Hoses and cords are commonly used in many different types of operations. Whether they are water hoses, air hoses to power mechanical equipment, or even electrical cables, hoses and cords provide a valuable service.
Yet hoses and cords also create a potential safety hazard, especially when sprawled across high traffic areas. They are a serious trip hazard. Plus, when they are run over by forklifts and other heavy equipment, they can easily fray, become worn, or burst.
Hose and cable reels help improve workplace safety. They also can save your business a lot of money.
Avoiding Accidents
A single trip and fall accident can cost a business big money in medical bills or workmen’s compensation claims. But if the accident victim can prove that the business left the hoses or cables lying around negligently, it also could result in a lawsuit.
Hose and cable reels can improve workplace safety by reducing the risk of trip and fall accidents. They also can minimize liability by creating a safer, more secure workplace.
Another consideration is leakage. When hoses are left out, they can become easily damaged by equipment or other hazards. If hoses carrying gas or live electrical cables are split open, they can create a serious safety hazard.
Hose and cable reels help prevent leakage of gas, water, oil, and other workplace hazards by allowing hoses to be stored safely when not in use, or only extending just enough hose or cable to get the specific job done before retracting back after work is finished.
Improving the Environment
Using hose and cable reels to store these items when they are not in use can also make your workplace less cluttered.
When workers, vendors, and visitors to your worksite see hoses and cables unwound or, even worse, knotted up, they are going to think you don’t care about the conditions of your business. A messy workplace is also a less productive workplace.
Some hose and cable reels are spring-loaded, so they can automatically retract hoses and cables when they aren’t being used. Others need to be manually cranked or reloaded with cables or hoses. Both types help clean up work areas, providing a neater and safer environment.
Reducing Wear
Another benefit of hose and cable reels is that they reduce wear and tear on your equipment, allowing for longer use and minimizing replacement costs.
In these instances, hose and cable reels can actually pay for themselves in a relatively short time.