Although hydraulic technology has made difficult industrial tasks easier, high-pressure hydraulics supplier Enerpac says safety must be paramount in any workplace environment.
Hydraulic power, transmitted by the controlled circulation of pressurised fluid, is considered one of the safest methods of applying force and allows for common mistakes to be simply rectified.
Hydraulics allow work to be undertaken with a degree of precision and safety that are otherwise absent with other forms of equipment, along with a greater degree of flexibility than mechanical and electrical systems.
Global high-force hydraulics leader Enerpac says following guidelines to dress appropriately for the job, performing visual inspections and setting up the equipment can avoid problems encountered in improperly assembling the hydraulic system.
According to Enerpac Global HSSE Leader Martin Schuchmann, “Input from customers is fundamental to the design, development, production and supply of standard and custom-made hydraulic solutions for safe, precise control of movement and positioning of heavy loads.”
The use of hydraulic equipment varies on the job being completed and the company warns that users should seek expert guidance on the best products to safely operate for their various needs.
Selecting the correct type of pump, as an example, is critical for ensuring the safety and efficiency of labor-intensive jobs that rely on using powerful tools.
If operated properly and kept in good condition over a long-period of time, Enerpac says torque wrenches can be safe and reliable tools that perform better than flogging wrenches.
Enerpac has precisely engineered its hydraulic tools for optimum performance, safety and efficiency. Although cheaper at first, using a part that has not been designed for the system could cause the whole thing to fail, which not only jeopardises the operator’s safety, but costs significantly more in replacement and damage.
Users have also been warned against using parts that have not been specifically designed for the system, since it could result in failure that would not only jeopardise their personal safety but could bring significant costs to replace if damaged.
Hydraulic tools need proper care and maintenance in order to function at optimum efficiency.
Consulting authorised repair agents that have the necessary qualifications to service the tools and attending training initiatives to keep up with the latest safety practices are both recommendations that Enerpac says users should aim to follow.