The Need for Safety Skirts

(10003) Many times customers see the safety skirts on Herkules products and question the need for such a product.  Some see it as an unnecessary add on, incurring extra cost when economics discourage purchasing options on equipment.  Since statistics have shown that hand injuries remain the most reoccurring injuries in commercial environments, the use of safety skirting has been deemed a necessity in just about all manufacturing environments.

Designed to function like an accordion, safety skirts (also known as aprons or bellows) help to prevent serious injuries to the operator, and also reduce expensive downtime and liability expense.  Safety skirts shield hands, feet and clothing from the pinch points on lifts and tilts.  Safety skirts also serve to keep dust, dirt, and other debris from obstructing the lift’s moving parts.  The accordion folds of the skirts are designed to expand and compress to follow the movement of the lift or tilt.  They can be fastened in the open or compressed position when servicing of the lift or tilt is needed.           Safety Skirts Herkules  V0494-1

Replacement Safety Skirts

Safety skirts come in various versions depending on the application.  In an average plant environment, Velcro safety skirts that attach to the top platform of a lift or tilt may suffice.  If a lift or tilt has a high cycle rate, a more robust bolt on version might be in order. Safety skirts can be ordered with steel rods imbedded into the folds to resist the constant rigors of errant fork lifts.  The most common skirts come in yellow and black vinyl, but fire retardant polypropylene and steel materials are also available.  Since Herkules Equipment takes a strong interest in the safety of our customers, we recommend the use of safety skirting on all our systems.