1. 1 STAFF SUMMARY
DATE: May 23, 2014
TO: Director, Maintenance
FROM: Production Manager, Lakewood #505 SUBJECT: Forklift Telescoping Boom
__________________________ ____________________________
Matthew L. Costanti Date
PURPOSE: To request that the Director approve and implement the purchase for a forklift
telescoping boom for use in difficult to maneuver areas.
FACTS: The Lakewood Facility has many areas, where heavy objects need to be moved for
maintenance purposes. Many of these objects are beyond the weight limitations of a
single human.
DISCUSSION:
The Lakewood plant has many areas that are a challenge for maintenance to work in
due to confined quarters, or tight spaces. These tight spaces create hazardous
situations for maintenance employees, and hamper the maintenance department’s ability to
react to several maintenance issues in a timely manner. Attached to the email is a series
of pictures showing potential safety hazards.
For example our repair tables are getting fairly worn and are in need of replacing, a
repair table top consists of a 3/8” thick steel plate 4’x4’ and 18’ worth of 2” 3/8”
thick square tube, the replacement table top weight is approximately 200 lbs. the safety
hazard is created when installation of the new table top is being performed. Normally you
would pick the table top up with a forklift and simply set it on top of the tables frame.
Due to the positioning of our lumber carts, lockers and the in feed line of pallets to be
repaired, positioning the forklift to do so is impossible. The result is the two
mechanics lift the table top from the forklift and carry it into position while doing
their best to avoid trip hazards and smashing fingers while bearing a considerable amount
of weight.
Further, included in these pictures attached is the hydraulic pump and motor for
our smetco sorting machine. Due to some faulty internal parts we have replaced this pump
twice in the last year. The approximate weight of the pump is 328 lbs. The area the pump
is located in is not accessible with a forklift, especially now that we have a safety
gate surrounding the Smetco. The current procedure for installing the pump includes one
mechanic lifting the pump with straps wrapped around the pump and the other end of the
straps wrapped around the shoulders of the mechanic. The pump has to be lifted into
position and held while the other mechanic installs the bolts to connect the pump to the
motor. This is inherently a lifting hazard, and should be rectified for back injury
prevention.
In the event of replacing the turn tables for both the blue paint booth and the
stencil booth; It is currently impossible to remove due to the fact the table weight is
approximately 400 lbs. The location of the tables is currently well outside the range of
any forklift or hydraulic assistance.
RECOMMENDATION: That the Director approve the purchase of a telescoping forklift boom.
_____APPROVED ____________________ ____DISAPPROVED _______________________
Rodney Tate Rodney Tate
DIRECTOR, Maintenance
DIRECTOR, Maintenance