards were put in place to improve the safety of scissor lifts.
  • Operators have a higher risk of falling from scaffolding.  
  • Scaffolding has a higher risk of collapsing if not assembled properly.  

 

When considering all the factors, especially safety, scissor lifts are the superior choice for your project. At Hugg & Hall, we value our customers’ safety, and that’s part of the reason we choose to rent out scissor lifts.

For information about using and maintaining scissor lifts, rentals, or for operator training, visit our website! 

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in August 2021. We updated it for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness in February 2022.

Choosing the Best Tire for Your Equipment

Choosing the best tire for your equipment is vital! Rubber tires are way more versatile than you might realize, and the best tire options for you will differ based on your situation. For equipment that requires rubber tires, you have three choices. 

Air-filled tires

Pros: 

  • They have better shock absorption than foam-filled and solid tires
  • They’re cheaper than solid tires
  • They’re ready-to-use, unlike foam-filled tires
  • They offer the best protection for rims and bearings

Cons: 

  • They’re more likely to get damaged than foam-filled and solid tires, which can slow down a worksite 
  • They can be finicky and it may be difficult to maintain the right pressure

When to use air-filled tires: 

  • For jobs when tire damage is highly unlikely

Foam-filled tires

Foam-filled tire

Pros: 

  • They save you from downtime due to punctures
  • They retain approximately 65% of the shock absorption of pneumatic tires, making them softer than solid rubber tires when they’re new
  • They have more tread options than solid tires

Cons: 

  • They can become stiffer as they age, resulting in a more uncomfortable ride
  • They don’t have the same rebound effect as air-filled tires, which can damage rims and bearings over time
  • They have to be cut off the rim of the tire 
  • They have less traction than air-filled tires 
  • They have less sidewall protection than solid tires
  • They require 48 hours to cure before they can be used

When to use foam-filled tires: 

  • For equipment that requires larger tires 
  • For jobs on rough terrain

Solid tires

Pros: 

  • They never require inflation
  • Solid tireThey are designed to last roughly three times longer than air-filled tires because they’re made from special rubber compounds
  • They’re durable and have superior sidewall protection 
  • They can reduce downtime associated with punctures
  • They’re much easier to replace than foam-filled tires

Cons:

  • They can be more expensive upfront, especially when the price of rubber is high
  • They have less shock absorption than air-filled tires
  • They’re heavier than air-filled tires

When to use solid tires: 

Solid tire

  • For equipment that need a stable base and can handle more weight, like forklifts and scissor lifts
  • For jobs where tire damage is highly likely the best tire for your equipment will vary according to your needs.

 

If you have questions about different tire options, contact our Parts department! 

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in August 2022. We updated it for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness in January 2023. 

National Nonprofit Day

August 17 is National Nonprofit Day! Hugg & Hall is proud to work with nonprofits across three states. We want to take this day and feature a few of them. 

Arkansas

Arkansas Children’s is the only hospital system in the state dedicated to caring solely for children. Their system includes two hospitals, a pediatric research institute, and clinics. Their Foundation team raises more than $30 million every year. Hugg & Hall supported the Foundation by running an equipment rental auction and donating 100% of the money to Arkansas Children’s. 

Riverview Hope Campus is a shelter which provides comprehensive services to unhoused people in the Fort Smith Area. They are “more than just a homeless shelter” and provide temporary housing, meals, showers, laundry services, mental health services, skills classes, dog kennels, and more. Hugg & Hall has sponsored three Annual Charity Golf Tournaments benefitting Riverview Hope Campus, and we are currently organizing the Fourth Annual Tournament.

Tyson Food’s Meals That Matter supports disaster relief efforts by delivering and serving hot meals to victims, first responders, and volunteers. Meals That Matter provides aid following hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods throughout the country. Their semi-trailer is a mobile kitchen that can serve up to 20,000 meals per day! Across Arkansas and Louisiana, Hugg & Hall has provided equipment to assist Tyson Food’s disaster relief efforts.

Louisiana

The American Red Cross in Louisiana has been active in the state for over 100 years. It offers aid and resources to prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies, and serves all 64 parishes in the state. 

Catholic Charities of Southwest Louisiana is located in Lake Charles, LA. They partner with Second Harvest Food Bank and assist with disaster relief in their area. In 2020, following Hurricanes Laura and Delta, Catholic Charities of Southwest Louisiana partnered with Hugg & Hall and Tyson’s Meals That Matter to help more than 300 impacted families.

The Maddry Grace Fishing Rodeo is an annual fundraiser hosted by Maddry Grace Trahan’s family. The fishing rodeo supports the Anna’s Grace Foundation, a nonprofit which offers aid to families who experience miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss. 

Oklahoma 

Exchange Club of Muskogee works within their community to provide funding for local charities, community issues, school needs, and other donation requests. Their annual Exchange Club Chili Cookoff & Barbeque Night has raised over $1,500,000 for the community. Hugg & Hall is proud to provide forklifts, telehandlers, balloon lights, and generators for the event. 

 

 

Hugg & Hall is also proud to work with several local food banks to offer forklift and light tower donations. To learn more about the services and equipment Hugg & Hall offers, visit our website. Happy National Nonprofit Day! 

Employee Spotlight: Toni Austin

Meet Toni Austin, Service Administrator! 

Toni is the Service Administrator for our Sibley, LA branch. She’s a self-proclaimed country girl who was born and raised in Minden, Louisiana and currently lives near the Sibley branch. She loves the small-town feel of Sibley where “everyone knows everyone.” 

As a Service Administrator, Toni is a master of multi-tasking. She starts her day by coordinating with her technicians to make sure they have their time submitted and processes their time. She also moves completed work orders and processes them for billing, all while taking calls from customers and technicians. She’s responsible for issuing and processing purchase orders, and she goes over work-in-progress reports with her Field Service Manager every day to check the status of work orders and parts availability. 

Toni’s favorite thing about working for Hugg & Hall is the people and the welcoming atmosphere. The most interesting part of her job is “hands down, the day-to-day comradery with the techs and everyone in our branch! I love the customer service aspect of my job as I am a people person.”  

Outside of work, Toni loves to take her two sons fishing or camping. She loves animals and said, “if my family wouldn’t disown me, I’d have a house-full!” 

Toni’s favorite quote is “Even the smallest footprints have the power to leave an everlasting impact on the earth.” 

To learn more about Hugg & Hall and our employees, you can visit HuggHall.com! 

Heatstroke Prevention

Thermometer graphic with illustrated sun behind it. Do you know what to do if someone gets heatstroke? While we’ve had a brief break from the heat, temperatures are rising once again. Here are some signs you need to look out for and tips on how to combat it. 

What are the causes?

The possibility of heatstroke is dependent on the heat index. The heat index is dependent on heat and humidity. We enter the “danger zone” for sunstroke at a heat index of 90 degrees, and the possibility for heatstroke occurs at any heat index above 105 degrees. 

How can I prevent heatstroke?

There are other risk factors for heatstroke beyond just the temperature. These can include the presence of external heat sources, workload or physical activity, and the use of PPE or protective gear. Reduce the possibility of heatstroke by following these steps. 

  • Slow down and limit strenuous activities, or reschedule them to the coolest time of the day
  • Dress for summer: lightweight, light-colored clothing reflects heat and sunlight 
  • Drink plenty of water or non-alcoholic fluids, even if you don’t feel thirsty
  • Spend as much time as possible in air-conditioned environments
  • Avoid sunburn: sunburn makes it harder for your body to dissipate heat 

What are the symptoms? 

It’s important to learn the symptoms of sunstroke and heatstroke. These can include: 

  • Confused, blurred speech
  • Dizziness
  • Painful muscle spasms
  • Nausea and vomiting 
  • Red, hot, dry skin (heatstroke)
  • Heavy sweating (sunstroke)
  • Body temperature of 104 degrees or higher (heatstroke) 
  • Rapid breathing or fast heart rate
  • Seizures
  • Loss of consciousness 

What should I do if someone has heatstroke?

If you suspect someone is a victim of heatstroke, don’t panic! Call 911 and stay with the person until medical help arrives. 

  • Move the person to a shady, cooler area
  • Remove the person’s outer clothing 
  • Two JCB Telehandlers rented by Hugg & Hall under the sun. Cool quickly with cold water by placing cold, wet towels or clothes on the person’s skin, especially on the head, neck, armpits, and groin 
  • Fan the air around the person and move them to an air-conditioned environment if possible
  • Encourage the person to drink slightly salted fluids (such as sports drinks) if possible

Need to keep your area cool? We can help! Contact our Utility Services Department for all your portable AC needs.

For more information, visit the National Weather Service or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). 

 

Prepare your equipment, jobsites, and employees for warmer temperatures to help avoid injuries and downtime from work. Visit our blog to learn more summer safety tips!

 

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in August 2022. We updated it for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness in February 2023.

Employee Spotlight: Jim Hancock

Meet Jim Hancock!

Jim is our Light Construction Sales Manager for the Little Rock area. He was born and raised in Stuttgart, AR and currently resides in Mayflower, AR with Amy, his wife of 23 years. 

Jim has been with Hugg & Hall for 28 years! He calls himself a “lifer” and has pursued varied positions during his time with Hugg & Hall. He started his career as an Inside Rental Coordinator. Jim advanced quickly, becoming the 2nd Outside Rental Salesman in the company before moving to the Light Construction department. He returned to Rental Sales as manager for a few years, then became Light Construction Sales Manager. Jim says that his favorite thing about Hugg & Hall is the “opportunity for career advancement when your duties have been exceeded and noticed.” 

Jim’s proudest moment with Hugg & Hall was during his tenure as Outside Rental Salesman. He was the primary rental salesman during the construction of Alltel Arena (currently Simmons Bank Arena) in North Little Rock, AR. 

When asked about his daily responsibilities, Jim said, “It’s never dull, for sure. We have 30+ salesmen calling, we’re constantly monitoring inventory levels so the ‘guys’ have something available and ready to sell, we’re finding used equipment abroad, putting out fires  when equipment goes down, working with the Service Department, answering sales calls, getting parts expedited, answering calls, and keeping good relationships with vendor reps. The list is long.”

Outside of work, Jim is an avid hunter. He enjoys “chasing critters with friends and family.” His favorite quote is from his father, Dr. Rex Hancock, a conservationist. “Conservation needs more than lip service… more than professionals. It needs ordinary people with extraordinary desire.” 

If you’d like to learn more about our employees, you can visit HuggHall.com/news!