The Advantages Of Platform Lifts

Platform lifts are mechanical devices whose purpose is to raise or lower objects or people, often people in wheelchairs, from one level to another. The level could be between different floor in a building, or it could be something much more simple like assisting someone in a wheelchair to get out or in to a car or bus.

Platform lifts are used in the home as well as in the work place. They are also used in public buildings, and they have revolutionised access for many people who are disabled and incapable of moving normally between different vertical levels by themselves. The platform lift provides an easy and efficient method of lifting or lowering people or objects in a vertical plane.

Platform lifts are used extensively in industry. Their use has had a considerable effect on diminishing injury to personnel. Workers no longer have to physically lift heavy objects with all the potential for back strain injury that entails. Strain injuries of this nature are known as musculoskeletal disorders. These can be long term injuries and usually are. This means time off work and a disruption to normal life for the worker. The company also loses out by having a valuable member of the work force out of action.

Around one third of all the reported accidents at work are a result of musculoskeletal disorders. The long term health implications can be severe. The company can also lawsuits at the worst and the retraining of workers at best. Without suitable platform lifts in place no one wins.

With a platform lift installed on the premises, a worker can move the heavy object on to the platform lift using a forklift and simply transport the object to another vertical level where it can be taken off by another forklift. People now control and oversee the lifting of heavy objects in the work place, but usually do not actually lift the heavy objects themselves.

Large platform lifts can be used as passenger lifts to provide vertical access over several floors. These are stand alone structures that are easily fitted in existing spaces in buildings with usually a minimum of preparatory work. This also means a minimum of time disruption to work procedures. Stand alone platform lifts do not require deep pits or high areas for machinery operations. With only a ground level pit of 50 millimetre or so platform lifts can rest at ground level without the need for a ramp.