Winter is on its way, but that doesn’t mean your outdoor construction projects can just come to a halt until warmer weather returns. Instead, you need to slightly modify your daily operations to ensure employee safety and prevent equipment damage.
By following these Crosby rigging tips, you can better guarantee your winter projects will be completed safely and on schedule:
- Use reputable hardware: The first tip applies to the entire year, but it’s especially important during the winter months that you only use equipment made by the best brands. Rigging equipment and other construction gear manufactured by name brands are less likely to fail when temperatures drop. Be sure to partner with a hardware provider that offers high-quality, trustworthy products from trusted manufacturers.
- Train your employees: Again, your employees need to know how to use equipment regardless of the outdoor temperatures. In the winter, specifically, it’s vital that everyone pays special attention to their surroundings and understands the manufacturer’s recommendations for winter operations. It’s not a bad idea to host an extra training session before winter sets in.
- Go slow and steady: One of our best cold weather rigging recommendations is that slow and steady wins the race when lifting in the winter. Trying to speed through a job in adverse conditions can lead to equipment failure and employee injuries. Even if a project takes a bit longer, it’s better to go slowly this time of year.
- Watch the lubrication: Every shift should start with an equipment inspection, but in the winter, pay closer attention to the lubrication on bearings or other moving parts. This is because lubricants tend to be less effective in the winter, especially when the temperatures are below freezing. Consider stopping a few times throughout the day to perform an extra lubrication check.
- Look for damage: It’s never advised to use fittings with nicks, gouges, cracks or any other defects. This is even more important in the winter when bitter temperatures make those flaws stand out. If you spot any damage in your morning inspections or if anything becomes damaged during the shift, shut your project down for the day and rent equipment from Central Equipment Company while waiting for repairs.
- Don’t use modified fittings: Another one of our Crosby rigging tips is to avoid using fittings that have been welded or otherwise modified in the winter. Modified parts are more likely to fail in cold temperatures. Crosby also doesn’t recommend using standard fittings if temperatures ever drop below -40°F. For those days, Crosby’s COLD-TUFF products are designed to withstand the harshest conditions.
Central Equipment Company has everything you need
If your construction equipment needs repairs or if you need to buy or rent more gear, get in touch with the team at Central Equipment Company. We have everything you need to safely complete your project on time, regardless of the outdoor temperatures, including Crosby products. Reach out to us today to schedule repairs, rent equipment or get some more cold weather rigging recommendations to ensure your projects proceed smoothly.