| Company: |
AF&PA member company |
| |
|
| Industry: |
Warehousing and distribution of roll and
sheeted paper – NAICS Code: 493110, SIC Code: 42 |
| |
|
| Employees: |
20 |
Success Brief: The company installed a
manual chain and hoist lift to facilitate removing and replacing the liquid propane fuel tanks from
its lift trucks.
The Problem
The company has 12 propane powered lift trucks, each with either a 7 or 10
gallon liquid propane tank mounted on the rear of the truck. The company uses a 1,500 gallon bulk
liquid propane tank to refill the 7 or 10 gallon lift truck tanks. As a precaution against potential
fire hazards that may be posed by filling a tank while it is mounted on a hot lift truck, employees
had to remove the tanks from the lift trucks to refill them. When full, the 7 or 10 gallon lift
truck tanks weigh 45 to 65 lbs, and employees had to lift the full tank back into the lift truck
tank cradle (a height of between 48 to 58 inches). The company was concerned that employees, who
vary in size, height, and physical capability, would be put at risk of strains or other injury from
lifting and maneuvering full truck tanks back into position on the powered lift trucks.
The Solution
To enable employees to refill the lift truck tanks, the company installed a
manual chain hoist with a 400 lb capacity on a boom that moves through a 280° arc. The boom has a
chain with tongs on the end to grasp the lift truck tank. Employees disconnect the fuel hose and
strap, which secures the tank to the lift truck, engage the tongs and raise the tank to clear the
tank cradle. The boom is used to move the tank away from the truck, and then lower the tank to the
ground for filling. After refilling the tank, employees use the hoist to replace the filled lift
truck tank on the lift truck.
1,500 gallon bulk liquid propane tank |
Workers using a chain hoist to lift a 10 gallon liquid propane tank |
The Impact
Implementing this process has greatly reduced the risk of injury to
approximately 14 employees by eliminating the need to lift and maneuver the heavy lift truck tanks,
without any significant adverse impact on productivity or efficiency. There have been no injuries
attributed to tank lifting since installing the hoist.
Source:
AF&PA; PPSA
(October 2006)
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