Lifting Shackles- a riggers best friend

Posted on by

Green Pin ShackleHave you ever looked at a construction site and wondered in amazement how huge loads are hoisted several hundred feet above the ground?
A closer look will give you a hint about how this is possible. Lifting and rigging equipment is made up of several complex components, each of which plays a critical role. Among the most integral components are lifting shackles.
They aren’t the largest devices, but lifting shackles play an important role in all kinds of rigging. They are made of a thick piece of metal that is curved or shaped like a ‘D’ or bow-shaped, like Ώ’. Lifting shackles usually have a pin or bolt across the opening. Depending on the length and the purpose of their use, a screw pin can be used or the more secure nut and bolt option which can be reinforced with a locking mechanism.
Shackles are typically used to connect the lifting device such as the hoist or rigging equipment with the object to be lifted. They can be used in a variety of hoisting, rigging and pulling applications. Because they are used as a connecting device, they need to be extremely strong to withhold weight on both sides and must be checked regularly for safety and maintenance.
An experienced rigger needs to be aware of how to use a shackle safely to ensure that the weight of the object being hoisted is balanced properly on the shackle and shackle does not tilt at an angle while an object is being lifted. The right kind of design makes all the difference in ensuring that a shackle works correctly. The most common designs are the ’D’ shaped and bow-shaped shackles, but it is also possible to have shackles shaped like a triangle or with a very long and narrow ‘U’ curvature.
The sturdiest shackles are made from super strong carbon, alloy or high-grade stainless steel. Depending on their size and composition, they need to meet US Federal certification guidelines. If the rigging equipment is being exposed to corrosive material or is being used in extreme heat, shackles that can withstand these environmental conditions must be used. Shackles used for lifting can bear weights up to 1000 tons or slightly more.
Typically, lifting shackles need to be inspected by a competent authority at least once every six months to check for their integrity and safety. Shackles should also be stored carefully and care should be taken to ensure that the pins and bolts in a shackle fit correctly and the threading is not damaged with each use. Deformed shackles should be discarded and no attempts should be made to weld or repair them or replace pins or bolts from another shackle.
Shackles are an integral part of rigging equipment and an experienced rigger counts on them to do all the heavy lifting.

Pop-Up Whyte & Mackay Whiskey Bar in a Port-Side Crane!

Posted on by
Image

Whyte & Mackay Pop-up Whiskey Bar Inside 107 Year Old Crane!

Legendary whiskey makers Whyte & Mackay open a sky-high bar situated 150 feet up inside a Tower/Jib Crane located in Glasgow to commemorate their 170th anniversary! -Sounds good to me!!

The luxury ‘pop-up’ bar is no modesty with its unique setting and fascinating intricate engineered structure which by the way is 107 years old!! The bar is thoughtfully positioned in what used to be the wheelhouse of this incredible machine. Named “The Lions Clide” taken from its traditional Scottish heritage boasts incredible views of the River Clyde and surrounding areas of Glasgow- you really can see for miles!

Sadly you wont get chance to visit again as this was only open from the 2-6th of June (yes really I should have given a heads up!!) This exclusive bar can comfortably accommodate up to 8 drinkers at a time next to the brick walls and roaring log fire- cosy!!

The main reason for the whole event is that Whyte & Mackay was founded on the Glasgow Docks in 1844 by James Whyte and Charles Mackay.

Summer Roofing And Height Safety

Posted on by

Summer is here and there is no better time than now to fix up that old broken roof that has been leaking all winter.

Roofing Height Safety KitMany factors should be considered when re-roofing ones home from the size of the tile to your personal safety at such a height. The tile should match your current roof as best as you can, roofing tiles start from as little as 25p each so unless you have a mansion (and there for I doubt you will be doing this yourself) no expense should be spared in the quality to ensure a tight sealed roof that will last for years to come.

Further from the quality and design of your roofing tiles one should take a serious consideration as to the type of safety equipment used at height such as harness kits and fall arrest equipment to ensure that there is absolutely no risk of fatal injury by fall, obviously there are certain steps that cannot be undertaken to prevent that small graze to your arm should you slip, however at least you’ll not break anything or worse risk death.

One should choose a suitable harness that supports and protects you to an adequate standard, this does not mean you need to go out and purchase a fully blown riggers harness for £200 or so, a simple two point safety harness will provide you with a two point connection with safety shoulder straps and a couple ‘D’ rings to enable you to connect yourself up to a rope, lanyard, fall arrest block or webbing strap to secure yourself and prevent a fall. There are a number of ‘off the shelf’ roofers height safety packages available online, perform a simple web search and you’ll find the kit you need, look to pay around £150 for a full kit, consider it an insurance premium that will never let you down, £150 to save a life certainly outweighs the heartbreak of your family and friends if something happened.

Mobile Cranes for Installing a Hot Tub!

Posted on by

So as life moves on you tend to buy different things, I for one enjoy a dip in a Hot Tub and decided that after much anticipation I would go ahead and get one, there was lots to consider, the size, where I would install it, what would my partner think? After all they are not cheap!

Image

Hot Tub all rigged up! They lifted the tub using 2 x 3Tonne Webbing slings attached to another 2

The biggest issue was- how am I going to get it in to my back yard? The house is tall and there is no way of walking it round on trolleys. There was only one way, this also was not the cheapest, but we had no option and are glad to say everything went smoothly and swiftly.

Ainscough Crane Hire of Lancashire provided us with the most competitive price on the market for hire of a 35 Tonne crane with a lifting height of 44m, enough to get us over the house and in to the back yard, perfect. It was great to watch the crane do its thing as for being in the industry this was exciting for an engineering geek to see!

All plumed in and full up with water, it was time to add the chemicals and let it simmer, within 24 hours it was heated and ready for action, I had not seen myself so excited for years!

Offshore Rigging- Whats it really like?

Posted on by

Offshore Rigging can be a really exciting but also challenging job, however with some rewarding prospects such as high salaries with long holiday periods (but also intense working periods). Although living in the middle of the ocean on a windy oil rig is not the most beautiful of places one can still live with plenty of luxury, accommodation is thought to be somewhat as good as that of a five star hotel, bar the room service and beach! If you get seasickness- this ones not for you!

Offshore RiggingMany offshore riggers only pursue their career for a short period of time, this is most likely because they have either earnt enough money to be comfortable and enjoy life or they felt enough was enough and its time to do something else. Often I see ex riggers becoming rigging equipment salespersons or persons who are involved less directly and not actually out on the rigs miles out at sea away from their families and friends for extended periods.

The excitement of playing what is practically real life Meccano does look like something that would make any boy in to a man, that satisfaction you get from Meccano times by a million as you play it on a huge scale, that right there is every young boys dream! We’ll never grow up…

I don’t think I will ever get to experience life on deck Offshore simply because I love my home comforts too much- however I would take the opportunity for the weekend to be an Offshore Rigger and live life on the edge, I think it would be rather thrilling, what do you think??