If you work in the construction industry, reinforced steel bars are a common sight. It’s virtually impossible to construct buildings without them, as they lay the foundation of each structure, supporting the framework to make it last a long time.
However, working with rebar can lead to some workplace-related injuriese specially when bending rebar manually. Manual bending and carrying heavy loads can cause lower back disorders, damaging muscles and nerves permanently.
Types of reo benders
There are two common types of rebar benders; portable and industrial.
- Portable rebar benders are transportable, lightweight, and incredibly convenient to use. Despite their small size, they can bend steel bars in various arcs and angles to suit your needs.
- Meanwhile, industrial benders are bigger and heavy-duty. If portable rebar benders can handle up to 16mm bending capacity, industrial machines can go up to 32mm.
How to safely operate your new reo bender
Like any other machine, you need to take good care of your rebar bender. Here are some tips to keep your reo bender in good working condition:
- Make sure to read the user manual
The user manual contains everything you need to know about your rebar bender. It lists instructions for personal safety, service and maintenance and the tool’s parts and functions.
Following the guidelines listed in user manuals can help prevent injuries and fatalities in the workplace.
- Wear proper personal protective equipment
Protective gloves are a minimum requirement when you’re working with potentially hazardous equipment. Refer to the user manual for relevant PPE requirements before handling steel bars and machinery.
- Warm up the tool before using it
In cold weather, warm up the rebar bender for 60 seconds to ensure hydraulic oil reaches proper viscosity.
For the best performance, get your equipment from trusted construction and tool stores in Australia.
