Gripper Truss Hook S675

Time is money.  The Gripper™ Truss Hook offers a revolutionary way to handle wood roofing trusses quickly and easily. Its patent pending design reduces labor costs, improves worker safety and helps to ensure regulatory compliance. The Gripper™ speeds up the construction process because more trusses can be set in less time. Timesavings over conventional methods of 50% or more, on average, are possible, which allows for more aggressive bidding.

Traditionally, roofing trusses are hoisted into place by cranes using slings or rigging that, according to Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, must be securely attached to the truss. Attaching and detaching the rigging takes precious time. Once the Gripper™ has been positioned on the truss, a worker pulls the trigger mechanism, causing a spring-actuated cam with serrated teeth to bite into the truss, securely holding the hook in position. After the truss is set, the worker pulls the unlocking cable, releasing the Gripper™ from the truss. While the framing crew anchors the truss, the crane operator can move to the next one.

Cost Counts. At a time when construction costs are rising almost as fast as healthcare costs, it pays to find new ways to reduce overhead costs. Because the Gripper™ reduces the time required to lift and set trusses, valuable savings can be achieved on labor and crane rental charges. A reduction in the likelihood of fall-related injuries provides additional cost savings.

Depending on the size of the project, cost savings can equate to several thousand dollars, meaning that the Gripper™ can easily pay for itself after only one job. Consider that the cost to rent a crane with an operator is approximately $150 per hour; add to that the cost of labor at $25 per hour per man. In addition, the average medical cost to treat a broken arm, a common and relatively minor fall related injury, is $1100. Every injury prevented and every hour saved reduces overhead costs and adds to the profitability of the project.

Safety is no accident. Fall Protection is OSHA’s third most commonly cited safety violation. According to the National Safety Council, there were 5,680 such violations in 2004. With site inspections on the rise, why take the risk? Both OSHA safety inspectors and insurance companies have raved about improved worker safety when using the Gripper™.

Proper use of the Gripper™ prevents falls because workers no longer have to climb onto unstable trusses to disconnect rigging harnesses. Instead, a worker standing on the ground releases the hook by way of a release cord. It is the only system of its kind on the market and meets OSHA regulations for a closed-loop lifting system (OSHA 1926.550). In addition, each Gripper™ Hook goes through a rigorous quality inspection process and is stress tested before it leaves the factory to ensure that it will provide years of trouble-free service.

Constructed of solid steel with a yellow-zinc finish, the Gripper™ is engineered to withstand years of punishment, and it comes backed by a one-year limited warranty. In addition, the Gripper™ is completely serviceable by our network of dealers, should repairs be necessary.