Month: <span>January 2020</span>

With more than one million Americans injuring themselves on stairs every year, installing cable railings can help mitigate these dangers and prevent falls and injuries. Stainless steel cable railings can be beneficial in both residential and industrial conditions in either indoor or outdoor settings.

Easy Install with a Clean Appearance

One of the largest benefits of cable railings is their ease of installation. Provided you have the proper cable hardware, such as toggle turnbuckles, you can easily install these railing yourself, or have an outside party install them in a short amount of time.

Cable railings can provide a durable solution to both stairs and landings. Because they are created from stainless steel, you don’t have to worry about corrosion or weakening from moisture, even if installed outdoors. The stainless steel also enables them to be much easier to clean than other railing types, ensuring that they aren’t burdensome to care for in residential or industrial environments.

Cable railings also provide a clean and aesthetically pleasing appearance that easily allows them to fit in with modern office buildings, high-end shopping centers, or modern construction homes. Aside from their ease of install and easy upkeep, this visually appealing nature is another large reason as to why so many homeowners and businesses are turning towards then as a solution.

Installing Cable Railings

If you’re interested in installing these railings in your home or place of business, here is what you need to know.

1. 1. Choosing the Right Railing System
      While there are different types of railing systems, many use stainless steel. However, it is important to investigate the different types to ensure you’re getting the best option for your location. Another important thing to keep in mind is safety regulations and specific municipal codes that might dictate certain stipulations on railing systems.
   2. Building the Frame
      Depending on the railing system you choose, you have a couple of options. Cable railings can have either composite, steel, aluminum, or wooden frames that hold them in place. Wooden frames are often more common due to the ease of drilling into them to create spaces for the railings to feed into. When the end posts are securely in place, intermediate posts should be added 42 inches apart to ensure stability.
   3. Installing the Wires
      For this step, you’ll need a drill, a wrench, pliers, and cable cutters. When you have what you need, determine the number of cable rows you need — keeping in mind that cables should be spaced no more than 3.5 inches apart — and begin marking where on the posts you need holes drilled. Once the drilling is complete, feed the cables through the holes. Toggle turnbuckles can be used on end posts to ensure that wires are securely held into place while giving them the ability to flex as needed. However, keep in mind that toggle turnbuckles need to be properly sized to ensure they will accommodate the diameter of wire you are using. If the toggle turnbuckle is the wrong size you’ll have to put the project on hold until properly sized ones can be installed.
   4. Tighten Wires and Trim
      Wires should be tightened so that they won’t fall slack. Start with the middle cable and work outwards alternating up and down until all are sufficiently tightened. The ends of wires can then be trimmed with caps fitted on the end to prevent them from sticking out.

Cable railings are easier to install than you might think. Whether you’re doing it yourself or having a professional service help you, the project can be completed quickly with little interference. This means both residential and business installations won’t inhibit day to day tasks and can instead be finished without hassle. If you’re interested in installing cable railings, reach out to a supply distributor and see what options would be right for you.

Generally speaking, American workers can expect to not only work safely but be capable of taking legal actions if their workplaces are not safe. Whether you work in the restaurant industry or the manufacturing industry, you can generally expect a certain level of security at the workplace. If proper regulations are not followed, keep in mind that you can potentially pursue legal retribution. This is not always possible in other countries, where employees — especially physical laborers — may be less valued. Although it may seem like America is among the countries where it is generally safer to work, this was not always the case. Up until relatively recently, there was a lack of care and attention paid to the safety of employees. This changed, in large part thanks to OSHA. One aspect of workplace safety that OSHA paid particular attention to was fall protection. In 1971, OSHA published general safety measures encouraging fall protection. This led to the greater general use of products like chain slings as well as cable railings and other railing materials.

Although there has been a level of improvement made in the decades since, many remain confused about the best types of lifting slings on the market as well as the benefits of using such products when cutting corners is possible. Let’s look into why chain slings are preferable in terms of material types, and why these slings are so important in the first place.

What Is The Advantage Of Using Chain Slings Over Other Types Of Slings?

Certainly, there are multiple types of lifting slings on the market. Some are made of different materials than chain slings and may at times be less expensive — at least in the short term. The key is to remember the long-term value of chain slings. Whereas rope slings may eventually break down, chain slings are made of metal. Although they can break down over time, they can also be maintained with the proper tools and lubrication. It’s important to remember that when buying chain slings, a business or employer is essentially investing for the long term. The chains won’t break down without showing signs of wear, which is crucial for many employers, as well as employee safety in general. This also means that, over time, less money is spent on replacing these products when they break down.

Why Must Employees Use Chain Slings?

Implementing safety measures doesn’t come naturally to all employees. Some are uncomfortable with these types of restrictions; others worry that they’ll cut down on productivity. However, it’s important that businesses protect themselves by enforcing such regulations. OSHA inspectors do look out for any such violations. Conversely, the use of chain slings, in particular, does mean that you’re willing to invest in your employees for the long term. Without the use of such products, employees can potentially fall, resulting in serious injuries or even death.

How Are Such Regulations Enforced?

Employees should be brief on these types of regulations upon being hired. Although you can’t guarantee that an employee won’t make a violation, being able to prove that they were instructed on safety precautions puts a small business in a much safer place. On that note, employees should be penalized if they violate such regulations. This will give them incentives to behave well and utilize products like chain slings.

Though it may seem to at times be overkill, the use of such safety equipment is crucial to providing the safe workplace environment that all employees really need. Do your research before investing in chain slings — but keep in mind that they are meant for the long term. Making this type of forward movement can ultimately ensure the safety of employees for years to come.

Falls are the most common cause of accidental death in the construction industry. Having the right safety equipment is crucial to the well-being of your workers. A good cable and rigging supplies company can help you make the right choices when you’re deciding on types of lifting slings.

Are You Having Trouble with Slings?

You may be having difficulty with weighty lifting slings that are hard for your workers to handle when they’re trying to rig a load. Alternatively, you may be worried that your slings might damage the materials being lifted. In choosing lifting slings, you will need to consider the work environment and the potential for the load to cut or abrade the sling. You’ll also need to think about cable and rigging supplies — including rigging hardware, below-the-hook features, and other equipment related to lifting.

Benefits of Synthetic Slings

Synthetic slings are composed of soft fibers, yet they are built to withstand heavy loads and keep pricey or breakable materials from getting scratched or crushed. They offer the support, strength, and flexibility you require when lifting heavy loads within your building or through a work site. Synthetic slings are manufactured from polyester, nylon, and similar lightweight materials and are easy to work with. They are affordable, available in a wide range of sizes, and simple to replace.

Due to their flexibility, synthetic slings can fit different shapes in loads, including breakable materials and those with irregular shapes. They can be paired with a choker hitch to safely lift round bar stock or tubes. Synthetic slings also work in basket and vertical hitches. Since they are made from non-sparking and non-conductive materials, they are safe to use on jobs involving explosives.

The Downside of Synthetic Slings

You’ll have to think carefully about whether a synthetic sling is appropriate for a given application. Synthetic materials are more vulnerable to damage from the environment, such as very high or very low temperatures, UV exposure over long periods, and environments that are chemically active. Nylon and polyester, for example, respond differently to alkaline and acidic environments. Synthetic slings are not as resistant to damage by cuts and abrasions as are slings made of steel wire rope or alloy chain slings. They are generally not as resistant to damage by heat, although some manufacturers make slings that are specially designed to stand up to high heat. Finally, synthetic slings need corner protectors or edge guards to help prevent tears and cuts.

Clearly, the use of synthetic slings in construction is something to be carefully considered. Synthetic materials are strong, flexible, and affordable, but they may not be the best choice for work sites with extremes in temperature or chemical environments. You can discuss these issues with the knowledgeable staff at our cable and rigging supplies store. Call us today for more.