Steel Strapping Handling Best Practices: A Guide

Stainless steel and galvanized steel strapping are important tools in the shipping industry. While these sturdy straps might be commonplace, thanks to their durability, resistance to rust and other weathering, and their sustainable sourcing (88% of all steel is recycled, according to estimates from the American Iron and Steel Institute, making it the most recycled substance on earth) that doesn’t mean that they can be handled without proper care. 

Steel strapping, both of the stainless and galvanized variety, needs to be handled with care in order to prevent accidents from occurring. In this post, we will examine the best practices when handling steel strapping.

1. Wear Proper Protective Gear: It is important that you wear protective gear in case the metal strapping lashes out when cut. That includes thick gloves, safety glasses, and long sleeves.
2. Use the Right Equipment: If you don’t have the proper tools to seal or cut metal strapping then you should not attempt the job. Using makeshift tools can result in faulty seals that can break during transit, causing the strapping to lash out. Additionally, cutting strapping with improper tools can make the task significantly more difficult and dangerous.
3. Maintain a Safe Distance: Remember to keep the area around you clear when working with metal strapping. This can help prevent accidents that might occur while cutting the metal strapping.
4. Make Square Cuts: When you are cutting the galvanized or stainless steel strapping, it is important that you make square cuts, otherwise you risk creating sharp, pointed edges of the strapping that could be dangerous when being transported.
5. Work Smart: Many times, you will need to add or remove more than one band of strapping. In this case, you should work in a way that minimizes the chance that you might cut yourself on the steel. Working from the furthest strapping to the one closest to you is one way to avoid accidents and injury.
6. Clean As You Go: While it might be tempting to delay cleanup until all of your strapping tasks are complete, random scraps of metal present a hazard to both you and your fellow employees. Clean up all scraps as you go in order to mitigate this risk.

Strapping is an important tool when it comes to shipping items. That means that it is essential that you understand how to handle steel strapping safely in order to avoid potential injuries.