When first starting to use beam clamps, it’s good to have an understanding of how to use them safely and effectively. Going into it blind is never a great option, so if you take the time now to read up on how to use them, you’ll save yourself all of the hassles of things going drastically wrong.
When you’re unsure of what you are doing or how to use a piece of equipment properly, you can cause not only damage but also accidents and injuries. To avoid accidents and damage to your beam clamps and accessories during use – the following steps should be taken into consideration:
- Before using, make sure that you perform a thorough examination of your beam clamp.
- Do not use faulty beam clamps, faulty beams, or defective hoists.
- Make sure you mount any suspension attachment to the safety hook of your beam clamp. This is going to avoid unintended detachment.
All of our hoists and chain blocks here at RHT Lifting Gear have standard safety hooks.
- Ensure that the frame from which you suspend the beam clamp is correctly assembled and has a sufficient weight load for either an extra beam or a hoisted load. If you’re in any doubt, do not attempt to set up a beam clamp, contact your supervisor or manager to confirm that it is appropriate.
- Make sure you’ve got the right clamp for the job. Both beam clamps have a different Working Load Limit (WLL), so if you lift a load of 3.1 tonnes, you would need to buy a 5-tonne beam clamp. Localized overloading is highly risky, and may cause the beam clamp to split and cause accidents.
- Make sure that the beam clamp you are using is compatible with the hoist you are using. This is what we mean by ensuring that the safety hook fits correctly into the eye of the beam clamp.
- Do not force safety hooks to the eye of your beam clamp, as this could damage your beam clamp and accessories.
- Ensure that the beam is located above the centre of gravity of the hoisted load. And ensure that the load is not swinging or angled to the beam clamp. This can cause serious injury and pose threats to health and safety.
- If you ever need to use two clamps in tandem, it might be appropriate to use a spreader beam. You must ensure that the beam clamps do not suspend more than their WLL.
- When dismantling the assembly, be sure to check your beam clamps for any degradation and make sure you treat and store them correctly. Make sure you don’t throw or drop your beam clamps because they may be damaged and made unusable.
- Never replace the bolts on the beam clamp without consulting the supplier, this could lead to the incorrect screw being fitted which could possibly cause an accident or damage to your beam clamp.
Never use a beam clamp without knowing how to use one safely, you will save yourself a lot of time, hassle and money if you get it right from the start.
