Hydraulic Safety Training is Vital

Maintaining a safe work environment can seem like a daunting task. Not only does your shop have overall safety precautions in place, but each aspect of your shop most likely has its own safety measures to follow, as well.

Narrowing in and focusing on one section at a time will help keep your employees safe and make the task feel less daunting.

One section in your shop that comes with many safety precautions is hydraulics. As a supplier of all your hydraulic needs, Kimball Midwest also knows the importance of keeping your work environment safe.

There are several factors that play a role in hydraulic safety:

• The nature of the equipment
• Operating temperatures
• Operating pressures
• Environmental factors
• Type of usage (rugged, abusive, shock, vibration)
• Accessibility of the equipment

While we can’t control every environmental factor effecting your hydraulics, we can set you up for success by introducing you to a maintenance program and safety practices through our hydraulic safety seminar. These safety seminars are available at no charge to Kimball Midwest customers and can be scheduled with your local sales representative.

The seminar covers everything from the basics of hose and fittings assembly, including measurements, to common dangers of hydraulic systems and overall best safety practices.

Some of the best takeaways from the safety seminar are understanding the pressure ratings of a hose and information regarding matched systems and the importance of warranted systems.

Here are some highlights from the seminar:

Pressure Ratings

Perhaps the single most important factor in determining the proper hose to use for a hydraulic application is the working pressure. The working pressure of a hose is determined by the hose specification and the materials used to construct the hose. These pressure ratings are displayed on the hose. (This is called the layline.)

The hose specifications to note for the best application use are the hose I.D., working pressure as seen in PSI and the minimum bend radius. For example, the K24504 hydraulic hose has a hose ID of ¼, a working pressure of 5,800 PSI and a minimum bend radius of two inches. This specific hose would have a much higher working pressure rating as the smaller the square inch (in this case 1/4") opening in the inner tube elevates the pressure. Make sure to pay close attention to each hose specification for the correct amount of pressure.

Matched System

Having fittings and hoses that never seem to work properly or don’t match your hydraulic setup is frustrating and costs you time and energy searching for the correct parts. Understanding the benefit of having a matched system will eliminate this frustration and cut your downtime.

A matched hydraulic system must include fittings and hoses that are meant and manufactured to be used together and assembled in crimping equipment that allows for proper crimp specifications to be met. This will typically be the same brand of the hose and fittings. Participating in a hydraulic safety seminar will not only introduce you to safety practices, but also provide education about the benefits of a matched system.

Warranted System

In addition to all the information within the seminar that provides knowledge for proper hose and fitting combinations, Kimball Midwest stands behind the quality of the hydraulic products discussed throughout the seminar. Used as advertised, our vendors also stand behind the quality.

If you need answers to your hydraulic questions, need a refresher on safety practices or a better understanding of your hydraulic setup, reach out to your rep to hold a hydraulic safety seminar. Don’t have a rep? We can help you today.