Get to Know your Training Specialist – Jamie England
Warehouse Wow: How our Distribution Centre Leads the Industry

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 QUIZ: Can you Pass this Hook Inspection Quiz?

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…
CM’s Tips: Crane & Hoisting Equipment in Hazardous Areas

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…
Get to Know Hercules Marketing Specialist Amanda White
What do Riggers do Offshore?

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 Guest Blog: Shackle Inspection & Care
ISO 9001: What does it mean in the Supply Chain?

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…
Fall Arrest System: Don’t Fool with your Tools
What is a Rigger in Construction?
Workplace Mental Health: How Hercules SLR Supports Staff

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…
Meet your Hercules SLR Inspector, Quincy Warner

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: Hercules How-To

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…
Modular Construction Trending: Innovative Workspaces
Confined Space Rescue & Retrieval: Guest Blog from 3M

Incidents that prevent workers from self-rescue can occur in confined spaces due to ill-conceived attempts to rescue and retrieve others, but planning for a rescue can help prevent tragic results. Proper rescue and retrieval plans aren’t often created for…
Star Struck in Hamilton: Kevin Richardson from Heavy Rescue 401

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 Q&A: Heavy-Duty Strength for Delicate Lifts
Stop the Snap: Prevent Rope Snapback

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…
Quality Assurance & Safety Specialist – James Golemiec

Get to know your Quality Assurance & Safety Specialist – James Golemiec James Golemiec CRSP is our Health, Safety, Environment and Quality Assurance Specialist. We asked him some questions about himself and how he decided to choose this career path.…
Become a Rigger: Your Career Map
Stuck in a Tight Spot? What to know in a confined space

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…
Welcome to Ontario: brampton riggers talk chain hoist safety

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…
Crane Equipment: cranes, chains & automobiles

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…
Get to Know your Trainer – Boris Satiric

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: A Hercules Hardware How-To

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…
CM Guest Blog: 3 Safety Tips to Install your CM Trolley

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…
Poly-What?! All About Synthetic Slings

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…
Get to Know your Territory Manager, Marc-Antoine Nolin

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…
Behind-the-Scenes: Life of a Slingmaster Sling

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…
Bird-Caging, Never Saddle a Dead Horse and Singing: huh?
Herc How-To: Assemble a Chain Sling
Herc How-To: Calculate Load Weight
Samson K-100 hoist line: the first synthetic crane rope

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…
Important: Preventative Equipment Maintenance

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…
Women in Industry – Kim Reynolds Warehouse Associate
Rigging Tips: avoid common wire rope damage
Risk Management: safety is every riggers’ business

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 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…
Get to Know your System Administrator, Aamir Khan

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…
Warehouse Safety: 8 steps to take after a racking accident

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: is your forklift holiday season ready?

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: the dangers of side pulling

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: safety tips from Brampton, ON

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…
Rigging Glossary: ABC’s of rigging from C-D

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…
PPE-volution – How the Golden Gate Bridge Inspired PPE

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…
Tips from our Brampton, ON Experts: Safe Rigging Practices
Hercules SLR Certifications: ISO 9001—Debunking the Myths

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…
Get To Know Your Trainer – Lou Gould, CHSC

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 in North America

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…
Get to know your Langley NDE Inspector, Chris Davies

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…
Are the Technicians Inspecting your Gear Qualified?
A Brief History of Elevator Wire Ropes

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: make your harness a habit

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…
Stopping the Drop – Pioneer, Elisha Graves Otis

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…
Discover Langley: advantages of non-destructive testing

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…
Rope Grab: 6 fall protection tips from Hercules SLR

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…
Hercules Training Academy: Non-destructive Testing
Lifting and Rigging Equipment: lifting with eye bolts
Rigging Glossary: ABC’s of rigging, ‘A’ to ‘Crane’
Confined Spaces: Choose the Best Fall Protection Equipment
Wire Rope: A Manufacturing & Transportation Pioneer

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,…
Hercules’ Tips: Prevent Synthetic Round Sling Damage

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…
Hercules’ Tips: Is your Safety Harness Comfortable?

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…
Confined Spaces: Hercules’ Safety Tips
Hercules Training Academy: Securing, Lifting & Rigging
Synthetic Roundslings – Free Inspection Download Guide

Synthetic roundslings 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 roundslings for use. Look and Feel…
Rigging Talk – A Guide to Synthetic Slings

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…
Cannabis: Beyond the Cultivating and Harvesting

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…
Talking Shackles – Know your Bow from your D

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 – Fall Protection

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.…
Construction of new homes has leaped 18% in 7 years

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…
Forklift Safety – Top Tips for a Safe Workplace

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…
Women in Industry – Angela Penton, Improving Processes

When Angela Penton returned to NSCC at 39, she’d already achieved success as a chef, a landscaper, a textile artist and a metalsmith. What she felt was missing, however, was a high school diploma. “I left high school a year…
Forklift Field Modifications Practices
New Measures to Enhance Safety of Marine Navigation

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…
Women in Industry – Inspection Technician Heather Young

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…
Get to Know Your Training Specialist – Kevin Giles CRSP

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…
HGC Collaborates With the CNIB ‘Phone It Forward’ Campaign
Crane Hand Signals – Downloadable Reference Sheet
Fall Protection for Tools – Stop the Drop!

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…
Working Load Limit Vs. Breaking Strength

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 – Creating Tension in Multiple Industries

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…
Wire Rope Slings – Care and Maintenance

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 Employees are Energized and Engaged
Get to Know Our Trainers: Steve Hache, CD

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:…
Oh, Deer! Avoiding Wildlife on the Highway.
The Frankensling – Custom Solutions for Rigging Dilemmas

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 Platform an Overview of Safety Practices

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…
Farewell to Sylvia as She Retires After 17 Years of Service

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 – How, Where, What and Why
Toronto – More cranes than NYC and LA Combined
Crane Work Wraps Up at New Winnipeg Towers
Columbus McKinnon Expands Hoist Offerings

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 Makes Global Climate Commitment

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…
Skyscrapers – A History of Early High Rise Construction

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…
Hoisting in Downtown Toronto? Advance Planning is Key
MSA Safety – New V-Series Energy-Absorbing Lanyards

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…
Underway: Port of St. John Modernization

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 Investing in Projects to Reduce Workplace Injuries
Wire Rope Failures and Near Failures on Cranes

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…
Hercules Machining and Millwright Services

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…
Hercules Training Academy – Raising the Bar in Training

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…