Suspended loads are part of everyday work in Canadian construction, oil and gas, mining, fabrication, manufacturing, utilities, ports and industrial maintenance.
The crane or hoist carries the weight, but workers may still need to guide, orient, align or position the load.
That is often where the risk increases.
A suspended pipe can rotate. A structural beam can drift toward a column. Equipment can shift during landing. A load that appears stable can move when rigging tension changes.
When workers respond by reaching toward the load, their hands can enter pinch points, crush zones or the potential path of movement.
The Steer-it Push Pull Safety Tool by TechMRO Inc. is designed for hands-free guiding, manoeuvring and positioning of suspended or difficult-to-reach loads. Its purpose is to create useful working distance while allowing the operator to push, pull, guide and position the load.
Why Suspended Load Control Matters in Canada
A suspended load can respond to crane movement, load geometry, centre of gravity, changing rigging tension, wind, contact with structures or momentum during travel.
That means load control is not simply about lifting something from Point A to Point B.
The lifting team also needs to control what the load does while it is moving and as it reaches its final position.
Canadian safety guidance recognizes the need for planned load control, competent lifting personnel and suitable methods such as taglines or push poles where appropriate.
Key principle: control the load without making the worker's hands the primary load-control device.
The Real Problem: Workers Still Need to Influence the Load
Even a well-planned lift may require directional control.
A worker may need to stop a beam rotating, keep machinery away from a structure, guide a pipe, position a skid or help a component approach its landing point.
The dangerous instinct is to use the hands.
The better question is:
Can the same control be achieved while keeping hands away from the moving load?
This is the role of a suspended load control push pull tool. Instead of the worker becoming the contact point, the tool becomes the interface between the person and the load.
What Is a Suspended Load Control Push Pull Tool?
A suspended load control push pull tool is a rigid industrial tool used to apply controlled pushing, pulling or directional input to a suspended or moving load while keeping the worker farther from the immediate contact point.
It may assist with:
- guiding a load;
- correcting orientation;
- pushing a component away from an obstruction;
- drawing a load toward a controlled position;
- positioning pipe;
- aligning equipment;
- assisting final placement.
The tool does not lift or support the load. Cranes, hoists, slings, shackles and other approved lifting equipment remain responsible for carrying the load.
The push pull tool is used for guidance and positioning.
Steer-it Push Pull Safety Tool for Hands-Free Load Control
Steer-it Push Pull Safety Tool
The Steer-it Push Pull Safety Tool is designed specifically for hands-free load guidance.
Its operating principle is simple: create distance between the worker and the load while maintaining directional control.
Instead of gripping a pipe, beam, frame or equipment component, the worker applies controlled force through the tool.
This can help reduce unnecessary hand exposure around pinch points, moving loads and difficult-to-reach surfaces.
Fiberglass Shaft
Lightweight, corrosion-resistant and designed for demanding industrial environments.
Wide Push Head
Provides a defined contact area for different load shapes and positioning tasks.
Ergonomic D-Handle
Provides a controlled gripping point for pushing and pulling.
Safety Hand Guard
Helps prevent forward hand slippage toward the load-contact end.
Steer-it Length Options
The official Steer-it range includes:
- 21 inches
- 42 inches
- 50 inches
- 72 inches
- 96 inches
The appropriate length should depend on the operation rather than automatically choosing the longest model.
Selection should consider load size and geometry, expected swing or rotation, operator position, required standoff distance, available work area, surrounding structures, required directional control and the task-specific hazard assessment.
The objective is to balance working distance with effective control.
Suspended Load Control and Line-of-Fire Exposure
Line-of-Fire risk becomes particularly important when a worker is close enough to a moving load to be struck, trapped or crushed.
During hoisting and rigging, potential Line-of-Fire areas can include:
- the load's swing path;
- the space between the load and a fixed structure;
- the landing area;
- the path of a rotating pipe;
- the area underneath the suspended load.
Using a push pull tool does not eliminate Line-of-Fire risk.
What it can do is help the worker provide directional input from farther away from the immediate contact point, where the lift plan and site conditions permit.
A tool creates reach. It does not make an unsafe position safe.
Why Final Load Positioning Deserves Special Attention
The final stage of a lift can be deceptively dangerous.
The load is almost in position. Crane movement slows. Workers become more comfortable approaching it.
Then somebody reaches in to make a small adjustment.
But a heavy load does not need to move far to cause an injury. A beam can rotate a few centimetres. A pipe can roll. A skid can shift toward its foundation. A component can close a gap between itself and a structure.
This is where a suspended load control push pull tool can be particularly useful: during suitable final guidance and positioning tasks where direct hand contact can be reduced.
Push Pole vs Tagline for Suspended Load Control
Push poles and taglines should not automatically be treated as competitors. They provide different types of control.
Tagline
A tagline allows a worker to influence orientation or rotation from a distance and may be useful when additional load control is required.
Push Pull Tool
A rigid push pull tool provides direct mechanical contact with the load. This can help when pushing, pulling or more precise positioning is required.
The correct method should be determined by the lift plan, load behaviour, work area and task-specific hazard assessment.
In some operations, a tagline may control orientation during travel while a rigid push pole assists closer positioning during the final approach.
Where Suspended Load Control Tools Fit in Canadian Industry
| Industry / Operation | Typical Loads | Relevant Load-Control Challenge |
|---|---|---|
| Oil & Gas | Pipe, tubulars, valves, skids | Rolling, rotation and final positioning |
| Mining | Pumps, rollers, machinery, structural components | Shifting and heavy-component alignment |
| Construction | Beams, structural steel, prefabricated components | Swing control and final placement |
| Fabrication | Frames, pipes, plates, machinery | Alignment and controlled positioning |
| Manufacturing | Heavy assemblies and equipment | Installation and maintenance positioning |
| Marine / Ports | Cargo, machinery, fabricated equipment | Load swing and restricted work areas |
| Utilities | Equipment and structural components | Controlled placement around infrastructure |
| Industrial Maintenance | Pumps, motors, valves, machinery | Small movements near pinch and crush zones |
The load types change, but the underlying problem is similar: workers often need to influence a heavy object without placing their hands where unexpected movement could trap or strike them.
A Push Pull Tool Does Not Replace Safe Rigging Practice
A push pull tool is only one element of a safe lifting system.
It does not replace:
- competent riggers;
- an approved lift plan;
- certified lifting equipment;
- exclusion zones;
- clear communication;
- equipment inspection;
- proper load control.
It should be integrated into those controls.
A Push Pull Tool Is Not a Lifting Device
The Steer-it Push Pull Safety Tool is designed to help guide and position loads.
It is not intended to support the weight of the load.
The crane, hoist and approved rigging equipment remain responsible for lifting and suspension.
Steer-it provides the operator with a means of influencing where the load moves, not carrying the load itself.
Integrating Hands-Free Load Control Into the Lift Plan
Hands-free load control should be considered during planning, not after the load is already suspended.
Before the lift, teams should determine:
- How could the load swing or rotate?
- Where are the drop and crush zones?
- Where could workers enter the Line of Fire?
- Does anyone need to touch the load directly?
- Could a tagline control the load?
- Would a push pole or push pull tool provide better control?
- What tool length provides suitable separation?
- Where should the operator stand?
- Does the operator have a clear escape route?
- What conditions require the lift to stop?
The tool should be part of the planned method—not an improvised response when the load becomes difficult to control.
Why Hands-Free Load Control Goes Beyond PPE
Gloves are important, but gloves do not remove a hand from a closing gap.
That difference is fundamental.
PPE helps protect the person when exposure already exists.
Hands-free load-control methods aim to reduce the exposure itself.
If a worker can guide a load through a rigid tool rather than putting their hands directly on it, the point of contact moves farther away from the worker.
That is the safety principle behind Steer-it.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a suspended load control push pull tool?
- A suspended load control push pull tool is a rigid industrial tool used to push, pull, guide or position a moving or suspended load while reducing the need for direct hand contact.
- Are push poles used for suspended loads in Canada?
- Yes. Canadian industrial guidance recognizes push poles as one method of controlling suspended loads in suitable lifting situations.
- What does hands-free lifting mean?
- In this context, hands-free lifting means using methods such as push poles and/or taglines to reduce direct hand contact with moving or suspended loads.
- Can Steer-it be used to guide suspended loads?
- Yes. Steer-it is designed for hands-free guiding, manoeuvring and positioning of suspended or difficult-to-reach loads. Its use should follow the applicable lift plan, hazard assessment and site procedures.
- What lengths are available?
- Steer-it is available in 21", 42", 50", 72" and 96" versions.
- Does Steer-it lift the load?
- No. It is a load-guiding and positioning tool. Approved lifting and rigging equipment must support the load.
- Is a push pull tool better than a tagline?
- Neither method is automatically better. They provide different forms of control, and the correct choice depends on the load, lift plan, task and hazards.
- Can a push pull tool eliminate Line-of-Fire hazards?
- No. It can support greater working distance in suitable tasks, but exclusion zones, correct operator positioning, lift planning and other controls remain necessary.
Keep Control of the Suspended Load — Without Making Hands the Control Point
The most dangerous part of a lift is not always the highest point.
It may be the final few centimetres.
A beam rotates. A pipe rolls. A piece of machinery shifts toward its landing point. Somebody instinctively reaches toward it.
A suspended load control push pull tool provides another option.
The Steer-it Push Pull Safety Tool helps workers push, pull, guide and position industrial loads while maintaining greater separation from the immediate load-contact area.
For Canadian hoisting and rigging operations, the principle is simple:
Control the load without making your hands the load-control tool.
Explore the Steer-it Push Pull Safety Tool
Looking for a hands-free solution for suspended-load guidance, hoisting, rigging and industrial load positioning?
Explore the Steer-it Push Pull Safety Tool for Canadian lifting and load-control applications.
Steer-it Push Pull Safety Tool — create distance, maintain control and keep hands away from moving loads.