Hydraulic hose injuries - ouch!
Hydraulic hoses are built to keep systems flowing, integrated and continually running. To keep up with demand, hydraulic hoses pump extreme amounts of fluid. Did you know a hydraulic hose can build pressure up to 10, 000 psi and sometimes higher?
So what happens when something goes wrong? What is the common injury that occurs around hydraulic systems? How do you prevent hydraulic hose injuries?
A hydraulic hose system can present a number of workplace health and safety risks to employees – hazards are posed from the hydraulic hose assembly to hydraulic hose maintenance and upkeep.
4. Cuts and bruises
Hydraulic hose fittings and hydraulic connectors have the potential to scrap and cut employees if not secured properly. During the hydraulic hose installation process ensure fittings and fixtures do not present any unnecessary sharp edges that have the potential to injure employees working around the system.
3. Falling equipment
Often hydraulic hoses are set up in intricate systems with numerous hoses running that interact with other equipment. If not set up correctly, this has the potential for equipment to fall and crush employees – may cause serious injury or death.
The solution: HoseMateTM
HoseMateTM is a hydraulic hose positioning system. Use HoseMateTM to position hydraulic hoses together, ensuring they are bent in a certain direction, increase flow, and prevent external abrasion with other nearby equipment.
2. Burns
A hydraulic hose burst can have catastrophic results for anyone on site. When a hydraulic hose bursts, a fire is likely to follow. Check out this video of a CAT320 blowing up after a hydraulic hose failure.
The solution: HoseMateTM
The majority of hydraulic hose bursts are caused by hose failure due to external abrasion points. Continual rubbing with sharp rough edges, including other hydraulic hoses, cause hydraulic hoses to give in and burst. HoseMateTM is specifically designed to protect hydraulic hoses from external abrasion. HoseMateTM secures hydraulic hoses together, leaving a small gap, ensuring they cannot abrase on each other.
1. Fluid injection
As alluded to above, hydraulic fluid has the capacity to travel at lightning speed. A ‘high-pressure injection injury’ can occur when a hose bursts but continuing spraying fluid, or an employee suspects a leak and feels the hose with their hand to find a small point where fluid is seeping out. This point contains a lot of pressure and feel like an intense sting when touched.
While this type of injury is not common, it can have devastating effects – some reports have lead to amputation or even death.
If you get hydraulic fluid under your skin or suspect hydraulic poisoning from ingestion – seek urgent medical assistance.
The solution: HoseMateTM
HoseMateTM increases the service life of hydraulic hoses:
+ Position hydraulic hoses
+ Prevent hydraulic hose failures
+ Prevent hydraulic hose bursts
+ Reduce external abrasion
