Safety Factor

Fall protection requirements for mobile elevated work platforms are often misunderstood, especially when it comes to boom lifts, scissor lifts, manufacturer guidance, and jobsite-specific rules. In this episode of Safety Factor, Ben Hengst sits down with a panel of fall protection specialists to break down what workers, supervisors, and safety leaders need to know before stepping into a lift. The...

What safety features should be built into your next crane or your lifting equipment? Which ones tend to get cut before the order is placed? In this episode of Safety Factor , crane experts share what happens when budget decisions override safety intentions. From no-touch rigging tools to laser-marked danger zones, they walk through the safety innovations available today and explore the extra costs...

When it comes to overhead cranes, the real cost isn’t always upfront. In this episode of Safety Factor , crane industry veterans share the most common buying mistakes that lead to catastrophic failures, expensive service calls, and constant downtime, and how to avoid them from the start. From mismatched duty cycles to proprietary parts and short-sighted procurement strategies, this episode unpacks...

In a special episode of Safety Factor, a panel of women leaders in the lifting industry share their diverse journeys and experiences. Discussing their unique backgrounds, from engineering to finance, and how they navigated their careers in a traditionally male-dominated field. They emphasize the importance of safety, innovation, and community within the industry, highlighting the familial atmosphe...

Join us for the second episode in Mazzella Companies’ 70-year celebration series, as we delve into the journey of the third generation of Mazzella family leadership and their vision for the future of rigging, metal roofing, and rollforming equipment. In this episode of Safety Factor , we’re joined by Tony, Matt, and Adam Mazzella, who reflect on their family’s legacy, the core values they’ve inher...

Join us for a special episode of " Safety Factor " as we celebrate Mazzella Companies' 70-year journey in the rigging industry. This episode is a tribute to the legacy of innovation, dedication, and excellence that has defined Mazzella's history as a family-owned rigging industry leader. Hear from CEO Tony Mazzella and Co-owner Jim Mazzella as they share intimate details about the company's foundi...

Dive into the world of industrial lifting and rigging as we celebrate Global Lifting Awareness Day . We discuss how the industry has evolved as well as the importance of making your voice heard on Global Lifting Awareness Day. Then, this episode of Safety Factor delves into career advancement opportunities through specialized industrial training programs and features insights from industry experts...

The rigging industry has come a long way in prioritizing worker safety, moving from an era where fatalities were expected to a modern approach focused on rigorous standards and continuous improvement in rigging industry safety and standards. As AWRF members Tim Klein, Emily Wagner, Jeff Ferchen, and Terry Driscoll reveal, the association plays a crucial role in shaping the future of the industry t...

Consistent rigging inspections identify damaged equipment before failures occur, preventing accidents and injuries. Not only do they prevent accidents and injuries, but documented inspections are required for OSHA compliance and can help companies avoid costly fines. "When you look at the failure criteria for any type of item you're looking at, alloy chain slings, it's obviously written, and it's...

As steel mills utilize multiple cranes on varying elevations, collisions and injuries remain an ongoing concern. New technologies aim to address these challenges. "The steel industry has predominantly been a little bit behind the technology curve, and really, we should be leading the curve. Because this is one of the most expensive downtime-related industries." In this episode, Laser-View Technolo...

Major changes in the latest version of the ASME B30.2 Overhead and Gantry Cranes safety standard took effect in 2023, bringing new requirements and guidance. In this episode, Tad Dunville and Bobby Hamilton from the ASME B30.2 Overhead and Gantry Cranes committee help interpret key updates for owners and operators. "So this guy was calling me 'cause he had just purchased the new 2022 Standard. And...

The automation revolution has arrived for overhead cranes, transforming safety and efficiency in groundbreaking ways. In this episode of Safety Factor, industry veterans Kenny Wright and Tad Dunville talk about how automation is modernizing cranes. "When you have people with a two-page or three-page proposal for automating a crane that says automate the crane. Someone with a 300-page one that spec...

Steel mills have come a long way! The "hot, nasty, dirty, and dangerous" mills of yesteryear were all about tonnage. But now it's people over production. In this episode of Safety Factor, we follow the fiery trail from OSHA to smart sensors. Three mill veterans bare their battle scars from the early days. We're talking about tearing your rotator cuff atop 3,000° furnaces. No tie-offs, no fall prot...

In this episode of Safety Factor discover how virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are revolutionizing industrial training for safety purposes. Join us as we discuss the advancements in industrial training with Adam Franz from Mazzella and Andrew Kauser from ITI (Industrial Training International) . Learn how VR crane simulation enhances operator training by creating a safe environment...

In this episode of Safety Factor , we delve into the importance of Global Lifting Awareness Day ( #GLAD ) and its efforts to combat the labor shortage within the industry. Join our guests, Ross Moloney , CEO of the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA), and Mike Close , Mazzella Corporate Marketing & Communications Manager, as we discuss the strategies employed to develop talent, rais...

In 2022, OSHA's most frequently cited violation was the failure to meet General Fall Protection requirements. In fact, four of the top ten citations issued by OSHA were related to fall protection, encompassing citations regarding ladders, scaffolding, and fall protection training. Shockingly, nearly all of the largest OSHA fines handed out in 2022 were penalties for neglecting to comply with fall...

Today we are talking about the legal ramifications of building your own lifting devices and rigging equipment and why ASME has specific standards in place for the creation of a below-the-hook device. We are joined by a few lifting experts from Caldwell Lifting Solutions , one of the leading manufacturers of below the hook lifting solutions, as well as Mazzella 's Kevin Brewer, Below-the-Hook Sales...

Welcome back to Safety Factor. In this episode we are talking about overhead cranes and how smart non-contact measurement solutions can make your overhead crane more efficient. Today, we are joined again by Steven Lubeck, President of Laser-View Technologies, a provider of non-contact measurement sensors and systems for industry and Mazzella Companies' Mark Shubel, Director of Business and Trainin...

Welcome back to Safety Factor. In this episode we are talking about in-house safety programs. How you can you start one, how can you improve yours, and how can you be a better safety coordinator. Today, we're joined by Mazzella Companies ' Kevin Paul, Director of Safety, and Alana Cohen, Safety Coordinator, to discuss how they got their start in the world of safety, how they helped develop Mazzell...

Legal Disclaimer: Any advice, graphics, images, and/or information contained herein are presented for general educational and information purposes and to increase overall safety awareness. It is not intended to be legal, medical, or other expert advice or services, and should not be used in place of consultation with appropriate industry professionals. The information herein should not be consider...

Welcome to the first official episode of safety factor. This is a podcast where we are going to be talking a lot about how you can stay safe while you are doing your job, or how you can keep your employees safe while they do their jobs. In this first episode we are talking about overhead cranes and how to create safer work zones with smart non-contact measurement solutions. Today, Steven Lubeck, P...