Wire Rope Direct News

SAFE HANDLING OF WIRE ROPE

HANDLING WIRE ROPES SAFELY

This editorial discusses briefly how wire ropes should be handled and stored safely, and therefore extends the life of the wire rope.

Handling wire rope can present many dangers, from metal splinters when cutting the rope to severe bruising if the rope suddenly recoils. It is therefore paramount that proper safety procedures are followed when handling wire ropes.

Protective clothing appropriate to the task should always be worn, safety gloves, overalls and boots are a must when handling wire rope, eye protectors will be needed when cutting.

Wire rope should preferably be stored indoors in a clean, cool and dry atmosphere, as any moisture or condensation can build up between the wires and start the corrosion process, rendering the rope unusable. If wire ropes need to be stored outdoors then they should be ideally be kept in a watertight container, breathable, tarpaulin like bags are useful as they keep the rain out but help to prevent condensation from forming. Wire ropes should never be left lying on the floor, ideally they should be stored on a rack, stand or on a pallet. Although wire ropes are well lubricated during the manufacturing process, they should still be additionally lubricated at regular intervals especially when storing for long periods, when a protective coating of lubricant should be applied to the whole rope to protect it from moisture ingress.

Wire rope can easily be damaged, especially when unloading reels from a vehicle, the best practice is to use a soft sling passed through the centre of the reel and lower with an electric hoist, or a pole/bar can be passed through and rested on the forks of a forklift truck, try to avoid using the forks directly onto the reel, as if misguided and touch the wire rope it can easily be damaged.

Particular care should be taken when unreeling a wire rope, as damage can be easily done. The wire rope should never be thrown off the reel in turns, the reel should be elevated from the ground in a way that the reel can rotate freely, this is often done by using a reel turntable or a pole through the reel rested on jacks. There should also be plenty of clean space where the rope can be laid out. By using these methods the wire rope can then be pulled off in a straight line safely, and without the risk of bending / kinking the wires. The rope should always be pulled over the top of the reel not underneath. If the wire rope is in a coil rather than on a reel then the only safe way to remove the rope is to gently roll the coil rather like pushing a childs hoop, again making sure the ground is clean and clear of debris.

If a wire rope kinks it is permanently damaged, and therefore unusable.

When re-reeling wire rope care should be taken to keep the rope taut, and wound in the way it was originally wound to prevent reverse bending of the rope, and it should be wound over the top making sure the wires are wound evenly and lie snugly against each other to prevent the under layers crushing.

Above all always follow any manufacturers  guidelines and instructions to keep safe and prolong the life of the wire rope, and if in doubt of its capabilities never use it before it has been inspected and load tested, which should be done at regular intervals.

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