8.1.4 Moving Heavy Equipment

Policy

Heavy equipment shall not be moved by University personnel unless appropriate moving equipment and trained manpower is available. If appropriate moving equipment and trained manpower are not available, then moving of heavy equipment shall be accomplished through contractual arrangement with a firm qualified to perform the service.

Heavy equipment is defined as that in excess of 500 pounds. Such equipment includes, but is not confined to, the following: machinery such as lathes, printing presses, computer equipment, and stationary physical plant equipment; scientific equipment; and musical instruments such as pianos, organs, and harpsichords.

The responsible administrator/supervisor or the Executive Director of the Facilities Management Department or his/her designee shall determine whether or not appropriate moving equipment and trained manpower is available. Scientific equipment, computer equipment, and musical instruments should be given very close scrutiny to determine whether or not they can be moved properly and safely. In no event should heavy equipment be moved from one level to another without aid of suitable moving equipment such as elevator, hoist, or fork lift. Care should be taken in determining that the weight involved does not exceed the design safety limit of the moving equipment.

Heavy equipment which is portable by design, such as pianos on dollies, portable bleachers, etc., may be moved by University personnel from one location to another when the moving does not require manual lifting of any sort.

Specifically in the case of pianos, organs, and harpsichords, these are considered portable by design if dollies, rollers, or castors are permanently affixed to the instrument. These instruments may be moved from floor to floor only when an elevator capable of handling the weight is available. Manual lifting of any sort shall be accomplished through contractual arrangement with a firm qualified to perform the service. In any instances where faculty, students, or outside agencies are granted permission to use University facilities and where such movement of a piano, organ, or harpsichord is required, these groups and organizations shall assume responsibility for payment.