In the UK, the recommended maximum weight for manual lifting is just 25kg for men and 15kg for women, which is less than the weight of a typical bag of sand or cement. When tools, plant and other materials cannot be made smaller, the only real option is to use some form of mechanical handling aid.
Many people incorrectly believe that cranes are only suitable for handling large and bulky items or that they cannot be fitted onto smaller vehicles in the 3.5t or 7.5t classes. In fact, the smallest vehicle-mounted cranes typically have maximum lifting weights of around 250kg, which makes them ideal for many of the tools, equipment and materials used by the everyday tradesman. An added advantage is their ability to raise and lower items below ground level.
The trick is to look for cranes without the complexity that can lead to reliability problems. Penny Hydraulics products include the Swing Lift range of medium duty cranes for use on pick-ups, drop-sides and flat-beds and the Step Lift, Load Lift and Tail Lift lifting platform ranges for use on pick-ups, drop-sides and vans.
