Hi, my name is Brooke, and I used to run the HR department in a factory. I filed a lot of injury reports and helped a tragic number of people make claims for workers' compensation or WorkCover. In many cases, the accidents involved convener belts. By seeing what not to do, I really learned what should be done in terms of conveyor safety. I love writing and wanted to convey some good will to the world through a blog – I also love puns. In this space, I plan to post on conveyor belt safety as well as other posts related to a range of industrial equipment. I hope these posts help to protect you and your workers.
A lift-gate can help anyone who needs to load and unload any type of cargo from the back of a truck; this can be a personal pickup truck that you use to haul equipment for your contracting business, or a panel truck that is used for commercial purposes.
There are many different types of lift-gates from which to choose and this can make it difficult to pick the right type; note a few factors you might consider in order to make the choice easier:
1. Choosing hydraulics
Not all lift-gates are powered; some are worked simply by a lever and use gravity to pull them down and a chain to have them lifted. This can be fine for many applications but a hydraulic system can make it even easier to lift and lower the gate.
In extreme weather the oil on the mechanisms that lift and lower the gate can get very thick and make it difficult to move the gate manually, but a hydraulic system will use air pressure to force the gate up and down. It can be worth the extra investment for a hydraulic system especially in colder weather.
2. Fold-up location
Lift-gates can be folded up either behind the back of the truck or they can slide under the truck when not in use. The type that folds up behind the truck can sometimes be easier to manage as it simply folds up and down, whereas one that slides under the truck needs to be folded and then slid into place.
This can make it more cumbersome every time you need to fold it up and down.
However, the type that folds up will be in the way of the truck doors, which means that you need to fold and unfold it every time you load and unload goods. This can mean extra wear and tear on the lift-gate even when it's not needed. Make your decision based on how often you load and unload goods throughout the day versus the difficulty of sliding it under the truck.
3. Slide out models
A lift-gate may fold up and down to help you lift and lower items from the truck but some may slide out from the back to create a ramp. This can make it easier and faster for you to access the back of the truck as you don't need to lift and lower the ramp every time you want to climb into the back of the truck. If your deliveries include constant getting in and out of the truck, you may want a ramp model rather than one that simply lifts and lowers.
Contact a professional for more info and help.
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