Protecting Our Workers with the No Lift Install System
The most important asset of our company is our employees. One of our company core values is respect – respect for our workers includes implementing a proper safety culture. Protecting the health and wellbeing of our workers is a big focus for our team.
We are committed to always finding new ways to improve our operations and streamline our core processes. From the fabrication technology and procedures to the equipment in the field, we strive to make sure that our workers are safe, healthy, and confident they can do the job at hand for the long term.
Installing Stone Countertops Is a Hard Job
Working with natural and engineered stone is tough. The stone is heavy, messy, and cumbersome. Handling heavy slabs day in and day out can put a lot of strain on the body, especially the back. Many workers have felt pain for years and finally, have to make career changes due to injuries or fear of permanent injury.
We care about our people and we aim to provide the best environment for them to hone their craft and earn a living for their families and their future.
Getting from point A to point B
Consider the journey a stone slab takes from the fabrication facility to the countertop. Once the slab has been cut to perfection, it’s ready to be transported to the project site. The slabs are very heavy weighing up to 500 pounds. It can take several men to move the slab from the cutting table to the delivery truck, from the delivery truck to inside the room to be installed and then lifted to sit on top of the cabinets is a tenuous process fraught with risk at every step.
Repeating this process several times a week can truly impact one’s body.
The workers can get injured – knees, shoulders, neck, and back are all susceptible. The slabs can chip, crack, or worse, break in half if not handled properly! Finally, the slabs can cause damage to the cabinetry in the space.
Making Easy Work of a Heavy Job
|It’s all too much of a risk. That’s why True Blue uses the No Lift Install system to minimize the risk of injury and damage. Similar to how we have implemented the use of forklifts, booms, clamps, cranes, and other tools for our shop crews, we now have the best tool for installers! It allows us to use fewer workers on a project and keep our install teams feeling fresh and healthy.
The No Lift Install system comes with a cart, aluminum rails, Verizon suction cup handles, and a 10th aluminum roller ramp. The stone slabs are secured on their side onto the cart using hooks. Once rolled into the work area, using a remote control that instructs an actuator, the slab is raised to counter height. From there, the frame is rotated into a horizontal position. The slab is then effortlessly slid onto the counter for installation thanks to roller balls that sit on the cart. This approach minimizes risk to the cabinetry and the installers.
In the end, we are able to service more projects, deliver on faster timelines, and stay within budget for our customers. And, we have a happy and healthy staff! It’s truly a win-win.
When choosing your stone fabricator and installer for your next project, consider the safety culture of the company – from how they operate in the fabrication facility to how they support their install teams. This will give you an indication of how they will treat your home or office during the installation as well.
Got a big stone surface job on your hands? Reach out to True Blue Surfaces today and we’ll give you an estimate for getting the work done on time and with precision and care.
