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Moving Motors Safely

Dec. 16, 2019

Best practices for moving motors safely and efficiently.

Most industrial motors are heavy, and it takes special equipment to safely move them. Installed motors get removed when they need to be replaced. The replacements may be moved multiple times after arriving at the plant.

With time pressure, it might seem tempting to just strap a motor to the forks of a lift truck or stick a hook through its lifting eye and consider that sufficient. What usually happens is the motor position is hard to control, and that's when people get injured.

Carefully plan the lift, carry, horizontal positioning, and lowering of any motor. First, identify the right kind of lifting equipment for each stage. Sometimes, a manual boom or A-frame is best for lowering the motor but a motorized lift truck is best for transporting it to the installation area. Don't use building structural members for any of this.

Next you must identify the correct straps, hooks, and other devices for each stage. You need to ensure the motor is properly secured. For lowering, you need a way to level the motor.

About the Author

Mark Lamendola

Mark is an expert in maintenance management, having racked up an impressive track record during his time working in the field. He also has extensive knowledge of, and practical expertise with, the National Electrical Code (NEC). Through his consulting business, he provides articles and training materials on electrical topics, specializing in making difficult subjects easy to understand and focusing on the practical aspects of electrical work.

Prior to starting his own business, Mark served as the Technical Editor on EC&M for six years, worked three years in nuclear maintenance, six years as a contract project engineer/project manager, three years as a systems engineer, and three years in plant maintenance management.

Mark earned an AAS degree from Rock Valley College, a BSEET from Columbia Pacific University, and an MBA from Lake Erie College. He’s also completed several related certifications over the years and even was formerly licensed as a Master Electrician. He is a Senior Member of the IEEE and past Chairman of the Kansas City Chapters of both the IEEE and the IEEE Computer Society. Mark also served as the program director for, a board member of, and webmaster of, the Midwest Chapter of the 7x24 Exchange. He has also held memberships with the following organizations: NETA, NFPA, International Association of Webmasters, and Institute of Certified Professional Managers.