All Blogs

The Lions Library | Ontario Workplace Health and Safety Protocols For this month’s Lions Library, let’s talk about workplace health and safety protocols in Ontario! The goal of Lions Library is to provide you with short-form, easy to understand, explanations…

Family Day Crafts for Future Riggers With Family Day/Heritage Day coming up next week we wanted to feature a fun craft perfect for family time with our next generation of Hercules SLR Rigging Technicians! Turn your old paper towel and…

Tips for Forklift Driving Safety | Ask the Experts Forklift driving takes a lot more than just lifting and moving materials – Forklift operators should have an understanding of safety & balance, to keep materials, themselves, and others safe. One…

The Lions Library | Nova Scotia Workplace Health and Safety Protocols For this month’s Lions Library, let’s talk about workplace health and safety protocols in Nova Scotia! The goal of Lions Library is to provide people with short-form, easy to…

Top 10 Hercules SLR Blogs of 2020 As 2020 comes to a close we here at The Hercules Group of Companies are reflecting back upon the year. While I think we can all agree that 2020 may not have been…

Hercules SLR Rigging at the Winter Wonder Forest Our Hercules SLR Leduc team is happy to have had the opportunity to support The Winter Wonder Forest this year, donating materials and labour to assist in them getting some portions of…

How to use a Load Binder | Ask the Experts Last week on the Hercules SLR Blog we talked about the different types of load binders and choosing the best for the job, and now that we know how to…

Types of Load Binders & Choosing the Best for the Job! There are two general types of load binders – ratchet binders and lever binders, defined by their method of tightening. Though the majority of commonly used load binders will…

Ask the Experts | How to Store Ratchet Straps? Any piece of equipment is only as good as you treat it, and how you choose to store your ratchet straps is a very important aspect of their upkeep. Are you…

Ask the Experts | Everything Synthetic Web Slings If you’re a rigger or work in material handling, you likely encounter synthetic web slings (or webbing slings) often in your work. A synthetic web sling is fantastic to lift delicate or soft…

Ask the Experts |What’s a Rigger? What is a rigger? A rigger is a person responsible for securing a load to lift, pull, hoist, or move in general. They’re responsible for making sure the right equipment and hardware are used…

National Seafood Month | Appreciating Canadian Fisherman Did you know that October is National Seafood Month? They really do have an appreciation day/month for everything. National seafood month is oftentimes a month celebrated by restaurants and markets, promoting delicious seafood…

6 Top Tips | Rail Safety Week Canada’s Rail Safety Week is from September 21 -27 and aims to increase awareness around the importance of safe behavior near railroad tracks. Did you know Canada has almost 45,000 km of railway…

10 Fun Facts About Industrial Cranes Whether you’re working within the rigging industry or not, cranes have become a very large part of people’s lives. Cranes have become a part of our cities skylines, even if you haven’t noticed it!…

What’s a Banksman? An Important Rigging Role Have you ever needed to back your vehicle out of a difficult position and had a friend grab a better vantage point to guide you? In these situations, you may be able to…

3M INSPECTION NOTICE – IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED Posted: August 31, 2020 3M™ PROTECTA® Rebel Self Retracting Lifeline (CSA Versions) Read on for an important 3M Fall Protection inspection notice – 3M™ Fall Protection has identified a potential manufacturing issue with…

CRANE SERVICE IN NEW BRUNSWICK WHY HERCULES SLR?    We’re your one-stop-shop. Would you make three different stops in the morning to get your sugar, milk, and grounds for your morning coffee? Of course not—Why should your crane service be…

Rigging Through History | Skyscraper Appreciation Day Did you know that today, August 10th, is Skyscraper Appreciation day? There really is a holiday for everything! Skyscraper Appreciation Day is recognized on August 10 as it is the birthday of the…

AIR MILES® Now Available at Stellar Industrial That’s right – you can now collect AIR MILES® REWARD MILES on all in-store or online Stellar Industrial purchases! Now you can collect AIR MILES® REWARD MILES while shopping at Hercules SLR, Spartan…

Revolutionary Rigging | SSCV Sleipnir The Sleipnir is a semi-submersible crane vessel (SSCV) and is the largest crane ship in the world! The SSCV Sleipnir was built in 2019 by Sembcorp Marine, and at that time surpassed the SSCV Thialif…

10 Ways You Can Use a Tarp & Why Everyone Needs One Tarps, short for tarpaulins, are large sheets of strong, flexible, water-resistant or waterproof material, often cloth such as canvas or polyester coated with polyurethane, or made of plastics…

Safety Tips | The Importance of Forklift Training The Forklift is an incredibly useful piece of equipment, used throughout many industries to enhance productivity, speed up processes and protect the health and safety of employees. But they can also be…

Herc How-To | Keeping Cool at the Construction Site When people think Canada they probably aren’t thinking a beautiful sunny paradise – But for a couple of months a year, it actually does gets hot outside! Summer has arrived, and parts…

5 Top Tips | Using Ratchet Straps Correctly & Safely One of the most popular methods for securing cargo, especially when it comes to shipping, is using ratchet straps – also known as lasing straps or tie-downs. Ratchet straps are…

Get to Know your Customer Service Representative, Lee-ah Durance Get to know the team at Hercules SLR in Sarnia, Ontario! Meet Lee-ah Durance, the Customer Service Representative extraordinaire who wears many hats at the Sarnia branch. Read on to learn…

The Hercules Team During COVID-19| #HercAtWork #HercAtHome The entire world has felt the effects of COVID-19, all in different ways than others. The Hercules Group of Companies has remained open during this time providing uninterrupted & safe customer service to…

Safety Tips | Working in the Wet & Rain Even if your job doesn’t take you outside, you may find yourself out doing yard work in the wet and rain because let’s face it, some of those spring-time jobs would…

Self-Retracting Lifelines | Inspection Checklist Not keeping up with inspections and maintenance can cause equipment failure, unscheduled outages, increase business cost and most importantly, can have a major effect on your workplace safety. Self-retracting lifelines (SRL) must be inspected before each use, annually…

5 Top Tips | Caring for Wire Rope Rigging equipment has a tough job lifting and moving heavy loads for hours and hours a day. In order for that equipment to be able to be its job, we have to…

Cost of A Fall | How This Hazard Can Effect Your Business Every worker has the right to return home safe each and every day. The most recent report conducted by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), showed…

Safety Tips | Vision Health Month Since May is Vision Health Month, we thought for this blog it would be the perfect opportunity to talk a little bit about the importance of vision health! According to the Canadian National Institute…

National Space Day | Rigging in Space Did you know that today, May 1st, is national space day? We here at Hercules Group of Companies wanted to participate in the fun spirit of today by having a look at some…

Safety Tips | Working on a Roof Did you know that rooftop falls are responsible for a third of fatal construction falls? Rooftop falls can be a “perfect storm” when it comes to falling hazards, because oftentimes they are from…

10 Tips for Time on Your Hands at Home We are all spending more time at home than usual right now during the ongoing health crisis and with time on our hands, we need to think of ways to occupy…

Hercules Training Academy remains open during these unprecedented times. As always, your safety is our priority. We are adhering to the emergency measures put in place by our provincial governments and health advisories to keep you safe in class as…

Hercules DIY | Manila Rope Ottomans As we welcome in Spring during these very strange times, thoughts turn to sprucing up the back yard and looking forward to warm summer evenings on the deck with friends (hopefully). Manila Rope adds…

April Fools Day | Health & Safety Fails For this April fools day, let’s take a look at 10 health and safety fails that we WISH were a joke. Today we’ll give you a pass to have a quick laugh,…

Safety Tips | Working on Scaffolds The most recent report conducted by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), showed that 251,508 Canadian’s accepted claims for lost time due to work-related injury or disease in just one year. 18%…

Chain Sling Inspection Checklist Not keeping up with inspections and maintenance can cause equipment failure, unscheduled outages, increase business cost and most importantly, can have a major effect on your workplace safety. In Canada, the rigging industry recognizes the American…

Friday the 13th | 13 Ways to work SAFER Don’t give Friday the 13th any ammunition, kick up your workplace safety this Friday the 13th! Read on for 13 quick tips to enhance your workplace safety in (un)celebration of Friday…

International Women’s Day |Innovative Industry Inventions Tomorrow (March 8th) is international women’s day! In celebration, we here at Hercules SLR would like to take this week’s blog to talk about some of the amazing women who have made contributions to…

Product Spotlight | Crosby Shackles Crosby is one of the most recognizable names in the rigging industry, and has been for over 100 years. Crosby makes over 2,000 rigging and lifting products to meet all your hoisting needs, and Hercules…

Product Spotlight: Lifting Magnets Lifting magnets, also known as magnetic lifters, or magnetic lifting systems, are a versatile piece of rigging equipment that can be used in a variety of applications ranging from lifting small metal pipes or scraps to…

Safety Tips | Working in Cold Weather If you have a job in Canada that involves being outside at all, you’ve probably experienced working through the cold weather. If we didn’t work when there’s snow on the ground, when would…

7 Habits of Highly Effective People At Hercules Group of Companies, we know the importance of long-term learning and growth. We’re constantly working to provide opportunities for our employees to improve their skills and capabilities because we hire and keep…

Top 10 Construction Marvels Completing in 2020 Crossing into a new year always feels like a new chapter, filled with endless opportunities – And this year, being the start of a new decade, feels like a whole new book just…

Winter Forklift Safety Tips Hopefully, your car is fully prepared for winter—What about your forklift? Winter in Canada can be a beautiful thing, fresh layers of glistening white snow coating trees and a shiny layer of frost on the grass…But…

One of the first things Inspection Technicians look for when inspecting a rigging and lifting sling is if it has a missing or illegible identification tag. But what do all those markings mean, and why are they important? Hercules SLR…

7 Common Misuses Of Fall Protection Equipment Every worker has the right to return home safe each and every day. The most recent report conducted by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), showed that 251,508 Canadian’s accepted…

Industry Highlight: Film & Television  Lights, Camera—Rig?! It’s easy to think of only industrial applications when we talk rigging, but rigging’s found everywhere—Especially behind the TV screen in the entertainment industry. When making a feature film or TV show, it…

Product Spotlight: Crosby Forged Sorting Hooks Today, the Hercules SLR product spotlight is on Crosby forged sorting hooks. While sorting hooks may not be a piece of rigging equipment the everyday rigger reaches for every day, they are extremely handy…

Product Spotlight: What are Lifting Clamps? What do you do when you need to lift a beam, pipe or piece of sheet metal with no lifting point? AND you’re told you’re not able to cause any surface damage to the…

Revolutionary Rigging | The Spydercrane What’s a spydercrane? Although this spyder is a little bit too big to squish with your shoe… No need to worry arachnophobes, the only thing the Spydercrane and the actual creepy-crawly have in common are it’s…

Rigging in Space: SpaceX Uses Crosby  Rocket science—Pushing the boundaries between new technology and old technology. Whether you’re familiar with the ins and outs of rocket science or not, you probably have some idea of its complexity. Rocket science has…

Crane Pre-Operation Inspection When it comes to crane inspections, keeping up with them on the required inspection schedule should ALWAYS be the #1 priority. According to the Canadian Standards Association, crane inspections should follow standards outlined by ISO (the International…

5 of the Largest and Strongest Cranes There are so many types of cranes and crane equipment, which we’ve covered on the blog before—But which types of cranes are the biggest and strongest? Don’t worry, Hercules SLR is here to…

What You Get When You Buy Crosby Rigging Equipment Have you ever considered where your Crosby rigging and lifting equipment and hardware comes from? The hooks, shackles, chain, and other rigging accessories you use on the job, and trust to…

Rigging Throughout History: The Hoover Dam The Hoover Dam (originally known as the Boulder Dam) is one of American’s most famous landmarks—An engineering marvel of it’s time, that still remains one of the largest and most impressive dams to ever…

Product Spotlight: What is Aircraft Cable? Obviously cables are used in an aircraft, right? Easy—Done! Well, yes, that’s technically correct…But wait, there’s more! You would assume aircraft cable is a type of wire rope used throughout an aircraft, for everything…

Industry Highlight: A Look into the Quarry Industry What is Quarrying? Quarrying is an industry that’s been around for centuries on earth—Essentially since the very beginning. During the Stone Age, one of man’s very first innovations was learning to chip…

Safety Gloves: An Important Part of Your PPE What comes to mind when you think of the number one tool you use at work? For many people, the correct answer to this question is right in front of you—Your hands.…

Product Spotlight: Swivel Hoist Ring What is a Swivel Hoist Ring? A swivel hoist ring is a type of heavy-duty lifting ring that is used with a hoist to lift or lower a load. It is often the hardware of…

Product Spotlight: Hammerlock Coupling Links What is a Hammerlock Coupling Link? Hammerlock coupling links are used for attaching chain to master links, eye type hooks, installing a new branch to a sling or just connecting components during chain sling fabrication.…

A Look into the Towing Industry: Different Categories of Tow Trucks Nothing puts a damper on your day quite like having your car break down as you’re trying to make your way through your day. When that does happen, you…

Fall for Safety: Tips for Autumn Yard Maintenance Who doesn’t love to watch the leaves on trees slowly turn from green to gold, orange, and red – It’s so beautiful! However, if you’re a home or business owner, your thoughts…

Fire Prevention Week: How to Prevent Fires in the Workplace If a fire broke out where you work would you know what to do? Are you aware of your workplace evacuation plan? Are you equipped with the proper knowledge and…

10 Safety Tips Every Chainsaw User Should Know Chainsaws are very commonly used and effective tools. When it comes to cutting through though materials in a hurry, nothing beats the power of a chainsaw. Chainsaws are used in many industries,…

5 Workplace Safety Hazards to Avoid Every worker has the right to return home safe each and every day. The most recent report conducted by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), showed that 251,508 Canadian’s accepted claims…

Yes, Your Hard Hat has an Expiration Date What do a carton of milk, bread, paint, and your hardhat all have in common? Expiration dates. Your hard hat is a very important part of your personal protective equipment. They’re the…

Get to Know Olivia Whidden, CSR in Moncton, NB Get to know the team at Hercules SLR in Moncton, New Brunswick! Meet Olivia Whidden, a Customer Service Representative (and newlywed!) who’s recently joined the team at our Moncton branch. When…

Product Spotlight: YOKE Rigging Hardware  Concerned about price, quality & reliability? Choose YOKE, and get all three without making a sacrifice. YOKE swivels are manufactured with the highest grade materials, and are zinc-plated for corrosion resistance and a long life.…

CRANE SERVICE IN NEW BRUNSWICK WHY HERCULES SLR?    We’re your one-stop shop. Would you make three different stops in the morning to get your sugar, milk and grounds for your morning coffee? Of course not—Why should your crane service…

Be Cool: How to Beat Extreme Heat at Work Hot weather isn’t the norm in Canada—But for a couple beautiful months a year, it actually gets hot outside. Even though we’re excited, this can be a safety issue sometimes. Here…

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: The Silent Killer What’s odourless, colourless, tasteless and can kill you almost instantly? Carbon monoxide (CO). Carbon monoxide poisoning is a reality for everyone, not just those who work in industrial trades. Carbon monoxide poisoning can happen…

Get to Know your Regional Sales Manager, Steve Hanes Tell us about your educational/professional background: I worked my way through school and was learning to become a computer technician and programmer. With some help from the economy and getting married,…

Get Hooked: All About Clevis Grab & Slip Hooks, Eye Hooks & More  We’re hooked on hooks at Hercules SLR! There are many different hooks used for towing, pulling, securing, lifting and rigging, and each type of hook comes with…

We Pull Anything! ATV Towing Tips You’ve probably heard us mention that we lift anything, but we also pull anything.  Many of us on the Hercules SLR team are enthusiastic ATV-ers—That’s all-terrain vehicles for all you newbies out there.  There’s a…

Get to Know your National Program Manager, Lisa Barkhouse What’s it like to be the National Program Manager at Hercules SLR? We talk to Lisa Barkhouse, who trains and develops learning programs for Hercules SLR branches across Canada.  We sit…

WHY CHEMICAL SAFETY IS IMPORTANT  Why is chemical safety important? Hazardous or toxic chemicals are used in many industrial environments on a daily basis. Although chemicals make up the world around us, some can be more harmful than others—This is…

CM ON THE TWENTY YEAR RULE CM knows it can be easy to fall into the ‘twenty year rule’ trap—but what is it? Read on for tips from Columbus McKinnon (CM) on why some rules actually are made to be broken.  Their…

Why wear safety glasses? Why wear safety glasses? Luckily, it’s Training Tuesday at Hercules SLR, where we bring you training tips for rigging, securing, lifting, safety and more each week.  This week, the focus is on eye safety and why…

Why confined space training?  Why confined space training? Taking training courses before you enter, exit or work around a confined space has many benefits—The main benefit is having the knowledge to keep yourself and others safe. Why is training to enter…

ISO AND ROAD VEHICLES  DID YOU KNOW? Anyone who has driven a road vehicle of almost any make, almost anywhere in the world, will have directly benefitted from ISO 2575, which specifies the familiar symbols for controls and indicators we…

WATER BAG TESTING AT HERCULES SLR We’ve covered the importance of pre-use checks & inspections on the Hercules SLR blog before, like visual inspections, proof-testing and non-destructive testing – One thing we haven’t covered, however, is what water bag proof load…

How-to Handle a Workplace Emergency We’ve discussed Emergency Preparedness Week earlier this week on the blog – But what about how to handle a workplace emergency? Emergency Preparedness Week is held for one week each year, and this week it’s…

4 CONFINED SPACE HAZARDS | TRAINING TUESDAY Welcome to Training Tuesday! This week, the focus is on confined space hazards and the top 5 hazards you should know about before you enter, exit, or just work around them.   This…

NATIONAL EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS WEEK Since 1996, National Emergency Preparedness week happens each year in Canada for one week. This year, it’s being held from May 5-11.  This is a national awareness campaign and is a collaboration between the provinces, emergency…

In-Depth Alloy Chain Sling Inspection | 5 Steps How should you conduct an in-depth alloy chain sling inspection? Columbus McKinnon is here on the Hercules SLR blog to share what a professional rigger needs to know when they perform an…

HOW HERCULES SLR IN HAMILTON, ONTARIO MAKES A GIGANTIC WIRE ROPE SLING What are we up to at Hercules SLR in Hamilton, Ontario? We’re making big things – a big wire rope sling, specifically.   Check out these shots of Bryan…

THE CM HURRICANE 360 TACKLES THE MOST CHALLENGING APPLICATIONS One of the most versatile hand chain hoists yet is the CM Hurricane 360. Unlike traditional hand chain hoists; the CM Hurricane 360° may be used in any direction due to…

There’s a lot of different terminology and rules to remember about synthetic rigging and lifting slings – but Hercules SLR has you covered.  When you think of a heavy duty sling, you might wonder why a rigger would choose a synthetic…

WHICH ROPE HAS THE GREATEST TENSION? Which rope has the greatest tension? That’s a good question, with many answers that might surprise you. Rope tension can be a confusing concept for some to grasp (they’ve even studied why students have such…

FUN AT WORK: WHY WORKPLACE CULTURE MATTERS  Fun at work is important, and this is one of the reasons why workplace culture matters — Seriously. We’ve went over our passion for safety before, but we’re also passionate about fun. Why…

TRAINING TUESDAY | TAGLINES Taglines — What are they, what are they used for and why do we rig with them? We’ll tell you — Welcome to the new series from Hercules SLR, called Training Tuesday.  In this series, every…

ISO AND ENERGY | GREAT THINGS HAPPEN WHEN THE WORLD AGREES  THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR STANDARDIZATION ISO and energy — What does it mean for the rigging industry, and how does it help? Read on for ISO’s guest post and…

Women of Industry | Meet Ville St. Laurent Territory Sales Manager, Josée Verrette Hercules SLR celebrates women of industry at work and on our blog—Check it out and learn more about our Territory Sales Manager Josée Verrette, and her role…

NEW! 3M Fall Protection Demo Bag  Hercules SLR knows the value of fall prevention—That’s why we’ve put together kits with some of our favourite 3M fall protection gear to show you the difference it makes.  3M FALL PROTECTION | WHY…

CM GUEST BLOG | SAFE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY RIGGING  Columbus McKinnon joins us on the Hercules SLR blog to share their best tips for safe entertainment industry rigging. Read on & learn how to set-up and stay safe in the theatre,…

Think you know how to stay safe at heights? Maybe you’ve read our fall protection glossary and think you’re an expert? Now’s your time to prove it—Take our fall protection safety quiz and find out if you have a high…

What makes our crane service so special in Sudbury, Ontario? We do it all. Our team of crane technicians in Sudbury, Ontario grew from two to five within months, and business is boomin’—They’re a small team, with big goals. Cranes…

Hercules SLR has been building a safety culture for over 45 years—Yes, we literally got here by playing it safe. When it comes to rigging, Hercules SLR does it all, and we does it safely. How do we build a…

What’s it like to be a women in industry? You’re about to find out. We talk to Sudbury, Ontario Branch Manager, Adriana Martin about being a woman in the securing, rigging & lifting industry, her advice for young women hoping…

March is Women’s History Month—To celebrate, we’re sharing the store of Florence Kelley, a woman who’s responsible for many of the seemingly basic work-rights we have today. Florence Kelley is a social and political activist who made significant contributions to…

Suspension trauma has a few different names—Harness hang, harness-induced pathology and orthostatic intolerance (the medical term). Consequences can be fatal, and it’s important to be aware of symptoms and ways to prevent its onset. Suspension trauma has its fair share…

Kelly Baird-Pestell is our Territory Sales Manager from Sudbury, Ontario and she’s worked in and around the rigging industry for most of her career—just because she’s behind-the-scenes, doesn’t mean her hands don’t get dirty. Read on to learn more about…

Sometimes you just want a quick, simple definition without all the fluff, so we’ve created a fall protection glossary that does just that. Do you use a fall arrest system? If you work at 10-feet or higher, you need it…

ISO is the International Organization for Standards, and is responsible for creating consistent guidelines and specifications to ensure products and services meet rigorous guidelines– How do ISO and construction benefit each other? We’ve discussed what ISO means in the supply…

Emily Warren Roebling (September 23, 1843 – February 28, 1903) is known for her contribution to the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge after her husband Washington Roebling developed caisson disease (a.k.a. decompression disease). Her husband was a civil engineer and the chief engineer during the construction of the Brooklyn…

RIGGING WITH OVER 15 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE: JIM CASE INTERVIEW There’s so much experience to be found at Hercules SLR – today, we sit down with Associate Rigger Jim Case (he has over 15 years’ experience!) to discuss some cool projects…

February 29th doesn’t happen each year – this is why we celebrate Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) Awareness Day on the last day of February, a “non-repetitive” day. Repetitive Strain Injuries are also known as musculoskeletal disorders.  Why exactly do we celebrate…

Columbus McKinnon (CM) creates popular, durable hoisting equipment for rigging like the Bandit, and Loadstar—Today, we have a two part piece by two rigging experts from CM on the Hercules SLR talking load securement, and the benefit of ratchet binders…

HERCULES HOW-TO: WHAT SHOULD YOU DO BEFORE YOU USE A HOIST? What should you do before you use a hoist? If you’re a rigger, or have worked in construction, you’ve likely used some sort of hoist before. Hoists are mechanical…

You may be familiar with Bill C-45, otherwise known as the Cannabis Act, a piece of legislation that legalized weed throughout Canada – but what does this mean for the workplace? Read on to learn more about Bill C-45, what it…

Jamie England is one of our highly experienced Training Specialists. We sat down with him to find out more about him and how he decided to choose training as a career path. Tell us about your educational background? Jamie: I…

WAREHOUSE WORSHIP: HOW OUR CENTRAL DISTRIBUTION CENTRE IS LEADING THE INDUSTRY HERCULES CENTRAL DISTRIBUTION CENTRE: WHAT WE DO You’re probably reading this on a computer or mobile phone that at one point, was probably sitting somewhere in a warehouse. In…

CROSBY HOOK HOIST INSPECTION TAKE THE CROSBY QUIZ So you think you know how to inspect a hoist hook? Prove it. Take the Crosby Quiz and find out if you’re a  pro at inspecting hooks for hoisting, or if you…

COLUMBUS MCKINNON GUEST BLOG: How to Use Hoists & Cranes in Hazardous Areas This guest blog is reprinted with permission from the experts at Columbus McKinnon. Their specialists give you an overview of safe practices to follow to operate crane…

Amanda White is our Hercules Marketing Specialist. We sat down with her to find out more about her and how she decided to choose Marketing as a career path. Tell us about your background? Amanda: I’m a British immigrant to…

WHAT DO RIGGERS DO OFFSHORE? What do riggers do offshore? If the first word that comes to mind when you think of the words ‘riggers’ or ‘rigs’ is ‘offshore’, you’re on the right track. As we’ve covered in many of…

CROSBY SHACKLES  Crosby shackles are a popular option for lifting applications. Time-tested and work proven, Crosby has made their mark in rigging—they’ve produced the first wire rope clip, quench and temper fittings (this makes performance more reliable) and were the…

As someone who is involved in the selection of suppliers and, possibly, responsible for making purchasing decisions, you may have seen or used products and services that are promoted using reference to ISO 9001:2015, or, more simply, “ISO 9000”. What…

You likely know about a Fall Arrest System for your body–but what about your tools? Fall protection for tools is the ‘F’ of the ABCDE’s of Fall Protection. A fall arrest system for tools to prevent drops is essential for…

WHAT IS A RIGGER IN CONSTRUCTION? What is a rigger? A rigger in construction is a person responsible for securing a load to lift, pull, hoist or move in general. They’re responsible in making sure the right equipment and hardware…

MENTAL HEALTH IN THE WORKPLACE: A HERCULES SLR PRIORITY Mental health is like a sling. Load a sling beyond capacity, and it breaks. A sling must be maintained to work properly, and mental health in the workplace is similar.  Mental…

Quincy Warner is a qualified inspector at Hercules SLR in Hamilton, Ontario. Read on to learn more about his career path in safety and inspections and Hercules SLR.  We sit down with Quincy to talk about his duties as Inspector…

SLING INSPECTION CHECKLIST Sling inspection is an important part of a rigger’s daily routine – here’s a sling inspection checklist to make life easier. Check out our sling inspection checklist that includes removal criteria to know when your sling should be…

WHAT’S MODULAR CONSTRUCTION?  Modular construction allows significant portions of work to be completed, off-site and usually inside in a modular workspace. It doesn’t describe the building itself, but the way it’s built. Many think of a mobile home or re-locatable…

The Hercules SLR branch in Hamilton, Ontario had a special visitor stop by – Kevin Richardson from the hit Discovery Channel show, Heavy Rescue 401. Read on to find out what he and the Hamilton branch in Hercules SLR got…

WEBBING SLING: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW If you’re a rigger or work in material handling, you likely encounter webbing slings often in your work. A synthetic webbing sling is fantastic to lift delicate or soft materials, since their soft…

Dwayne Fader’s been with Hercules SLR for over 30 years and recently, he decided to ditch the dark Canadian Winter for summery, sunny Florida—before he flies away, we sit down with Dwayne to ask him a few questions about rope…

BECOME A RIGGER. BECOME A RIGGER: YOUR CAREER MAP                                      BECOME A RIGGER: TRAINING & EDUCATION              …

Most workers will have to work in a confined space at some point in their career – although common, many workers and employers don’t plan or account for common hazards found in them.  Read on to discover commonly-found dangers in…

CHAIN HOISTS Chain hoists (sometimes referred to as chain falls or their older term, ‘chain blocks’) are popular piece of equipment to lift heavy loads. A chain hoist is durable and allows heavy loads to be lifted with ease since…

Cranes have been used since the first century – in that time, they were powered by humans or animals to lift heavy loads. Cranes have adapted and come a long way since – they now use an assortment of crane…

Boris Satiric, is one of our highly experienced Training Specialists. We sat down with him to find out more about him and how he decided to choose training as a career path. Tell us about your background? Boris: I spent…

Shackles are typically used as connection points for lifting equipment in many securing and rigging applications. The type of shackle you use will depend on the lifting operation—Each has a slightly different design to suit them to various functions. There…

Read on to discover tips from rigging and load securing experts at Columbus McKinnon – today, they’re sharing their top three safety tips to remember when you install your CM trolley. Whether it’s a hoist, trolley or rigging equipment, proper…

Synthetic slings are generally available in two varieties – flat-woven web slings and round slings. Textile slings should perform in accordance with ASME standards B30.9-5. Synthetic Slings: flat-woven web sling (or webbing sling) Synthetic flat-woven web slings are usually made…

Today, we sat down with Quebec Hercules SLR Territory Manager, Marc-Antoine Nolin. We’re proud to have managers with a wide-array of industry experience and hands-on training. Marc has worked in both the mechanical and financial industries, and works at Hercules…

A SlingMaster sling lives a short,  but full life. We’ve covered the less-talked about non-destructive testing here  and here – but what exactly does destructive testing look like, and why do we use it? Destructive testing is the process used to…

Rigging Slang In the rigging and lifting industry, you’ll probably hear a lot of rigging slang thrown around – “don’t saddle a dead horse!”, bird-caging, cabling, diving, drum-crushing, end-for-ended, singing and more – but what do they all mean? Here’s…

Herc How-To: assemble a chain sling Chain is often used to tie down loads, for lifting applications and to tow loads – however, the rigging industry’s safety standards have developed in recent years, and chain used for lifting must meet…

How-To Calculate Load Weight: the basics An important aspect of rigging is measurement – there are a number of important things to determine and consider before you calculate load weight and proceed with the lift. Read on for basic tips…

Samson Rope K-100 Hoist Line: an industry leader Samson rope’s K-100 hoist rope is the first of its kind – a synthetic rope to be used with mobile cranes for hoisting applications. Traditionally, steel wire rope has been used for…

Underestimating the importance of equipment maintenance could be taking a toll on your bottom line. The saying “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is too often the way some view equipment maintenance. Why pay for service on your equipment…

Wire rope has many applications—today the focus is on Wire Rope slings. Read on for tips from our Brampton rigging experts to inspect your wire rope sling and prevent common wire rope damage, so your wire rope slings have a…

Risk Management: what is it? Risk management is the systematic process of assessing risk and acting in such a manner, or implementing policies and procedures in order to avoid or minimize loss associated with such risk. Essentially, risk management is…

Fall Protection Training: don’t get left behind Fall protection and training for is easy to overlook when there’s a job to be done—who has time to strap on a safety harness? You do. At Hercules SLR, safety is a priority…

Aamir Khan is our System Administrator at our Head Office in Dartmouth, NS. We sat down with him to find out more about him and how he decided on a career in the IT (information technology) industry.  Tell us a…

As we mentioned in our previous blog on warehouse and forklift safety, the winter months are a busy time for warehouse personnel. There’s retail, inventory, and in these modern times, the hustle and bustle doesn’t stop on December 25 –…

Warehouse Safety: forklifts and lift trucks Warehouse Safety—why is it important? Warehouse work presents various short and long term heath and safety issues – these range from musculoskeletal injuries from awkward bending and lifting positions, to chemical and biological hazards…

Crane & Hoisting System Safety: guest post from CM Canada Overhead lifting operations, like a hoisting system or cranes, are necessary in workplaces around the globe. The ability to lift and move material safely is critical to the success of…

Beam clamp applications provide support and better load control. Today, we spoke with rigging experts from Brampton, Ontario to learn more about the three main types of beam clamps—they spoke with us about safe tips for use and how to…

There are many terms and definitions when it comes to the rigging and lifting industry, so we decided to break it down for you with a rigging glossary series—the ABC’s of rigging! On our last glossary we listed some common…

America’s Industrial Revolution and ingenuity brought about many important advances in worker safety and PPE (Personal Protection Equipment). At the start of the American Industrial Revolution, worker safety and health were nowhere near the priority they are today. As manufacturing…

Safe rigging practices are essential to get the job done and get home in one piece. Today, we spoke to our rigging experts from our Brampton, Ontario branch—some of their clients include IMAX, Siemens, GM and Bombardier. Read on to…

Hercules SLR is proud to have the ISO 9001:2015 certification—this means our quality management system is held to their international standards and helps us consistently provide products and services that meet our customers needs. What is ISO 9001? ISO 9001…

Lou Gould, CHSC is one of our highly experienced Training Specialists. We sat down with him to find out more about him and how he decided to choose training as a career path. Tell us about your educational background? Lou:…

PPE Fall Protection: the early lanyard PPE Fall Protection devices were used in the early 20th Century by many professionals, although they used rope lanyards made of natural fibers, such as manila hemp, and simple body belts with no shock-absorbing…

Chris Davies is one of our talented Inspection Technicians in Langley, British Colombia who conducts non-destructive examinations (NDE). He has a wide-array of industry experience in both aviation and the oil and gas industries. We sat down with Chris to…

LEEA – Lifting Standards Worldwide™ Hercules Inspectors are LEEA trained nationally. LEEA, the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association is the respected and authoritative representative body for those who work in every aspect of the industry, from design, manufacture, refurbishment and repair,…

The humble hoisting rope occupies a unique place in the history of vertical transportation. A simple hemp rope lies at the center of one of the best-known elevator stories — Elisha Graves Otis’ demonstration of his Improved Safety Device at…

Safety Inspection: don’t fear the inspector We get it—no one likes a safety inspection. However, having fall arrest and other PPE inspected is a reality everyone in the industrial trades must face. Part of this fear comes from the thought…

Elisha Graves Otis (August 3, 1811 – April 8, 1861) was an American industrialist, founder of the Otis Elevator Company and inventor of a safety device that prevents elevators from falling if the hoisting cable fails. Early years Otis was born in Halifax, Vermont, to…

What is Non-destructive Testing? Advantages of non-destructive testing are numerous. Non-destructive testing (commonly known as NDT) uses different methods to test, inspect and evaluate defects in materials or mediums without compromising the integrity of the product. Internal and external damages can…

Working at height? You have different options when it comes to connectors that aid in fall arrest and fall restraint—a rope grab is a popular option.  Rope grabs are a popular option because they’re often more cost-effective than SRLs (self-retracting…

Lifting and Rigging Equipment: select the right eye bolt There’s a lot of hardware to consider when researching lifting and rigging equipment. Links, hooks, swivels—today we’re talking eye bolts. Eye bolts are used to attach a securing eye to a structure,…

Hercules SLR knows rigging, A through Z! There are many terms and regulating bodies to know and remember when it comes to securing, lifting and rigging—some commonly used in the industry, some not. Hercules SLR is here to help you…

Proper Fall Protection Equipment: stay safe in confined spaces We’ve given you tips for remaining safe in confined spaces and preventing injury—but how do you choose the best fall protection equipment to keep yourself and others safe? Read on and…

Early Life Andrew Smith Hallidie was born Andrew Smith, later adopting the name Hallidie in honour of his uncle, Sir Andrew Hallidie. His birthplace is variously quoted as London in the United Kingdom. His father, Andrew Smith (a prolific inventor in his own right,…

We’ve discussed what to look for when assessing your synthetic round sling for damage—but how do you prevent damage from happening in the first place? Read on for essential tips to prolong the life of your synthetic round slings. First…

Reduce Tangles Keep your tools safe with the latest addition to the 3M™ DBI-SALA ® product line, their 5-lb Tool Retractor. The 3M™ DBI-SALA® 5 lb. (2.3 kg) Tool Retractor holds up to 5lbs (or 2.3kg) in weight, with a working…

A safety harness is a necessary evil for many workers, working across many different industrial trades. We understand—nobody likes to be uncomfortable during their work day. However, proper equipment, like safety harnesses are key to getting the job one, reducing…

What is a Confined Space? Confined spaces are present in nearly every industrial trade, and most workers will encounter at least one confined space during their career. The OSHA states that nearly 90 deaths occur per year, across a range…

Hercules Training Academy: First Course Complete The Hercules Training Academy is open for training—last week Hercules was thrilled to have eight employees hailing from across Canada participate in our first ever training program. Employees from CSR, sales and management gathered…

Synthetic round slings are an integral part of heavy-lifting and rigging. Similarly, proper sling inspection is integral to ensure the job is done safely and properly. Read on to find out how to inspect your round slings for use. Look…

A Guide to Synthetic Slings Synthetic slings are made from soft materials, but are strong enough to lift heavy loads and protect expensive and sensitive loads from scratches and crushing. Synthetic slings may well be the answer if you are…

Keeping you safe during cannabis manufacturing, growing and processing operations With the legalization of cannabis manufacturing, growing and processing operations by the Canadian government, licensed operators and workers in cannabis manufacturing operations will need to obey relevant health and safety…

A shackle, also known as a gyve, is a U-shaped piece of metal secured with a clevis pin or bolt across the opening, or a hinged metal loop secured with a quick-release locking pin mechanism. Below are a few of the more common types of shackles:…

Leading and sharp edges, what you need to know when It comes to fall protection. Professional football players need the best protective equipment available to stay safe on the playing field, from helmets to pads to mouth guards and beyond.…

Quebec’s economy continues to boom, the number of residential construction projects in the province has increased by nearly 20 per cent since 2011. And it seems that more rental housing is being constructed than previous believed. For the first six…

The Forklift is an incredibly useful piece of equipment, used throughout many industries to enhance productivity, speed up processes and protect the health and safety of employees. But they can also be extremely dangerous, with thousands of forklift accidents every…

Between scratches, dents, and replaced parts, a forklift can undergo a lot of changes and repairs throughout its lifetime. It’s also common for customers to want to add additional features to a forklift after it arrives. How do you know…

The government of Canada is taking additional measures to help enhance safety of navigation and emergency response in Canadian waters. The measures were announced by Minister of Transport, the Honorable Marc Garneau in May, and awarded as part of Canada’s historic US…

Heather Young is one of our Inspection Technicians here at Hercules SLR. We asked her some questions about herself and what made her decide to choose this career path. Tell us about your educational background? Heather: About 3 years ago…

Kevin Giles, CRSP is one of our highly experienced Training Specialists and Safety Consultants. We sat down with him to find out more about him and how he decided to choose training as a career path. Tell us about your…

CNIB Phone it Forward (Full Version)Watch this video on YouTube This October The Canadian National Institute of the Blind launched it’s CNIB Phone it Forward campaign, and Hercules SLR and Group of Companies was excited to be a part of…

A crane operator can’t hear you. So when your team removes an old rooftop unit and positions a new one, the people on the ground and on the rooftop must use established hand signals to communicate safely with the crane…

Fall Protection for Tools. Everything you need to stop the drop. 3M™ DBI-SALA® Fall Protection for Tools makes work environments safer and more productive by drastically reducing falling object incidents resulting in personal injury, equipment damage, and tool loss.​​​​​ Their…

When it comes to rigging like ratchet straps, winch straps, and just about any other type of strap in the industry, working load limit (WLL) and breaking strength are commonly used measuring metrics. Every piece of load-bearing wire or rigging equipment carries…

Turnbuckles, stretching screws or bottlescrews are a device for adjusting the tension or length of ropes, cables, tie rods, and other tensioning systems. It normally consists of two threaded eye bolts, one screwed into each end of a small metal frame, one with a left-hand thread and the other with…

Stunt Rigging in the Movie Industry. Article by By Mike Chalmers for Wire Rope Exchange Many of the world’s most famous faces and personalities will garner precious amounts of camera time at the Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California. And…

Terry Young, president of Construction Safety Experts, in the US, discusses identification, inspection and removal criteria for wire rope slings. The ASMEB30.9-2006 Standard requires wire rope slings to show the name or trademark of the manufacturer, diameter or size, number…

Hercules SLR provides our employees with an array of specialized and diverse functional careers with a focus on each employee’s long-term learning and growth. We hire and keep the best, and continually improve the skills and capabilities of individuals and…

Steve Hache, CD is one of our highly experienced Training Specialists. We sat down with him to find out more about him and how he decided to choose training as a career path. Tell us about your educational background? Steve:…

Important driving tips as peak season approaches Fall brings beautiful autumn colours and more wildlife onto Ontario’s roads – and a need for drivers to be extra vigilant. The number of animal strikes on Ontario roads has increased from 8,964…

The Town of Oakville Marina in Ontario had a reoccurring problem raising and lowering the masts and sails of the vessels as they handled the boats. Due the large volume of craft, the variations in size and space, they needed…

Aerial Work Platforms (AWP’s) are generally used for temporary, flexible access purposes such as maintenance and construction work or by firefighters for emergency access, which distinguishes them from permanent access equipment such as elevators. They are designed to lift limited weights — usually less than a ton, although…

There will be less of a background hum in the Sewing Department at Hercules Dartmouth after tomorrow, as we bid farewell to a long serving, much valued employee Sylvia Marchand as she embarks on her well-earned retirement. By the end…

Steel wire rope is several strands of metal wire twisted into a helix forming a composite “rope”, in a pattern known as “laid rope”. Larger diameter wire rope consists of multiple strands of such laid rope in a pattern known…

Toronto has more tower cranes decorating its skyline than New York City and Los Angeles combined. This summer, real estate consultant Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) released its third quarter crane index. The report is generated by counting cranes in major…

Huge Liebherr mobile crane may have been tallest ever seen in city In May, the skyline of downtown Winnipeg was changed significantly with the removal of the last tower crane on site at True North Square. Phase 1 of the…

SUPPLIER NEWS – Columbus McKinnon Corporation has expanded its offering of the unique CM Hurricane 360° hand chain hoist and introduces its new Yale® YK™ and Shaw-Box® SK™ electric wire rope hoists. The CM Hurricane 360° Hand Chain Hoist The…

Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR), a world leader in creating comfortable, sustainable and efficient environments, announced that a 1,990 kW GE Solar PV power system is now online and generating power at its 430,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in Trenton, N.J. The solar…

The early skyscrapers were a range of tall, commercial buildings built between 1884 and 1939, predominantly in the American cities of New York City and Chicago. Cities in the United States were traditionally made up of low-rise buildings, but significant economic growth after the Civil War and increasingly intensive use of…

When it comes to hoisting HVAC and other heavy rooftop components onto downtown Toronto office towers, the lifts themselves take just a day or two. What makes it all work, however, is months of planning. A case in point: In…

Effective immediately, (Aug 16, 2018) new MSA CSA Z259.11-17 V-Series Energy-Absorbing Lanyards are replacing the Workman® and Sure-Stop® Energy-Absorbing Lanyards. The V-Series Lanyard is the latest addition to the MSA V-Series family of Fall Protection products.  With its new look, smaller energy…

Work on Port Saint John’s modernization project is underway with the initial tenders for the project released this summer. The massive project will expand the port’s annual container yard handling capacity from 125,000 TEU to 330,000 TEU. The project will…

Ontario projects to address mobile equipment hazards, mental health Ontario is partnering with universities, professional associations and research groups on projects that will help support workplace mental health, advance our understanding of occupational diseases and prepare workers to deal with…

Wire rope and cranes are joined at the hip when endeavoring to lift, move or transport materials. For centuries the combination of rope (sisal, manila, vegetable, steel, synthetic…) and a winching system have stirred the imagination of engineers and other…

Since 1975, Hercules MMS (formerly Fundy Grinding) has been providing customers with quality machining and millwright services. Over time, the company has grown exponentially from providing these services locally to working across Canada and around the globe. We have the…

Just a bit of fun! Although we don’t recommend trying any of this….ever! Some Safety Fail memes to brighten your week!   Feel free to download and share! For more great content, be sure to follow our blog! New stuff added…

Did you know that our new Training Academy is just a few weeks away from opening its doors? Construction is underway! Brand new classrooms and specialized training equipment will enable us to provide an even higher quality of service than…

At Hercules SLR we are always innovating and expanding our marketing to keep you better informed. We now have a wide range of marketing collateral that you can download and use as reference as to find out more about us…

CM Hoist Technical Bulletin CM SERIES 622 HAND CHAIN HOIST REDESIGNED FOR OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE WITH DECREASED HEADROOM, EASIER LOAD ATTACHMENT AND LOWER PULL FORCE Columbus McKinnon is excited to announce the redesign of the CM Series 622 hand chain hoist. A simple,…

Just a bit of fun!  Some rigging memes to brighten your week!   Feel free to download and share! For more great content, be sure to follow our blog! New stuff added all the time!   FOR MORE INFORMATION ON…

Meet Professor Leo, he is Hercules SLR’s very own ‘top tips’ guy. Today Leo has 8 tips to make sure you stay safe when operating a forklift! Feel free to download and share! For more great content, be sure to…

When it comes to work and workplace safety, nothing conveys the message better than a few well chosen words in a quote!  Feel free to download and share! For more great content, be sure to follow our blog! New stuff added all…

BACKGROUND As part of the Maersk Group of companies, Svitzer A/S is the largest towage and salvage company in the world, operating more than 430 vessels and employing over 4,000 associates globally and has adopted Samson Ropes. From Europe, the…