NFRC Technical Event Shines a Spotlight on Safe Panel Lifting

Over 50 roofing and cladding contractors gathered for the National Federation of Roofing Contractors’ (NFRC) Technical Event on 13 October in Huddersfield, where attendees heard practical advice on the challenges of lifting and handling roofing and cladding panels.

Tom Spence, Managing Director of 4 Cladding Services

At the event, Tom Spence, Managing Director of 4 Cladding Services, the specialist supplier of vacuum lifting equipment for roofing and cladding, shared insights into safe lifting practices and the consequences of getting it wrong.

“Manual handling and lifting injuries are the leading causes of seven-day absences in construction, and the consequences are costly,” Tom explained. “Vacuum lifters help to avoid these risks. Understanding the panel, where the suction pads need to be positioned and how the load will behave during the lift is crucial. Getting these details wrong can create unnecessary safety risks and damage the panel.”

Safe Lifting Advice

Tom also shared the reasons why the industry is moving to bigger panels. He said: “The industry is using larger and longer cladding panels for improved fire performance and thermal efficiency. This also means that panels are getting heavier and increases the risk of manual handling injuries. Vacuum lifts can support the lifting and installation of longer panels without bending or damaging them, improving installation speed and providing a more controlled placement.”

The session explored what can happen when panels are lifted using an unsuitable or incorrectly configured system, as applying seals in the wrong locations can place unnecessary stress on a panel and even result in damage such as blistering and creasing.

No One-Size-Fits-All

“Panels can have different lifting requirements, meaning there is no one-size-fits-all approach to vacuum lifting,” Tom continued. “Applying the wrong seals for the panel and incorrectly lifting panels can result in additional costs, wasted time and disruption on site. That is why it is so important to consider the panel and the lifting application together, rather than simply choosing equipment based on lifting capacity.”

Visitors at the event also learned about the importance of taking a considered approach to panel handling, with emphasis on contractors and installers needing to understand the specific requirements of the materials they are working with and ensuring the lifting equipment is correctly configured before work begins.

Find further guidance on safe lifting and handling and training here.

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