Brian, Most of the information you find will be regarding lifting restrictions for production workers where to lift heavy objects is part of their everyday job. The limits are based on weight, size, lift start point, lift destination point, lift angle, how often, etc...
I have not found a good source for labeling or warning information for individual products (as a manufacturer). We make an analyzer which is a table top (Lab bench) instrument which weighs over 400lbs (180kg). We tossed around the idea of stating in the installation manual about suggesting 4 men lift from the corners, but was told that we could become liable if an injury occurred. What we ended up doing was to clearly state the weight of the instrument in the manual and state, "Use proper lifting equipment". The burden is then on the customer to find a way to safety lift the unit. The safety standards (such as EN 61010) states that the product must have a way of lifting it. So if it is not designed so this can be done you must provide handles or some way of lifting it either by man or machine. As far as warning labels go, you only have to use labels if it is not apparent that the unit is heavy. If it looks heavy it probably is. No "unknown" hazard there so don't worry about labels. If it is heaver than it looks, then you would need a label. If it is questionable, use a label. This is why most packaging (or boxes) have weight warning on boxes that you can't see what's inside but might be the size some one might try and pick up. Well anyway, you can't go wrong with the old triangle with the exclamation point in the center. Under it state the weight or something like ">18kg". I have seen this method used. You can get creative and make your own graphics. UPS uses a picture of a scale with "31.5+" in the middle. On a monitor box we have here in the lab there is a graphic of two stick men with legs bent lifting a box from either side. I have also seen the graphic that looks like a big weight (like the 1 ton weight that would always fall on the coyote in the Roadrunner cartoons) with the weight stated in the center. As a manufacturer you are responsible to do one of two things: eliminate the hazard (2 levels of protection) or inform of the hazard. If lifting your product can cause a hazard (or injury) all you can do is inform. In addition, the safety standards say you have to provide the means to safely lift. That's basically it. I'm sorry I could not give you exactly what you asked for. I asked the same question last year and spent weeks pouring through factory worker standards that didn't apply to products. I hope this helps. Brian Kunde -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2000 4:11 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Lifting restrictions Hi group Is anyone aware of a standard UL or EN which details the Weights that are acceptable as one and two person lifts. I have come across a number of industry and company related information but cannot find a standard. Also is there an accepted international warning label to cover this. Regards Brian Harlowe ------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE EMC Society Product Safety Technical Committee emc-pstc discussion list. To cancel your subscription, send mail to: [email protected] with the single line: unsubscribe emc-pstc For help, send mail to the list administrators: Jim Bacher: [email protected] Michael Garretson: [email protected] For policy questions, send mail to: Richard Nute: [email protected] ------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE EMC Society Product Safety Technical Committee emc-pstc discussion list. To cancel your subscription, send mail to: [email protected] with the single line: unsubscribe emc-pstc For help, send mail to the list administrators: Jim Bacher: [email protected] Michael Garretson: [email protected] For policy questions, send mail to: Richard Nute: [email protected]
