Jason Karger from Culligan Quality Water of North Central Ohio loves his PowerMate® because it gives him back flexibility he lost when one of his workers became injured, “…due to his bad back, one of our service technicians was greatly limited from duties” wrote Jason recently, “…for Portable Exchange tank deliveries, discontinued equipment removals and removal of equipment we are replacing it was difficult for him to deal with customers’ steps as well as getting the equipment in and out of his pickup.”

The value of ergonomics goes beyond health and safety. A good ergonomics strategy can add value to a company’s business strategy and ultimately contribute to your business goals of higher profits. An ergonomics strategy can effect profit drivers like cost minimization, productivity, quality, delivery reliability, responsiveness to customer demands and flexibility.

• 1. Safety: Using a PowerMate is the safest way to move boilers, hot water tanks, geothermal units, vending machines, safes, ATM machines, VLT machines and countless other awkward and heavy loads up stairs and on and off trucks. Factory authorized training ensures that the operator understands the capabilities of the machine under various real world conditions.
• 2. Efficiency: A PowerMate can save time over other forms of moving, like using block and tackle for moving elevator motors for example. Understanding how best to secure the load on your PowerMate can reduce the amount of effort on the part of the operator by ensuring the load is in a neutral balanced position making it easier to operate the unit on stairs.
• 3. Proper use of the Wheel brakes: The wheel brakes on the M-Series PowerMate are engaged manually. Knowing when to use the brakes can make the difference in terms of safety but also in terms for efficiency. The Wheel brakes broaden the contact with the ground (or stair) and actually add leverage during a move. Training helps operators use the wheel brakes to their advantage. The Wheel brakes on the LE-1 model stair climber are hand operated and training will provide valuable information on when and why you should use them for the safe operation of the machine.
• 4. Eliminating damage to property: A PowerMate provides the ability to be in complete control of your load at all time, reducing the risk of damage to property or your client's cargo. Training provides operators with tips and techniques on negotiating tight landings, broken stairs or uneven ground.
• 5. Tips and Tricks: Learn what we have learned based on 30+ years of experience in safety moving systems. How do you easily spin a 750 lb. load on its vertical axis? Training will show you how.
• 6. Get the most from your machine: The PowerMate LE-1 is a motorized stair climber and a stacker machine. There are two drive screws, one for the wheels and another for the toe plate. This machine is very versatile in that it can ‘front load' or stack product on to a raised surface, like a hearth for example. Training will help operators get the most out of this unique and powerful machine.
• 7. Compliance: Ensure your operators feel confident with the equipment and they will be more likely to use it. This will save you money in time, labor and injuries. You might also make more money by freeing up labor to work on other jobs!
• 8. Profit: A PowerMate projects an image of professionalism and is a value added feature of your service because you are actively working to reduce property damage as well as reduce the time required to install. Well trained operators who know and understand this fact are your ticket to more referrals!
• 9. Insurance premiums: The use of a PowerMate has proven to reduce job site injuries, injury claims, property damage and damage to your client's product. Add to that PowerMate training and you have a winning combination to negotiate for lower insurance premiums.
• 10. Reduced maintenance costs: Our training programs provide tips on how to keep your machine running in tip-top shape for trouble free operation for years to come. This will save you yet more money over the long haul.

All good employers take jobsite safety seriously as this makes good business sense. The cost of one lost-time injury can run an employer on average close to $29,000 in direct and indirect costs*. In the HVAC and plumbing industry, the majority of lost-time injuries are a result of physical strain resulting from moving heavy loads by hand or using a regular hand cart. Boilers, geothermal units, drain and sewer cleaners, AC units, heat pumps, cast iron bathtubs and large furnaces are usually the culprits. Some of these items can weigh over a thousand pounds and many need to be moved up or down stairs.

Today's post asks the question, Isn't there a better way to move residential boilers in and out of the basement other than by the sweat of my brow?" As luck would have it there is such a solution. The PowerMate motorized stairclimbing handtruck has been designed specifically to move heavy objects up and down stairs. A motorized stairclimber is an electrically powered dolly or hand truck that has one, or sometimes two drive screws that move the wheels of the dolly up or down the frame. This feature allows the operator to easily break the load back and rest it in a balanced position. What's more, the movable wheels are the key to the PowerMates ability to ‘walk' heavy loads up and down stairs and even on and off trucks.

What kind of return can you expect from your PowerMate®?

 The jobsite can be a hazardous place. All good employers take jobsite safety seriously, this makes good business sense as the cost of one, lost-time injury can run an employer on average close to $29,000 in direct and indirect costs*. In the HVAC and plumbing industry the majority of lost time injuries are a result of physical strain injuries from moving heavy loads by hand or using a regular hand cart. Boilers, geothermal units, drain and sewer cleaners, AC units, heat pumps, cast iron bathtubs and large furnaces are usually the culprits. Some of these items can weigh over a thousand pounds and many need to be moved up or down stairs. The traditional hand truck is not the ideal moving solution as the operator still needs to ‘lift' the weight over curbs, on or off trucks or in the worst case scenario up or down stairs.