Over the last few decades worker safety in Canada has become an area of utmost importance for our government, companies and workers.   Worker fall protection safety has been a particular area of focus in safety regulations and culture across Saskatchewan and Canada. 

Did you know that Saskatchewan's Occupational Health and Safety Regulations states that, "An employer or contractor shall develop a written fall protection plan where:
(a) a worker may fall three metres or more; and
(b) workers are not protected by a guardrail or similar barrier."?

What constitutes a fall protection plan or system?  OH&S regulations state, "The fall protection plan required by subsection (1) must describe:
(a) the fall hazards at the worksite;
(b) the fall protection system to be used at the worksite;
(c) the procedures used to assemble, maintain, inspect, use and disassemble the fall protection system; and
(d) the rescue procedures to be used if a worker falls, is suspended by a personal fall arrest system or safety net and needs to be rescued.
(3) The employer or contractor shall ensure that a copy of the fall protection plan is readily available before work begins at a worksite where a risk of falling exists.
(4) The employer or contractor shall ensure that a worker is trained in the fall protection plan and the safe use of the fall protection system before allowing the worker to work in an area where a fall protection system must be used."

Northern Strands Engineered Fall Protection Division recently completed a job where we installed an Engineered Fall Protection System for a commercial rooftop.  We completed the installation of two force management anchors on a standing seam roof.  Standing seam clamps are attached to the roof top. Bearer bars bridge the gap between two standing seams.  Anchor plates are the riveted to the bearer bars and the pull tested. Finally the anchors are assembled on the anchor plate and torqued.  These rooftop anchors are now ready for the customers use.

If you have questions regarding commercial rooftop fall protection plans, please contact the Engineered Fall Protection Division of Northern Strands at 306.242.7073, email lifelines@northernstrands.com or visit our webpage http://www.northernstrands.com/fall-protection.aspx

Northern Strands is COR safety certified and is a Mission Zero Charter Member. 

We are proudly Saskatoon, Saskatchewan owned and operated.

Northern Strands Suspended Access Division has designed a unique Portable Electric Winch System for material handling. Why did we design a Portable Electric Winch System?  To offer an alternative to Air Winches.  Our Portable Electric Winch System was designed with portability and ease of use in mind.  

Who can benefit from the use of this unique winch?   Ironworkers, sheeters, insulators, industrial mechanical contractors, plant maintenance workers, and anyone that has a need for temporary hoisting solutions in a somewhat confined space.

Features include:

• 1st Layer rating: 1,100 LBS W.L.L
• Mid drum rating: 700 LBS W.L.L
• Full drum rating: 500 LBS W.L.L
• Variable speed.
• Accurate load weight readout.
• Anti-two-block.
• Positive controls.
• Controlled descent.
• Counterweighted system, no need to anchor the unit.
• No need for a compressor.
• Overload protection.
• Ease of use.
• Long pendant control keeps the operator away from the suspended load.

Our Portable Electric Winches are available to rent today!

Contact our Suspended Access Division for all your material handling, work platform, tugger, winch and swing stage needs.   Our products are available to rent throughout Canada.

Visit our website at http://www.northernstrands.com/suspended-access-systems.aspx  

staging@northernstrand.com                                                                                                    

Phone 306-242-7073. 

Northern Strands is proudly Saskatoon, Saskatchewan owned and operated.

Recently the company, "Concept Group" had round slings made for them by Northern Strands.  Soon after, Concept Group sent an email praising Northern Strands service and knowledge .

Here is the portion of that email discussing our service.

“One of our guys was in earlier today to purchase 20 slings from you folks.  By the way he says you were very knowledgeable and fantastic to work/deal with.”

Thank you Concept Group for your high praise of our knowledgeable employees!  Northern Strands Warehouse proudly employees some of the most technically trained and knowledgeable employees in the industry.

Northern Strands Warehouse/Rigging Division

Our Capabilities:
• Northern Strands has Saskatchewan’s largest inventory of
  wire rope available from 1/16” to 2” in standard sizes and
  5.5mm to 26mm in metric sizes.
• Large selection of rigging products.
• Distributor for some of the largest world class
  manufacturers in our industry including The Crosby
  Group, Gunnebo Johnson, Thern, Unitex and Vitali.
• Crane rope inspections.
• Assistance in the development of rigging and lifting
  plans for your job.
• Technically trained sales staff. We have the answers to
  your questions.
• Certificate of compliance for rigging products. Safe and
  approved for every job.
• Custom built products. i.e. material baskets, chain and
  wire rope slings, etc.
• Vertical and horizontal test bed services.

Northern Strands is proudly Saskatoon, Saskatchewan owned and operated.

Northern Strands Rigging Division is a full-service facility operating out of Saskatoon and Regina with the ability to fabricate custom chain and wire rope slings up to 1-1/2”. We have a vast inventory of synthetic lifting slings, chain hoists, lever hoists, shackles, trolleys, winches ,tuggers , and other general rigging hardware. Our network of suppliers and in-house expertise is leveraged for the benefit of our customers.

Capabilities:

• Northern Strands has Saskatchewan’s largest inventory of
  wire rope available from 1/16” to 2” in standard sizes and
  5.5mm to 26mm in metric sizes.
• Large selection of rigging products.
• Distributor for some of the largest world class
  manufacturers in our industry including The Crosby
  Group, Gunnebo Johnson, Thern, Unitex and Vitali.
• Crane rope inspections.
• Assistance in the development of rigging and lifting
  plans for your job.
• Technically trained sales staff. We have the answers to
  your questions.
• Certificate of compliance for rigging products. Safe and
  approved for every job.
• Custom built products. i.e. material baskets, chain and
  wire rope slings, etc.
• Vertical and horizontal test bed services.

Here is the link to our Rigging webpage on the Northern Strands website:

http://www.northernstrands.com/wire-rope-rigging.aspx 

Northern Strands is proudly Saskatoon, Saskatchewan owned and operated.

In order to fully understand the importance of the regular application for wire rope lubrication during the working life of stranded or full locked coil hoisting ropes, it is first necessary to analyze the function of any such lubricant.

a) Each wire in any wire rope construction must remain as free as possible from adjacent wires so it can move to accommodate its allocated share of the varying rope tension it has to endure.  This is especially important when the rope is performing at high speed and/or under the high wire contact stresses encountered during hoisting.  Rope design is intended to minimize inter wire frictional contact but only by good lubricating practices can this effect be fully accomplished.

b) The majority of hoist ropes utilized in shafts are subject to corrosion from one cause or another. Shaft water containing a high salt content, chemical fumes, and upcast shafts producing condensation, are among the more notable causes.  Regardless of the cause, it is essential to guard against or retard the certainty of corrosive attack on the steel.  Experience has shown that the application of galvanized wire is only partially successful because the finish soon wears off. Therefore, it is clear that in-service lubricants must possess the following qualities:

a) Penetrate easily into the rope.
b) Displace moisture from the internal and external surfaces.
c) Provide good corrosion protection both internally and externally.
d) Be resistant to emulsification.
e) Possess good rope adhesive properties.
f) Resist removal by mechanical forces.
g) Possess good anti-wear properties.
h) Be compatible with the lubricant already employed during rope manufacture. 

It should be pointed out that in the case of full locked coil and many plastic enhanced hoisting ropes, in-service lubricant is confined solely to the outside wire. This is because the inner rope is already sealed off with adequate lubrication. 

Without lubrication during the working life, wire ropes may suffer from premature withdrawal from service:

1) Premature wire breaks occurring in the ropes and caused by internal and/or external corrosion.

2) Premature wire breaks occurring at the strand interstices due to lack of proper inter strand movement.

3) Strand displacement, loose wires, and rope waving, leading to loss of cross section stability. Additionally, the correct lubricant is of key importance during rope manufacture.  Through a German study (see chart below), it is proven that the proper lay-up lubricant can have a great effect on rope life. 

The chart depicts:

• Wire rope un-lubricated
• Wire rope lubricated, but with general lubricant not designed for wire ropes
• Standard lubricant designed for wire rope wires
• Wire rope application-specific lubricant Plastic enhanced

Northern Strands is an official supplier of Kirpatrick Lubricants in Canada.

Northern Strands is proudly Saskatoon, Saskatchewan owned and operated.