[maxcarpets]

Anyone know where to get these already made?

Regards



Justin

[stevegunn]

http://www.villamead.co.uk/

[cleanability]

Found mine in the garage. (6 x 4) X 2 plywood bolted together. Does the job.

Chris

[gerrystyles]

Got mine from WM Systems. www.loadingramps.co.uk

[Tony_Browning]

Make your own and save £100's .....

DIY Store, MDF-Hinge Strip-Castor wheels-Floor Paint-----Had mine 2 years and can wheel porty up and down whilst full of water.........cost £17! 

[Liahona]

Whats wrong with just lifting it in and out? My portable weighs over 160 lbs and my pressure washer must weigh well over 200 lbs. I carry enough stuff and weight as it is so wouldnt want to add to it. Best, Dave.

[gerrystyles]

Why risk giving yourself a serious injury?. Who is going to cover your work when you are off with a slipped disk or hernea? The Manual Handling Regulations apply to ownwer operators and employers.

[carpetclean]

if you have the right porty there is no heavy lifting as its easy to put the front wheels on the lip of the van and ease it up simple managed with all my portiies most difficult one to get in and out was the cfr

[Liahona]

Carpetclean, exactly my point. Gerry, where does it say in any Manual Handling Regulations about how to or not to lift a portable hwe or dry machine for that matter in or out of a vehicle. In my opinion you are going to do yourself more harm using a ramp in both directions. Look at the body position, particularly the back when using a ramp. In answer to your question on who would cover my work, no one, but I charge enough so I cover myself so to speak. I am in a situation to do damage to my body far more away from work, so lifting a small or large hwe is the least of my worries. Best, Dave.

[gerrystyles]

Look at Regulation 4(1)(a)

The regulations are written for all manual handling, not just for carpet cleaners. I would not attemt to lift a 110lb portable or a 200lb pressure washer into my van neither do I expect my staff to do it.

Good to see you are making enough to keep you when you are not working for six months after an injury

Good luck

[Liahona]

Gerry, could you post on here the relevant 4(1) (a). It would be interesting to see what is written. Also and I know this is hypothetical, how would you get you or your staff to put a 200lb pressure washer in the van. Bearing in mind that pulling it up a ramp or pushing it up will cause more or could cause more damage to your back. Best, Dave.

[cleaning co]

my mytee machines i could if need be lift in and out on my own but my ninja i couldnt way to heavy and would do meself an injury, but hey i run it as truckmount so it aint gooner happen !
dont really no y iam posting on this thread as it dont effect me , must be bored lol

[maxcarpets]

I only asked as my wife will soon be joining me. I would not ask her to struggle with machinery. Thanks for the comments.

Regards


Justin

[gerrystyles]

Regulation 4(1)(a)

"Each employer shall -

(a) so far as is reasonably practicable, avoid the need for his employees to undertake any manual handling operations at work which involve a risk of their being injured"

To that end following suitable risk assesment I purchased the ramp, which eliminated the need for operators to lift heavy equipment on and off the van. Our Prochem Steempro is pushed up the ramp and pulled down the ramp.  It is asking for an injury to try and pull it up.

Guidance on Manual Handling can be found on the HSE website. hse.gov.uk

[Adam Young]

Hi All,

I lift my Diamondback (which according to the Ashby's web site is heavier than a Ninja) in and out of the van all day long. Roll it up to the back of the van tip it on its back wheels till the front castors are on the bumper lip, lift up the back and roll  it in, easy. There is no HSE risk! as I apply the proper technnique i.e. bent knee's straight back!

There is a correct procedure to follow for all HSE regulations/guidlines. HSE regulations, although in our best interests can easily be misinterpreted sometimes.

 Also there are no brake wheels on any of the larger portables that I have seen on the market therfore making them potentially dangerous on ramps especially when unloading.

Regards,

Adam. 

[Liahona]

Adam, well put mate. You me and Carpetclean as I am sure others lift "things" in and out of a vehicle this way. Damn site easier than a ramp and again I say I feel safer for those concerned. As you have put it, H and S wouldnt be impressed with rolling a porty up or down a ramp with no way of stopping it. Best, Dave.

[cleaning co]

hi adam what type van u got as mine is to high up to do it the way u say   and the ninja is way to heavy for one man to lift , i think u find on the ashby web site they are not stating the weight for a top spec ninja which is a lot more

[Liahona]

Gary, how heavy are your machines? I know you dont take them out on a day to day basis but just wondered. My porty weighs a bit as it is about 160lbs. It is a lump but does work very well, best, Dave.

[angela carlton]

Interesting comments, particularly, as I'm a registered Moving and Handling trainer.

My husband experimented and found the easiest and safest way to load / unload a machine was to make a plywood step, about 8 inches high.

The machine is simply tipped back, using safe and effortless leverage, the step is accessed, this is repeated to take the machine up to the next level and pushed forward.

The step is then placed in the van behind the Ninja to stop it rolling around.

My / our concern about ramps, is twofold.

The space required to use them
The danger of slipping

As mentioned above. It's all about leverage.

We have a little Suzuki, which, like Gary's Diahatsu, is brilliant for this work.

Angie

[carpetclean]

angie there is a fellow cc near me who uses this very method. the step as you say makes his life much easier especially as he is prone to back problems