Accidents are inevitable at industrial jobsites. We hate hearing about accidents because we are firm believers that most of them can be avoided with proper planning, safety measures, and the right equipment. This is especially true when it comes to the use of lifting magnets.

Each year, OSHA fines construction companies millions of dollars for safety violations. Most common citation issued by OSHA is for “duty to have fall protection”. However, they also fine construction companies for using lifting magnets that do not include a load rating and also using magnets that do not have a protective toggle on the control switch.

In December 2011, a company was hit with $54,600 in proposed fines for the above violations after a worker was injured when a lifting magnet malfunctioned and dropped 2,900 pounds of steel on the worker’s arm. Magnets without a load rating or a locking mechanism can be purchased at a much lower cost, but this cost savings comes with an extremely large risk to workers’ safety.

All Shields Lifting Magnets have an explicit, built in safety factor of 3.3 times the rated load. This means that the safety factor is 3.3 times the maximum rated load for each model of lifting magnet. This is a safety rating, and no magnet should ever be used for any application that exceeds its maximum rated load. Additionally, our magnets feature a spring-loaded safety lock; the magnet stays engaged until you release it.

To lift larger, heavier and more cumbersome loads, we advise purchasing additional lifting magnets and using them in conjunction with accessories like spreader bars or vertical lifters. For more questions about lifting magnets, or the correct equipment for your construction application, please call 1-800-799-4408.