Show Respect To Your Hydraulics Hoses

Check on your hydraulic hoses frequently & replace worn hoses before they fail

Anytime you work with equipment using enormous amounts of pressure you need to be careful, but many people do not give the respect to hydraulics hoses that they deserve.  These hoses provide a highway for materials to travel through and even though they look safe and secure on the outside, special care should be taken with them.

Safety first

Before you check anything on your hydraulics hoses, you should take a step back and make sure that you are adequately prepared.  People are injured quite often because they ignore basic safety rules such as wearing gloves or safety glasses.  Even a small leak in a hose can have huge consequences when the material meets bare skin.  If you are an employer, you should make it a point to review safety rules and guidelines at least every six months in order to keep your employees focused on staying safe.

When you think that something may be wrong with the hoses, it is important to shut down the machine—especially if you see evidence of a leak.

No rubbing

Hydraulics hoses are susceptible to damage if they continuously rub against another component so it is important to make sure that nothing is coming into contact with them.  It doesn’t take much for a tear or small hole to happen and that can put you and your employees in danger.

Signs of trouble

Being aware of your environment and everything that is happening is an effective way to spot any signs of trouble with your hoses.  If you see any signs of a change in the hoses’ physical appearance, you should immediately assess the problem and correct it as soon as possible.  Problem signs include the following:

• Weepage
• Wet spots
• Dripping material
• Hoses that are crushed, kinked, or have been flattened
• Exposed reinforcement showing rust
• Hard, charred, stiff, or cracked hose exterior

Regular maintenance

Because hydraulics hoses are often exposed to all kinds of environments, they should be regularly replaced before they pose a safety risk.  When you replace them, also make sure that the fittings, covers, and other parts are in good shape, and if they are showing signs of wear and tear, you should replace them as well.

Do you check your hydraulics hoses on a daily basis?