More plant safety departments, turnaround managers, and general contractors are requesting temporary personnel/material hoists for use during outages and turnarounds on the taller structures in the plants. Common structures that utilize temporary personnel/material hoists include FCC units, crude and vacuum towers, coker units, furnaces, and boilers just to name a few. Customers have come to realize the benefits of using temporary hoists namely the increase in worker safety and productivity. Safety becomes increasingly important as projects near completion. Depending upon the work schedule, workers can experience end-of-project fatigue. Slips, trips, and falls on stairs/ladders are very common incidents.

For those craft workers performing in more challenging locations, possibly working at great heights, extra vigilance is required. Climbing and descending stairs and cage ladders is very physical. Workers often have heavy tools and material to transport. By providing them with a means of arriving at the work front safely and quickly, overall schedule compliance is enhanced.

Another bonus of installing a temporary hoist is that inspections are easier to perform, thus keeping the overall project on schedule, saving time and money. Furthermore, an emergency rescue of workers at the top of the structure becomes easier to coordinate and execute quickly, thus potentially saving lives.

If any of these challenges sound familiar and you would like to discuss how to make sure your workers are productive and safe during your next project, please contact McDonough Elevators.