I really can't say enough great things about these Ladder Guards from Belt Conveyor Guarding. The functionality and ease-of-use of these products simply makes the work environment so much safer. 

In 1998, I was working as an engineer for a large food and beverage conglomerate that often utilized temporary staffing and flexible production lines. Quite often entire walls would be shifted, and platform heights would be adjusted to accommodate each shift. While it was an efficient use of a production plant, it also introduced increased safety challenges, especially with ladder access. Instead of incorporating a solution such as Ladder Guards, we elected to install sliding lock ladders, which were extremely expensive. They also posed safety risks, as they were often heavy, and the release systems' performance were often inconsistent.

Ladder Guards would have saved us so much time and money, and increased safety at the same time. Simply give access to those who need it when they need it with a beautifully-engineered, versatile safety tool. You just lift and clamp over the top of a stair rung, and then add optional security by sliding the lock bar through the guard over a rung while adding a padlock or comparable security device.

Keep your solutions simple. Big Rock Mountain is here to help.

Call us with any questions at +1-888-661-0091, or email sales@bigrockmoutain.com.

We now ship outside of North America! Contact us via phone or email to get a shipping quote today! 

A little effort goes a long way, and that's just as true for bearings inspection and maintenance as it is for anything else worth doing. Here are a couple of notes to keep in mind when you're reviewing the wear on your bearings, as well as simple storage reminders.

The following content has been selected from Big Rock Mountain partner SKF:

Rolling bearing defect frequency analysis

Every bearing generates a low frequency signal. Every time a bearing defect is over-rolled, a high frequency signal is generated, which causes a peak in the amplitude of the signal. The rate of these peaks is a function of speed as well as the position of the defect on the bearing and the internal geometry of the bearing.

To monitor the condition of a bearing, a technique called enveloped acceleration or enveloping is used. Enveloping isolates the high frequency signal generated by the defect from other naturally occurring rotational or structural frequencies in the machine. In cases where it is difficult or time consuming to gain access to the bearings for inspection, an Endoscope can be a valuable tool. An endoscope, available on Big Rock Mountain soon in the field, is a good tool. It should have a small diameter insertion tube, an LCD display and a picture recording function.

Storage

Storage time is the period that a bearing can remain in storage in order to avoid adverse effects on operational performance of the bearing. Bearings are coated with a high-quality preservative oil to protect them from corrosion. Long storage times can be attained by storing bearings in their original, unopened and undamaged, packaging. The storage time of bearings also depends on their storage environment conditions. To maintain the potential operating performance of a bearing, it is recommended that  a "first in, first out" inventory policy be developed.

Storage time for open bearings

Typical storage times for open (unsealed) and not lubricated bearings are listed in table 1:

table 1 - Storage time for open (unsealed) and not lubricated bearings

Storage time for capped bearings

Capped bearings (bearings with seals or shields) should be stored for a maximum of three years to avoid deterioration of their grease fill.

Additional storage-related factors

To avoid deterioration of your bearings while in storage, consider these factors:

• Store indoors, in a frost- and condensation-free environment, at a maximum ambient temperature of 40 °C (105 °F), avoiding air flow.
• Store in vibration-free conditions. Vibration can cause damage to raceways.
• Store horizontally, preferably, to avoid damage that could be caused by the bearing falling over.
• Do not open or damage the original packaging.

If you're unsure about whether or not your bearings merely require cleaning and relubrication, if they're misaligned or damaged and in need of replacement, you can always contact our team at sales@bigrockmountain.com at your convenience. 

Find the right bearings by clicking here.

Big Rock Mountain's line of lubricants and cleaning products to service bearings can be found here.