What are the most common safety obstacles to overcome when stretching fabric?

  1. Lifting.  A roll of chain link fabric can weigh between 50 to 400 pounds.   As a result, always practice safe lifting techniques.  Never try to lift the wire onto your shoulders.  Get help. 
  2. Cuts.  Chain link fabric may have icicles formed during manufacturing from the galvanizing dripping-off.  Wear gloves when you can and be conscious of grabbing the materials, particularly when sliding the tension bar through the fabric.  It is easy to pinch your hand between the fabric and bar.  Also, with cutting top rail, you will have several burs and sharp ends.
  3. Loose top rail.  Before you get the fabric tied to the top rail, the rail is loose on top of the post.  If it gets knocked loose, it will slide through the line top like a spear.  Wear your safety glasses and hard hats.  Be conscious of what is happening around you.
  4. The Wave.  After standing the fabric-up but before you tie-it off, there is a real risk of the fabric falling over, causing a wave effect as it sweeps from one side of the stretch to the other.  There is a lot of weight and momentum, causing serious injury to anyone in its path.  Make sure that your fabric is pulled away from the posts.  On taller heights, make sure you have temp tied every 10’.  Educate your crew members so that when a wave occurs, everyone should yell “wave!” to warn others to clear the area.   No “wave” in the photo to your right but they are at the beach in their shorts.  Not official AFC photo.

buildingachainlinkfence-18.jpg

pdf.jpg

© 2018 The American Fence Company. All rights reserved. Permission granted to reproduce for personal and educational use only. Commercial use, copying or distribution is prohibited without express written permission from The American Fence Company.

© 2024 The American Fence Company. All rights reserved. Permission granted to reproduce for personal and educational use only. Commercial use, copying or distribution is prohibited without express written permission from The American Fence Company.