Frequently Asked Hoist & Crane Questions

Overhead crane and hoist specialists, Shupper-Brickle Equipment Company has provided overhead material handling equipment, replacement parts, and comprehensive services to customers in the Mid-Atlantic states and world-wide since 1969. Over the years, we’ve received a lot of questions about purchasing hoists and cranes, OSHA inspections and fall arrest systems. Here are the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions. If you don’t see your question here, feel free to contact us online or call 1-800-642-7263. We’re happy to answer all your questions and help you find the right overhead lifting equipment or parts to meet your needs.

General Purchase & Return FAQs
Hoist Purchase FAQs
OSHA Regulation FAQs
Fall Protection FAQs

General Purchase & Return FAQs

1. What if I don’t see what I need on SBOMH.com?

Give us a call! Shupper-Brickle represents a wide variety of overhead cranes, hoists and industrial lifting equipment types and manufacturers. Feel free to drop us an e-mail or call to speak with our experienced sales staff.

2. What is your return policy?

We understand that sometimes the need for a return arises. Returns are acceptable under the following conditions:

    • Returns must be made within 30 days of the original ship date of the order.
    • Returns must have prior authorization, obtained by contacting your sales manager for an RGA #.
    • Returns must be received within 2 weeks of the RGA issue and must be shipped prepaid
    • Mark the RGA # clearly on the carton and delivery ticket
    • A 20% restocking fee will be charged, except in some cases where Shupper-Brickle will pass through the manufacturer’s other percentage fee.
    • Custom-designed equipment, customized parts, and custom-cut lengths of chain or wire rope are not returnable. Also items are non-returnable whenever specified by the sales order.

3. What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept Visa, MasterCard, and American Express by phone. Other payment methods may be available through our website. We offer net payment terms to certain customers, based on volume of business and pending credit review.

4. Do you offer technical assistance to determine the right equipment or part for my application or repair?

Yes, please call 800-642-7263 to speak with one of our experienced sales staff between 8 AM and 5PM Eastern Standard Time. Or, you can send us your details by e-mail to info@sbomh.com. We’ll get back to you within the next business day.

Hoist Purchase FAQs

1. What are the benefits of manual hand-chain hoists, chain falls, and lever hoists?

Manual chain hoists, chain falls, and lever hoists are the most basic type of hoisting equipment. They’re ideal for short lifts in maintenance use, where electric or air power isn’t available, in lower capacities or where portability is critical. Manual and lever hoists are inexpensive and easy to maintain.

Shupper-Brickle offers manual hoists and lever hoists from a range of manufacturers including: CM, Harrington, Coffing, All Material Handling, Oz, and Yale.

2. When should I use an electric-powered chain hoist?

Where electricity is available, an electric-powered chain hoist is an economical and effective choice for loads up to 5 tons. Electric chain hoists lift loads quickly and smoothly, and a dual-speed option maximizes accuracy in positioning. Chain requires less initial investment than wire rope, though it’s not ideal for heavier loads or long lifts.

Shupper-Brickle offers electric chain hoist from these manufacturers: CM, Harrington, Coffing, Budgit, Yale, Chester, and R&M.

3. When should I use an electric-powered wire rope hoist?

Electric wire rope hoists are used for heavier loads, usually 5 tons or higher, or when the hoist is operated from a bridge crane. Wire rope is also used for lifts of 20 ft or more where the lifted load would interfere with a chain container.

While requiring a higher initial investment, wire rope hoists offer maximum lift, speed, and flexibility of design.

Shupper-Brickle offers electric wire rope hoists from these manufacturers: Yale, Electrolift, Acco Wright, Harrington, Detroit, R&M, CM, Coffing, Shawbox, and Saturn.

4. When should I use an air-powered or pneumatic hoist?

A pneumatic or air hoist operates by using compressed air or compressed nitrogen. Benefits of an air-powered hoist include better control speed, higher duty cycles, smaller size, and no risk of electrical shock. Because this equipment is powered by compressed air, it’s safe for hazardous locations, as defined by the National Electric Code. Spark resistant features are also available. While air hoists have a substantially simpler design than the electric-powered equivalent, they have a higher operational noise, slower lifting speeds, and require plant air pressure of 90 PSI.

Shupper-Brickle offers air-powered hoists from these industry-leading manufacturers: CM, Detroit, Harrington, JD Neuhaus, Coffing, Budgit, Yale, Chester, Ingersoll-Rand, R&M, David Round and Electrolift.

OSHA Regulation – FAQs

What are OSHA’s requirements for the frequency of inspections for overhead/gantry cranes and hoists?

Standard 1910.179, Section (j) of the Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s code relates to inspections of overhead and gantry cranes. The code requires that all equipment be subject to (3) types of inspections: “Initial” or prior to each use; ”“Frequent” defined as daily to monthly; and “Periodic” defined as 1 to 12 month intervals. The code goes on to list specific features that must be examined and included in the inspection.

To comply with this code, please contact Shupper-Brickle’s Service Department for OSHA compliant inspection and analysis of your systems. We also offer operator training, rigging training, and maintenance training classes, which reduce liability and increase operator knowledge.

Please note that this is only a summary of the guidelines. Please call our office for further information or refer to the government’s web site for a more complete set of OSHA guidelines.

Fall Protection FAQs

1. What is a fall hazard?

A fall hazard is anything in the workplace that could cause an unintended loss of balance or bodily support and result in a fall. For Example:

  • A worker slips while climbing an icy stairway.
  • A makeshift scaffold collapses under the weight of four workers and their equipment.
  • A worker carrying a sheet of plywood on a flat roof steps into a skylight opening.

It’s important to note that fall hazards are foreseeable. You can identify and eliminate them before injuries occur.

2. What is fall protection?

Put simply, fall protection is a backup in case of the worker’s loss of balance. More exactly, it’s a planned system used to protect a worker from death or potential injury in the event they lose their footing while performing a task at height. While the term often implies a fall arrest system or equipment such as harnesses and lanyards, fall protection is whatever measures will eliminate fall hazards, prevent falls, and ensure that workers who may fall aren’t injured.

3. What is the difference between fall protection, fall arrest, and fall restraint?

Fall protection is a general term that covers all methods of protecting workers from falls from height. Fall arrest specifically describes systems that arrest a falling body after a fall from height. Fall restraint describes systems designed with specific length lanyards that keep a worker’s center of gravity from reaching a fall hazard.

4. Where is fall protection measures are required by OSHA?

OSHA addresses fall protection in both code #29 CFR 1910 (general industry) and #29 CFR 19269 (construction industry). These codes specify that fall protection is required if at any time while doing their job, a worker could freefall more than the legal “trigger height.”

While trigger heights vary by state, here are the most common:

  • General Industry – 4’
  • Construction Sites – 6’
  • Scaffolds – 10’
  • Steel Erection – 15’

Also, section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act or the “General Duty Clause” requires each employer “shall furnish… a place of employment which is free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees.”

5. Which national safety standard is the best guide for using fall protection properly?

The relatively new ANSI standard Z359.2 (released in October 2007) defines all the employer responsibilities for providing fall protection to workers in General Industry. OSHA can reference all ANSI Z359 standards as requirements under OSHA’s “General Duty Clause”. Note that the standard Z359.2 works equally well for the construction industry.

6. Who is responsible for fall protection?

Employers

Employers are responsible for identifying fall hazards at the site, eliminating the hazard, and taking steps to prevent falls or ensuring that employees are not seriously injured in the event of a fall.

Employees

Employees must follow safe work practices, use equipment properly, and participate in training. It’s critical for employees to learn to recognize unsafe practices, know the tasks that increase the risk of falling, and understand how to control exposure to fall hazards.

Architects and Engineers

During each phase of a project, it’s critical for architects and engineers to educate employers about any hazards that could expose workers to falls. When designing buildings and structures, they must consider fall protection and other safety needs of those who will do the construction work.

Building Owners and Managers

Building owners and managers must ensure that those who do construction or maintenance work on their property know how to protect themselves from falls, are aware of installed anchorages, and know how to use their fall protection equipment.

7. What do OSHA and ASNI say about self-rescue?

OSHA requires that employers provide workers with self-rescue capability or prompt rescue after a fall from height. Self-rescue simply means that the worker uses a device or a procedure to return back to the safety of the working surface or some other safe lower surface. There are many pieces of equipment available that enable a worker to rescue themselves, for example rigid track systems used with self-retracting lanyards can limit total fall distances to the point where the worker simply “steps up” to safety after falling only a few inches.

8. How often should fall protection equipment be inspected?

Fall protection equipment should be inspected by the user before each use and should also be inspected at least once a year by a Competent Person who is designated by the employer to oversee the fall protection program. Note that the Competent Person can inspect the equipment more frequently if the use is severe.

Shupper-Brickle Equipment offers OSHA compliant fall protection inspections as well as Competent Person training.

9. What is Fall Protection Competent Person training?

Since fall protection is an ongoing responsibility in the workplace, employers frequently designate a key personnel to act as a manager and custodian of the fall protection equipment. This employee, deemed the Competent Person, shall have current knowledge of fall protection methods, issues, and practices and shall maintain this current knowledge through practice, experience or education.

10. What does it mean when OSHA requires 5000 lbs anchorage strength?

OSHA requires non-certified anchorages to be capable of supporting 5000 lbs per person attached, or to be designed as part of a complete fall protection system designed by a “Qualified Person”. A Qualified Person is generally a person with an engineering degree who is also knowledgeable in the requirements of fall protection systems.

11. When a fall arrest system is rated for 900 lbs, does that mean I can put a 900 lb person on it?

Absolutely not. A 900 lb rating refers to 900 lbs maximum arresting force (MAF). The weight limit for workers carrying tools on the same system is a different measurement. For most systems, it’s 310 lbs.

12. What type of Fall Arrest system do I need?

Fall arrest applications shall be evaluated and designed by a Qualified Person, per OSHA, and fall arrest equipment selection should be in accordance with ANSI guidelines. Contact Shupper-Brickle Equipment for a free estimate on complete fall arrest systems, components and services.

(FAQ information courtesy of Rigid Lifelines)