Manual Hoist vs Electric Hoist

What's the smallest size of electric hoist available as per manufacturer? I bet that's reasonable enough to consider. That is obviously the limits.

Also, electric hoist has some sort of making the job fast and in volume compares to manual hoist. If you consider this a factor.

I think, the problem can be solve by considering ergonomics as its the root cause, prior to any mandate available there is.

Assess the job of your work team and have some empathy - that means putting yourself in their shoe. You could tell if electric hoist is indeed necessary.

Another consideration:

Frequency of use: Will the the need for a hoist be multiple times a day or only once a year.

These two extremes are far apart and only you (and the operators or maintenance people) can determine the true electric or manual decision point.

Obviously it would be easy to make a 4 point Spanish windlass to raise a platform that held car. If the car and platform weigh 5000 pounds and you want a maximum pull of 50 pounds = 100:1 ratio. ie. you move 100 feet of cable for each foot the platform rises. Similarly a geared winch with 100:1 load ratio would also work.

Look here

and here

and more

Found this....it would also matter what you are hoisting....people....explosives....scrap iron...it's more about testing and maintaining the apparatus....and proper use...

http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2013/09/f2/std1090-07_chapter_8_hoists.pdf

Consider also the rate of change of potential energy of the load as it goes up. It my be too much for a mere human to do.

Now, I'm lost here. If I can lift it one inch per minute off the floor, why can't I lift it 10 feet, given enough time?

Coffee breaks, lunch and a month off during summer taken into account, of course.

Simple.

Putting the cost implications aside, since I assume you can make that decision, do you want to pay your employee to pull a chain and lift the load, or push a button and lift the load?

Does India even have an OSHA?

In a place with no volts, the push button does little...

No, Nothing in OSHA

It's your decision.

My rule of thumb, if you can raise the load with one hand and have one hand free to control the load a manual is just fine. Under this condition a electric hoist will be slower then a manual. Then you have to look at personnel. Each persons stature is different and the physical ability to pull one handed will change. So there are many variables to take into account.

OSHA has no rules to say what labor intensive jobs need to be reduced to. Just that you have to provide safe conditions to do the work. You as an employer need to reconize these hazards and make an effort to correct them.

My experience with manual hoists is the hand chain often gets into mischief, tangling whatever it can. It was convenient on my system which was on X/Y tracks to go all over my shop without worrying about an electric cord getting tangled or frayed, though. If the hoist is stationary, I would have wanted electric. Just a control box on a lead and the hook.

Thanks to all.

Manuals- Easier to adjust to obtain a specific height. Electrics usually require a few minor adjustments to stop where you want the load vertically.

High load carrying capacity; Electrics also available in high weight capacities; Lower costs, cost effectiveness; Versatile; Silent in operation; Higher durability.

Electrics- Higher efficiencies; wide range of loads; less exertion on operators; can be operated away from load; more cost effective; lower wage costs; can usually be operated by one person; lower maintenance costs; usually quieter; and doesn't punch in late or go home early.

OSHA has no weight lifting restrictions on either the manual or the electric hoists. Their restrictions are towards the safe operation of any hoist be it electric, manual, pneumatic, hydraulic or any other power source. All they say is operate whatever hoist you decide on safely.

If you want to make a very conclusive decision for the electric hoist operate a manual one for two hours. Then operate the electric hoist for the next two hours. You will forget about the manual chain hoist for a lifetime.

Good Luck, Old Salt