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Block and tackle - what is a block and tackle, how does a block and tackle (manual chain hoist) work?

What is a block and tackle?

A block and tackle, also commonly known as a chainblock or manual chain hoist, is a system comprised of two or more pulleys with a rope, cable, or chain between them. Block and tackles are typically used as a tool for lifting and lowering heavy loads.

In a standard block and tackle system, the chain is wound around two wheels. When the chain is pulled, it winds around the wheels and begins to lift the load that's attached to the chain.

Chainblocks can be attached to lifting slings or chain bags to lift the load more evenly.

 

How a block and tackle works

A block and tackle system is typically made up of a lifting chain, a hand chain and a grabbing hook.

First, the chainblock needs to be connected to the load via the grabbing hook. Then, when the hand chain is pulled, the chain tightens its grip on the wheel and forms a loop inside the mechanism - causing a tension which lifts the load from the ground.

This system can be used to lift loads manually, although electric block and tackle systems are popular because they require less physical exertion.

 

What can a block and tackle be used for?

Due to their lifting capabilities, block and tackle systems are commonly used in garages to remove engines from cars. Because they can be operated by one person, chainblocks are a wonderfully efficient way to complete lifting jobs which may otherwise have required two or more workers.

Block and tackle systems are also used on construction sites and on assembly lines.

 

Buy & hire manual chain blocks 

Chainblocks come in a variety of different capacities, making them suitable for a wide range of operations. Here at SafetyLiftinGear, we stock block and tackle products with lifting capacities of up to 20 tonnes.

Buy Chainblocks >

Feel free to contact the SafetyLiftinGear team if you have any questions about our range of heavy-duty block and tackle products.

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Rigging equipment refers to the devices and elements used to lift and manoeuvre objects safely, as part of a planned system implemented by a team of riggers. This encompasses a variety of components which are used to secure and distribute the load in question, in order to facilitate the moving process and ensure that it is completed successfully. Industries which often require the services of rigging equipment include construction, engineering and event staging.

Like all lifting operations, hoisting and rigging should be performed with public and employee safety as a primary focus. In order to comply with health and safety legislation along with industry standards, organisations should carefully consider two following elements:

  1. Operation Planning: Before the lifting applications begin, teams should carefully consider the demands of the lift and conduct a thorough risk assessment. 

  2. Equipment: The first point will dictate how the rigging equipment is selected and used. Riggers must ensure that the overall rigging setup and individual elements are appropriate for the size and weight of the load in question, in order to avoid overloading the equipment, which can lead to damage and serious safety hazards. The rigging equipment itself should also be sourced from reputable suppliers, in order to ensure that the products are of a suitable standard and quality. In order to maintain this quality, the items should then be regularly tested to ensure that it continues to meet safety standards.

What are the different types of rigging equipment?

Wire Rope Slings

Wire rope slings are available in a range of lifting capacities, providing users with a strong and flexible solution for performing lifting operations.

Buy or hire wire rope slings >

 

Polyester Webbing Slings

Our lifting slings are available in a range of different designs and weight specifications.

Buy or hire webbing slings >

 

Chainslings

Chainslings offer a durable lifting solution, which comes with a convenient hook system for easy attachment. Not only do these slings come in a variety of weight limits, they are also available in single, 2 leg and 4 leg designs.

Buy or hire chainslings >

 

Spreader Beams

Spreader beams are a modular lifting solution which are designed to be used in a variety of configurations, depending on the requirements of the lifting operation. These beams can be used with both synthetic lifting slings and wire rope slings.

Buy or hire spreader beams >

 

Click here to view the full selection of rigging equipment that we supply here at SafetyLiftinGear!

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When working at heights, there's nothing more daunting than the prospect of dropping your heavy tools to the ground below where they could potentially do serious damage. It is commonplace to wear a safety tool belt that allows workers to carry tools up to a height safely but tool safety lanyards ensure those tools stay safe when using them. This is why tool safety lanyards are so important, and why we have introduced four new TOOL-SAFE safety lanyards to our collection! These lanyards will ensure your tools (and the people below you) will be kept safe while you're working.

Take a look at our new arrivals here:

3kg Coiled Cable Tool Safety Lanyard

3kg Coiled Cable Tool Safety Lanyard

First in our new TOOL-SAFE range, is this 3kg Coiled Cable Tool Safety Lanyard. With the ability to keep tools of up to 3kg safe, this safety lanyard is sure to make working at heights a much safer operation. It's coil design also reduces the length of the lanyard making it more compact.

 

10kg Coiled Cable Tool Safety Lanyard

10kg Coiled Cable Tool Safety Lanyard

If you're working with slightly heavier tools, this 10kg Coiled Cable Tool Safety Lanyard might be just what you're looking for. Compact and strong, much like the 3kg Coiled Cable Tool Safety Lanyard, this TOOL-SAFE lanyard will make sure your tools stay close to you if they slip from your hands.

To browse our full collection of Tool Safety Lanyards just click here! Alternatively, if you have any questions about our new tool-safe safety lanyards you can contact us here.

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What is a Toe Jack?

It is often difficult to identify every item in a workshop especially if they look similar to another, which is why it is important to understand the importance of each tool before working in this environment. Today we will be looking at the Toe Jack and what the purpose of this tool is.

What is a toe jack?

toe jack (also known as a floor jack) is a heavy-duty piece of equipment that is designed to lift items with very low or high clearances. Toe jacks are ideal for moving loads that are lower down on the floor, such as heavy machinery. They are available in a variety of different weight capacities too, making them suitable for a wide range of operations.

The 'Toe' is the fork-like part at the front of the Toe Jack which slots underneath the load you wish to lift. Loads can also be lifted by the 'head' part of the Toe Jack, which can sustain even heavier loads from higher clearances. The hydraulic pump is then used to lift the load to the required height and if your Toe Jack includes a swivel feature, this will allow you to place the load in the correct position.

Here at SafetyLiftinGear, we stock Hydraulic Toe Jacks, meaning water pressure is used to lift the loads. Available in both standard and swivel models, you should be able to find a Toe Jack to suit you. Our Toe Jacks are also available to hire if you need one for a single occasion. Simply click the 'Hire me' button and then 'Enquire' at checkout to receive a quote for this rental. 

What is a toe jack used for? 

A Toe Jack is commonly used to lift and lower heavy loads onto moving skates. This operation means heavy loads can be moved around with ease. If it is an exceptionally heavy load, multiple Toe Jacks can be used at once if required. Toe Jacks are most often used to move heavy machinery in a warehouse, but can also be used for operations such as moving furniture too. The varied weight capacity of Toe Jacks means they can be the helping hand you need in a variety of operations.

If this sounds like something that might be useful for you, then feel free to browse our comprehensive range of Hydraulic Toe Jacks. If you have any queries about this product, please do not hesitate to get in touch or call us on 0808 123 69 69. 

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Does your job require you to manage extremely long cables? Are you finding it hard to manage them all at once? If only there was something to make your job a whole lot easier - oh wait there is! Here at SafetyLiftingGear.com we have a terrific range of Cable Grips that are used for gripping, pulling, and tensioning all forms of unsheathed wire ropes, cables, and metal rods.

Our cable grips provide a firm, non-slip grip thanks to their parallel jaws, and won't cause any damage to the wire. The spring-loaded guide prevents the cable grip from dropping off the wire and allows instant release without causing the cable to jam. We sell a range of cable grips to suit a range of cable sizes and tensile strengths and they come in pulling forces of 2000, 3000, and 5000 daN. 

If you're interested in purchasing a cable grip or you're looking for more information about the cable grips that we offer, you can view our great selection by clicking here. We also sell a range of Cable Jack and Spindles that will also help you to maintain your cables and will enable you to coil and uncoil your cables with ease. To view our entire range of cable-handling equipment, click the button below.

Cable Handling Equipment >

If you have any questions regarding our Cable Grips, please do not hesitate to contact us - we'd be more than happy to help. Alternatively, you can learn more about our cable-handling equipment by checking out the resources below.

Read More:

- Cable Handling Products from SLG!

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You may have seen that we offer a range of rental lifting equipment for those seeking to complete lifting operations here at SafetyLiftinGear. We offer everything from light-weight stair climbers to exceptionally heavy duty equipment in our rental lifting equipment range to ensure there is something for everyone.

To show you an example of how well our rental lifting equipment works in action, here you can see our rental Modulift Spreader Beams and Webbing Slings lifting a heavy-duty digger in 50tonne lifting operation in London. This was one of the largest scale lifting operations we have supplied rental lifting equipment to and it was a complete success.

Rental Lifting Equipment Lifting Digger Rental Lifting Equipment Lifting Digger

Our Rental Lifting Equipment lifting a heavy-duty digger from the lower grounds of a construction site

Here you can see the Modulift Spreader Beams and Webbing Slings working effectively to lift a McGee Digger from the lower part of the construction site. The Webbing Slings work effectively when attached to the Modulift Spreader Beams as this increases the lifting equipment capacity further. 

Rental Lifting Equipment Securly Placing Digger on Ground

SafetyLiftinGear Rental Equipment placing a McGee Digger securely on the ground

The McGee Digger was safely positioned in its designated area after being lifted smoothly from the lower part of the construction site. The Becket Eyes on our rental webbing slings are reinforced for extra lifting power and our Modulift Spreader Beams come with 1x pair of 500mm End Units and Drop Links, 2x 17ton Alloy Bow Shackles and 2x 12ton Alloy Bow Shackles to ensure your heavy duty lifting operation runs smoothly. 

If you're also looking to complete your own 50tonne lifting operation, our lifting slings and Modulift Spreader Beams are available to buy or hire, depending on your needs.

To get a quote to hire this heavy-duty rental lifting equipment, simply click 'Hire Me' on the product page, then click 'Enquire' on the checkout page. We will get back to you as soon as possible, but if you have any questions regarding these products you can contact us through our contact form or call us on 0808 123 69 69. 

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In a workshop environment, you are sure to come across a variety of different workshop tools that are necessary for different operations. With such a range of different equipment, you may wonder what certain pieces of equipment are for. To save this confusion, we've put together a handy guide for you about the less straightforward workshop tools and their uses.  

 

Workshop Tool Lanyard

Tool Lanyards

What tool lanyards are used for? 

Though not technically a tool, when working at a height, tool lanyards are a tool which helps prevent heavier workshop tools falling from your belt. They also absorb shock force which occurs when an item is dropped, which stops the worker being pulled down at the same time, which is particularly helpful if you are working with heavy workshop equipment.

 

Workshop Tool Farm Jack

Farm Jacks

What farm jacks are used for? 

Farm road jacks are an ideal workshop tool used for lifting and pulling/pushing items in off-road environments. This farm jack is also a perfect tool for a 4x4 recovery kit that can be stored in your vehicle and used if your car was to break down.

 

Hydraulic Wedge Spreader

Hydraulic Wedge Spreaders

What are hydraulic wedge spreaders used for? 

This hydraulic wedge is a perfect workshop tool for separating stubborn joints, even those with fitted ring grooves. Friction-free, unlike hammers and lever bars, these hydraulic wedges limit any damage to the joints. Take a look at the hydraulic wedge spreaders we have on offer by clicking the button above.

 

These are only a few of the workshop tools that we stock at SafetyLiftinGear, we also stock storage bags, tool belts and much much more! All of which can be viewed here:

View all workshop tools >

If you have any questions regarding our workshop tools, please don't hesitate to contact us today.

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