GB2428807A

GB2428807A - Safety device

Info

Publication number: GB2428807A
Application number: GB0515555A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David John Walters
Original assignee: Thames Water Utilities Ltd
Current assignee: Thames Water Utilities Ltd
Priority date: 2005-07-28
Filing date: 2005-07-28
Publication date: 2007-02-07
Also published as: GB0515555D0

Abstract

A device (1, 4 fig.1) for testing whether an item (7 fig.2) is on or below a weight which is safe for handling, for example by lifting or pulling, is disclosed. The device (1, 4) comprises a body 3 adapted for attachment to an item (7) and being visually physically transformable at a transition from a safe to an unsafe weight for handling. The transformation may be that the body rupture, stretches or an adhesive joint fails.

Description

SAFETY DEVICE

The invention relates to a safety device, particularly to such a device as can indicate whether an item is safe to be handled, e.g. lifted or pulled, manually.

There is a significant annual cost to all companies through time lost because of back injuries. As a result, there is widespread emphasis on manual handling training and awareness campaigns to reduce work related injuries. Health and Safety regulations provide guidance on safe weights and recommend methods of lifting. However, without knowing the weight of an object, it is difficult for an individual to assess whether an object is likely to be safe to lift. It is not practical to carry lifting scales for this purpose.

It is an object of the invention to seek to mitigate these disadvantages.

According to the invention there is provided a device for testing whether an item is of or below a weight which is safe for handling, for example by lifting or pulling, comprising a body adapted for attachment to an item and being visually physically transformable at a transition from a safe to an unsafe weight for handling.

The body may comprise a strip of flexible material, suitably a paper or plastic strip.

When of plastic the body may be physically transformable by stretching. This provides a direct indication that the weight is unsafe for lifting.

When of paper, the body may be physically transformable by being rupturable. This again provides a direct indication that the weight is unsafe for lifting.

The device may also include a zone of weakness, such as a "necked" section, whereby to enhance visual physical transformation of the device.

There may be indicia on a surface of the strip adapted for providing information, such information preferably being printed on the strip and providing information relating to instructions for use, and/or load rating and/or safety advice.

The body may be formable into a loop for attachment to an item and may have overlapping ends which may be securable together by securing means. This provides for relatively easy securing of the device to an item to be lifted.

The securing means may comprise an adhesive on one end, adapted for securing to the other end, the adhesive being initially masked by a masking element. This provides for forming the device into a loop round an item, or part of an item, to be tested for lifting weight.

The adhesive may be an adhesive strip which is initially masked by a masking element.

This provides for ease of storage and transport prior to use as the adhesive does not attach the body where it is not required.

There may be an adhesive at each end of the strip, each adapted for securing to an item to be lifted. This is an alternative where it may not be possible to pass the device round an item or part of an item.

Again in this embodiment the adhesive may comprise an adhesive strip at each end, initially masked by a masking element.

Alternatively, there may be a magnet at one or both ends of the strip. Where there is a magnet at each end of the strip each may be adapted for magnetic securing to an item of metal to be lifted.

Where there is a magnet at one end, there may be a hand grip device at the other end.

The device may be temporarily attached to a plurality of other identical devices separated one from another by frangible means. This provides for putting up several strips as a "pack" or "card" from which one may be removed as desired for use.

The frangible means may comprise a line of perforations between adjacent devices.

Alternatively, the device may be temporarily attached to a plurality of other identical devices, comprising a stack or "book" of such devices. Suitably, the devices may be attached for releasable peeling from an adjacent, lower, device in the stack or "book" by releasable means such as non-tacky peelable adhesive.

Using the invention, the device is rated to fail in tension at specific loads. Thus, when the Young's Modulus is exceeded, the body will stretch or break before the item is raised, thus providing the physical transformation of the device and a direct indication that the item is too heavy to be lifted manually. The device is disposable.

Devices according to the invention are hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows schematically plan views of devices according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an item which might be lifted manually, for

example a tool box;

Figs. 3 to 4 show schematically use of a device according to the invention to determine whether an item is of a weight which can be lifted manually; Fig. 6 shows an alternative way of carrying out a test lift on an item before it is lifted manually; Fig. 7 being a schematic view of a further embodiment; and Figs. 8 and 8A show another embodiment in use.

Two devices embodying the invention are shown in Fig. 1, the first embodiment 1 being a strip of flexible material such as plastic which has securing means such as an adhesive strip 2 at each end of an elongate body 3, the adhesive 4 initially being covered by a masking strip (not shown). The adhesive is on opposite sides of the body 3.

The second embodiment of device 4 also of plastic or paper, suitably plastic, has an elongate body 5 with transverse securing means such as tags 6 coated with adhesive, initially again covered by a masking strip (not shown).

Each device 1, 4 is suitably of plastic or paper, preferably plastic, which has a Young's Modulus which will be exceeded if an item 7 is to be lifted which has a weight to exceed that parameter, i.e. above the weight for safe manual lifting.

As shown in fig. 7, the device 1, 4 may each have indicia 8 such as indicia printed on a surface of the body 3, 5 and providing information relating to instructions for use, and/or load rating, and/or safety advice, as well as say advertising indicia or a company name or logo. As also shown in Fig. 7, there maybe a plurality of strips 1,4 (in Fig. 7), embodiment 1 put up in the form of a pack or "card" for example of plastic, from which one device 1 at a time may be removed for use, for example by pressure of a finger or thumb to break frangible connection means 10 such as perforations by which a device I is mounted to the pack 9, and to adjacent devices.

In use, a device 1, 4 whether a stand alone or one removed from a pack is taken and the masking tape is removed from the adhesive 2, 6. If the device 1 is in use, it is looped round say a handle 11 of the item 7 to be tested for handling as by lifting, such as a tool box.

The body 3 is looped around and attached by one end back on itself to the other end via the adhesive strips 2 to form an adhesive joint. The item 7 is then test lifted as shown in Figs. 3 to 5.

If as shown in Fig. 5 the body 3 snaps i.e. ruptures, or alternatively stretches, or the adhesive joint fails, the item 7 is too heavy to be lifted manually. If the device 1 does not snap, stretch, or fail, the item 7 can be lifted with the device 1, and carried in a conventional way.

It will be understood that in the situation shown by Fig. 5, this indicates that the load (weight of the item) exceeds recommended safe load guidelines. This in turn warns a user that lifting the item 7 could be potentially harmful, and signifies that they should seek assistance or use an alternative means of carriage, e.g. a trolley.

If the item does not have a handle 11 or like protuberance for attaching a device 1, the device 4 can be used, with its adhesive ends or tags 6 being attached to the item (Fig. 6).

If the body 5 snaps on a test lift (as in Fig. 5), or stretches, this again indicates that the load is too great for manual lifting.

The tags 6 may be replaced by a magnet (not shown). In a further embodiment shown in Figs. 8 and 8A, the device 1 comprises a body 3 in the form of a strip which has a magnet 11 at one end and a handle element or device 12 such as a "kite" handle at the opposite end. Again, if the load of the item 7 exceeds the safe load the device 3 will deform or fail on lifting X'.

The devices 1, 4 embodying the invention do not ensure a definitive safe lifting test for manual lifting, but provide an indication and reminder of safety limits. They can be easily and quickly used in offices, in the field, or in workshops.

Claims

1. A device for testing whether an item is of or below a weight which is safe for handling, for example by lifting or pulling, comprising a body adapted for attachment to an item and being visually physically transformable at a transition from a safe to an unsafe weight for handling.

2. A device according to Claim 1, the body comprising a strip of flexible material.

3. A device according to Claim 2, the strip comprising a paper or plastic strip.

4. A device according to any preceding claim, the body being physically transformable by stretching.

5. A device according to any preceding claim, the body being physically transformable by being rupturable.

6. A device according to any preceding claim, comprising a zone of weakness, whereby to enhance physical transformation.

7. A device according to any preceding claim, comprising indicia on a surface of the strip adapted for providing information.

8. A device according to Claim 7, the indicia being printed on the strip and providing information relating to instructions for use, and/or load rating and/or safety advice.

9. A device according to any preceding claim, the body being formable into a loop for attachment to an item and overlapping ends being securable together by securing means.

10. A device according to Claim 8, the securing means comprising an adhesive on one end, adapted for securing to the other end, the adhesive being initially masked by a masking element.

11. A device according to Claim 10, the adhesive being an adhesive strip which is initially masked by a masking element.

12. A device according to any of Claims ito 8, there being an adhesive at each end of the strip, each adapted for securing to an item to be lifted.

13. A device according to Claim 12, the adhesive comprising an adhesive strip at each end, initially masked by a masking element.

14. A device according to any of Claims 1 to 8, there being a magnet at one or both ends.

15. A device according to Claim 14, there being a magnet at each end of the strip each adapted for magnetic securing to an item of metal to be lifted.

16. A device according to Claim 14, comprising a magnet at one end and a hand grip device at the other end.

17. A device according to any preceding claim, which is temporarily attached to a plurality of other identical devices separated one from another by frangible means.

18. A device according to Claim 17, the frangible means comprising a line of perforations between adjacent devices.

19. A device according to any of Claims 1 to 16, which is temporarily attached to a plurality of other identical devices comprising a stack or "book" of such devices.

20. A device according to Claim 19, the devices being attached for releasable peeling from an adjacent device in the stack or "book" by releasable means such as non-tacky peelable adhesive.

21. A device for testing whether an item is of or below a weight which is safe for handling, such as by lifting or pulling, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.