Ratchet Straps may seem like a simple tool to use, where little could go wrong. After all, you’ve only got to loop it round your loads, right? However, there are actually many precautions that you should take when using Ratchet Straps, not only to maintain a high level of safety, but also in order to ensure long-lasting quality of your straps.
Store your Ratchet Straps properly
When you’re not using your ratchet straps, you need to make sure they’re out of the way and stored properly for several reasons. Firstly, it will help you to keep spaces clean and free from messy trip hazards. This alone goes a long way in maintaining a safer workplace.
Effective storage of your ratchet straps will also help them to last longer and remain safe to use. Harsh elements such as heat, sun exposure and moisture will deteriorate the materials of your straps. This will make them weaker and therefore less safe for you to use, as well as meaning that you’ll have to replace your straps far more often than you actually need.
Check your straps regularly and replace if needed
As your ratchet straps get weaker over time, it’s key to check them properly and regularly. On average, you will need to replace a ratchet strap every 2 to 4 years – but in case they have become damaged sooner than this, you still need to constantly monitor their condition.
Every year there are around 4130 accidents that involve ratchet straps – make sure yours aren’t part of this statistic!
Use corner protectors
Certain materials, such as concrete, metal and rough wood are prone to dealing extra damage to your ratchet straps. In order to prevent this affect and keep your straps safer, for longer, you should make sure to use corner protectors. These will provide a layer of protection between the goods and your straps, keeping them from being worn down as quickly.
Always make sure you know the LC and STF
The Lashing Capacity (LC) is effectively the strength of your ratchet strap, and is measured daN which are equivalent to KGs. With several different strap strengths, it is important that you check the label and know which yours is – if it is too weak for a very heavy load, or you aren’t using enough straps then it could give way.
The Standard Tension Force (STF) is also measured in daN and will allow you to determine how many or which straps to use for certain loads. Again, getting this wrong could lead to loads becoming unsecure.
As you can see, there are many ways in which ratchet straps can easily become unsafe – that’s why it is always important to know what to look for and to do so on a regular basis!
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