Mazzella Companies

Do you want a narrower lifting sling without sacrificing strength and durability?

Riggers come across this scenario constantly: they love their Slingmax Rigging Solutions Twin-Path sling, but it’s too wide to fit in a trunnion, or other constricted lifting points, creating unnecessary downtime for workers.

Thankfully, Slingmax® has a new product out: the Helix™ High-Performance Synthetic Roundsling.

Light weight, quick turnaround time, great for heavy lifts, multiple customization options, the Helix can be helpful in multiple industries, including power generation, construction, general manufacturing, and marine work.

Even though it’s a new product, the Helix is made with the same high-performance material and undergoes the thorough break test and quality check processes Slingmax has used for decades.

And with three manufacturing locations, Mazzella is proud to be one of the largest Slingmax distributors in the country.

Read the full article to learn more about the Helix, including:

• Ideal applications
• The biggest benefits
• Capacity range
• Potential downsides
• How it compares to other lifting slings
• General best practices

Also, contact one of our lifting specialists to purchase a Helix for your organization:

📰: https://hubs.li/Q02WCrxN0
💻: https://hubs.li/Q02WCnsF0

Happy Halloween everyone! 🧛👻

Keeping with the season’s spirit, we’ve been sharing examples of the scariest and downright dangerous rigging tools our experts have encountered throughout the years.

Whether it’s damaged lifting slings, or homemade below-the-hook devices, shackles, and chains, the horrors of bad rigging come in many shapes and sizes.

If you want to keep your employees safe, use rigging tools that are:
• Properly inspected
• Load tested
• Compliant with ASME and other industry standards
• Properly tagged

Whether you’re a safety inspector, trainer, or a rigger, we know you’ve probably seen some egregious and scary rigging practices in your time. Feel free to drop your horror stories and images in the comments.

Are you tasked with safety and training in your company? If so, download the Mazzella / ITI Rigging Gear Inspection Field Reference Guide to help you and your team identify damaged and failed rigging equipment, according to:

• OSHA 1910.184 / ASME B30.9 Slings
• ASME B30.30 Ropes
• ASME B30.26 Rigging Hardware
• ASME B30.10 Hooks
• ASME B30.20 Below-the-Hook Lifting Devices

Do you have bad rigging tools in your shop? Download our Disposal of Damaged Rigging Gear Guide.

🔗:

https://resources.mazzellacompanies.com/rigging-gear-inspection-field-reference-guide

https://resources.mazzellacompanies.com/how-to-dispose-of-damaged-rigging-gear

When operating a mobile or overhead crane, you may hear the term load control. What does load control mean?

Load control, as the name implies, is all about ensuring the load being lifted by the crane operator is done in a controlled and safe manner. While it sounds simple, achieving load control is a process requiring careful and educated techniques. Here are some of the most important tips to keep in mind:

• Know the weight of the load

• Account for any environmental conditions, like high winds, rain, or snow

• Determine the center of gravity by rigging the load and slowly lift it a few inches from the ground and observe how the load’s weight shifts

• Select the appropriate sling hitch: vertical, choker, or basket

• Scan your surroundings and make sure workers are out of the “fall zone”

• Even loads that look perfect can fail if basic load control factors are not considered.

Check out our article for a more in-depth look at maintaining load control. Furthermore, read our article explaining how to calculate the weight of a load for overhead crane lifts

📖: https://hubs.li/Q02RRl0Y0 https://hubs.li/Q02RRl0Y0

Considerations for Maintaining Load Control When You Rig Your Next Lift Do you know all of the factors that could affect how you control a load during an overhead lift? Have you thought about wind? Are you using the proper sling and hitch? Even if a load is perfectly rigged according to its weight, without proper load control, the lift could fail...

Synthetic roundslings are the most colorful lifting sling on the market, but this is far from an aesthetic choice...

Just by glancing at the jacket’s color, workers can tell the sling’s capacity in any configuration: a vertical, choker, or basket configuration.

The problem? Roundsling colors systems are not standardized across the industry and should not be relied upon solely for ordering or reordering. Roundsling color systems can also depend on the country you live in.

Plus, relying only on a color system does not account for the millions of Americans who are colorblind and could be on your job site.

Our article will not only explain Mazzella’s color-coding system but also explain why checking the sling’s tag is crucial to bettering employee safety.

🔗:

Explaining Mazzella's Synthetic Roundslings Color System Are synthetic roundsling color systems standardized across the industry? Our lifting and rigging experts point out...

A common question that our lifting and rigging experts get is “Do I need to periodically proof test my lifting slings?”

The answer is no. Even though periodic inspections are required, nothing in OSHA’s or ASME’s standards require you to proof test a lifting sling after it’s been manufactured.

However, lifting slings being sent in for repair must be tested before being sent back out to the field. At Mazzella, we proof test our liftings, from chain slings to synthetic roundslings, before sending it back to our customers.

If you’re looking to increase the lifespan of your lifting slings, we recommend investing in a proper sling protection device, such as a sleeve or wear pad.

Check out our video with safety expert @ terry driscoll to learn more about the importance of sling protection:

📺: https://hubs.li/Q02RRxk50

Here are some more helpful resources:

https://www.mazzellacompanies.com/learning-center/periodic-inspections-vs-proof-testing/





https://www.mazzellacompanies.com/learning-center/osha-testing-requirements/





https://www.mazzellacompanies.com/learning-center/when-does-asme-require-sling-proof-testing/ https://hubs.li/Q02RRxk50

What Sling Protection is Right for You? Need help extending the life of your synthetic lifting slings? With a CornerMax Sleeve, they can now be used in applications dominated by...

One of the biggest myths in the lifting and rigging industry is that only chain slings require a documented periodic inspection.

The truth: ASME B30.9 states you must have a periodic and documented inspections on:

• Wire rope slings

• Roundslings

• Synthetic web slings

• Synthetic rope slings

• Alloy chain slings and metal mesh

Furthermore, ASME B30 standards state that even lever pullers and chain falls should have documented inspections.

Keeping up with inspections on your rigging equipment and below-the-hook devices can be challenging. Thankfully, we created a cheat sheet that gives you single resource for determining the frequencies of inspection and record retention for:

• Shackles, Hooks, and Rigging Hardware

• Manual Hoists, Electric Hoists, and Air Hoists

• Chain Slings, Wire Rope Slings, and Synthetic Roundslings

• Below-the-Hook Lifting Devices

• And more!

Download your free copy today ⬇️

Inspection Frequencies & Records Guide for Lifting & Rigging Equipment | Mazzella Companies It can be frustrating and confusing to keep track of the ASME standards related to each specific piece of rigging gear or lifting equipment that you use. Because of this, we've put this guide together to help you understand and plan out the inspection frequencies and records retention for your lifti...

No, these aren’t horror movie props. These are real and scary homemade rigging tools our experts have found at job sites.

Do you have anything like this in your shop? In the days leading up to Halloween, we’re going to spotlight some of the more egregious and scary rigging tools we’ve come across over the years.

Homemade lifting devices, especially below-the-hook devices, are all too common at job sites. But what dangers do they pose?

By using homemade lifting devices, companies are assuming the risks should the device fail. Companies can even be held liable in court if an employee gets hurt using one

Homemade lifting devices also don't have the proper:

• Tagging requirements

• Load testing

• Inspection criteria

• Safety factors

• Design categories

• Service classes

Listen to our Safety Factor podcast where we discuss the dangers of homemade lifting devices with our lifting and rigging experts. They discuss the legal ramifications of making homemade lifting devices and ASME standards you should follow. Also, make sure to download this helpful below-the-hook design considerations sheet to help you with your next project.

🎙️: https://www.mazzellacompanies.com/learning-center/podcasts/dangers-of-homemade-lifting-devices/

📖: https://resources.mazzellacompanies.com/below-the-hook-design-considerations

Want to optimize your bundle handling practices?

Thankfully, there are various bundle lifting methods available to you, ranging from traditional lifting slings to advanced, engineered devices. So how can you determine which one is best for your application?

In this video, Dan Sherwood—one of Mazzella’s below-the-hook experts—gives viewers:

• A breakdown of various bundle lifting methods and the industries that could benefit from engineered solutions

• Strategies to reduce manual handling, enhance safety, and improve efficiency through automation

• Case studies showing how advanced equipment can cut lifting times in half

Efficient Bundle Lifting: Maximize Safety and Save Time! Discover efficient bundle lifting solutions to maximize safety, reduce manual handling, and improve productivity at your facility.

Thanks to the folks at Slingmax Rigging Solutions for visiting our shop last week to shoot some videos on the new Helix lifting sling!

The Helix Roundsling is a high-performance, endless roundsling designed to handle some of the most demanding lifting applications. One of the biggest benefits of a Helix Roundsling is its ability to fit into narrower lifting points, eliminating extra hardware and making the rigging process simpler and more efficient.

Made with an HMPE-braided jacket that adds extra abrasion and chemical resistance, the Helix sling is a great asset for riggers in many industries.

Mazzella is proud to be one of the largest SlingMax distributors in the country. Contact one of our team members today if you want to purchase a Helix sling for your organization:
https://www.mazzellacompanies.com/company/contact-us/contact-rigging-division/

Our SlingMax videos will be coming soon, so subscribe to The Lifting & Rigging Channel and hit the notifications button so you never miss a video:
https://www.youtube.com/

🚨Calling all Cleveland lifting professionals 🚨 Mazzella’s new Downtown Cleveland Service Center is up and running!

Whether you work in steel mills, maritime operations, construction, or general manufacturing, our service center, right next to BrewDog Brewery, can offer all styles of lifting slings, rigging hardware, rigging inspections, wire rope, overhead cranes, overhead crane service, hoists, and industry-leading training for your operations.

We are also a direct distributor for some of the largest and most respected brands in the industry, including Crosby, SlingMax, Bridon, Harrington, Columbus McKinnon, and more!

Click the link below for more information:

Lifting Slings, Rigging Hardware, and Service—Right in the Heart of Downtown Cleveland! Mazzella Downtown Cleveland provides wire rope, lifting slings, overhead cranes, hoist and crane service, rigging training, OSHA inspections, hoists, and marine products

We are pleased to announce that Heather Fernlund has been promoted to Vice President of Finance for Mazzella’s Lifting Business.

With over 25 years of experience in finance, particularly in IT, manufacturing, and acquisitions, Fernlund brings a wealth of knowledge to this position.

Before this, Fernlund served as Mazzella Companies’ Corporate Controller for two years.

Click the link below to read the full press release:

Heather Fernlund Named VP of Finance for Mazzella's Lifting Business Heather Fernlund has been promoted to VP of Finance for Mazzella’s Lifting Business. For the past two years, Fernlund served as Corporate Controller...

Who decides when someone is ready to operate an overhead crane?

Operating an overhead crane takes countless hours of dedication and practice, and having an unqualified operator on your team leaves you vulnerable to damaged loads and creates an unsafe environment.

Ultimately, it is the employer’s responsibility to decide who is competent and qualified operate the crane. It’s a big responsibility, and whoever signs off, be it the Owner or an Operations Manager, should have answers to the following questions:

• Have we provided proper training for this employee?

• Is the operator knowledgeable of current OSHA and ASME standards?

• Is the training documented?

• Can we prove that the operator is competent and qualified?

Thankfully, Mazzella and our training partner, Industrial Training International, offer an overhead crane operator training program, helping your operators meet OSHA compliance.

Click the links below to learn more about our overhead crane operator course and other training opportunities.

📖: https://hubs.li/Q02RRy4M0

https://hubs.li/Q02RRx6T0

https://hubs.li/Q02RRt-g0

Mazzella & ITI Training: Their Similarities and Key Differences Mazzella and ITI have been at the forefront of lifting and rigging training for decades. But how similar are they and what separates them? First off...

Mazzella is proud to be celebrating National Construction Appreciation Week! 🚧👷

Held the third week of September, this is a time to recognize the hardworking people in the construction industry and their pivotal role in shaping America's infrastructure. It’s also a time to raise awareness on safety and health best practices.

Whether it’s our lifting and rigging hardware, overhead cranes, below-the-hook lifting devices, or training programs, Mazzella takes pride in providing top-of-the-line resources to construction workers across the country.

A big part of keeping your workers safe is selecting the proper tools for their applications, including lifting slings. There's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all sling for your lifting needs, and picking the wrong type can put your teammates at risk.

Download this comprehensive e-book, and you will better understand:
• Four different sling types: wire rope slings, synthetic web slings, synthetic roundslings, and alloy chain slings
• Sling protection best practices
• The key types, terms, and configurations associated with each lifting sling
• Good fit and bad fit applications

You will also get access to our lifting slings capacity poster, rigging gear field reference, sling inspection e-book, and lifting and rigging inspection guide.

Grab your free copy today using the link below ⤵️
https://hubs.li/Q02Qspg50

Mazzella is proud to be supporting Crosby's annual Lifting for the Troops campaign.

The Lifting for the Troops campaign supports the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides college grants and scholarships, counseling, and general financial assistance to children who have lost a parent in the line of duty.

Since 2002, Fallen Patriots has provided nearly $66 million in college scholarships to more than 3,400 students.

Mazzella and Crosby have partnered for years on various projects, and this campaign is no exception.

To learn more about the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation, visit their website:

There is no shortage of options to help you lift bundles, but which one is best for your application?

Whether you work in construction, a lumber yard, or a warehouse, bundles are everywhere, and you need solutions to help you safely and efficiently lift them.

“Do I need a more customized, automated solution? What type of lifting sling should I use? Can I use a forklift to lift bundles instead of an overhead crane?”

Our Below-The-Hook lifting experts get asked these questions constantly, and our article covers the most popular bundle lifting options and the benefits of a more custom engineered solution.

Read the full article to learn more ⤵️

What Options Exist for Lifting Bundles? Lifting bundles is a hassle for a variety of industries. Is it time to invest in an engineered bundle lifting solution? You will first want to...