[ RadSafe ] Need advice Moving large Pb shield

[Robert Atkinson]

Hi Rob,
What do your health and safety officer and insurance company have to say? I don't know what your local rules are but you probably have a "duty of care" to ensure the safety of your workers. Firstly what is the floor construction? Will it hold the weight? The "correct" way to do this is to use "skates" (small steel units with caterpillar tracks made of roller bearings) or similar devices to move the stand and the shield into the room. Protective or load spreading coverings for the floor may be needed. Position the stand and secure it as required (I guess TN doesn't need earthquake anchors). The shield can then be lifted into place with a portable "A" frame and chain hoist(s). The "A" frame (two A shape supports connected at their apex with an I beam) can be broken down to get it into the room. With the correct equipment this is very easy and safe. Improvising with a pallet truck (or even a forklift if not designed and equipped for the task) is difficult
 and dangerous. Look for a local machine (lathes, mills etc) moving company or millwrights. Get references and check their insurance. It's probably cheaper than renting the equipment. If this looks expensive, ask a lawer how much it costs to defend a industral accident prosecution!

Robert Atkinson CEng




________________________________
 From: "Robert J. Gunter, CHP" <rjgunter at chpconsultants.com>
To: 'The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List' <radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu> 
Sent: Tuesday, 5 March 2013, 17:00
Subject: [ RadSafe ] Need advice Moving large Pb shield
 
Greetings All,


We are trying to move a Canberra Model 747 Pb shield into a room and onto
its stand and need some advice.  We can get it into the room with a forklift
and even set it onto the stand, but must then move it about 8 feet.  We are
concerned with moving it while loaded on the stand as it will be top heavy.
We cannot get the forklift into the room.  The unit weighs 3000 lbs and has
lifting eyes.


I am sure someone out there has done this and can give some advice.  I would
much prefer to lift the device onto the stand once in the room, but am not
familiar with small enough portable equipment capable getting into the room
through a 36" door and lifting this 3000 lb device.  Another way we could do
this is to load it onto the stand with a forklift from outside the room and
then "slide" it over about 10 feet.  This does not seem like a very safe way
to do this since it is so top heavy.



Perhaps there are lifting devices that can be rented?

Any advice would be appreciated.



Yours,

Rob



Robert J. Gunter, MSc, CHP

CHP Consultants/CHP Dosimetry

www.chpconsultants.com

www.chpdosimetry.com

Toll Free: (888) 766-4833

Fax:  (866) 491-9913 

Cel:  (865) 387-0028

rjgunter at chpconsultants.com



_______________________________________________
You are currently subscribed to the RadSafe mailing list

Before posting a message to RadSafe be sure to have read and understood the RadSafe rules. These can be found at: http://health.phys.iit.edu/radsaferules.html

For information on how to subscribe or unsubscribe and other settings visit: http://health.phys.iit.edu