Rising to a Rigging Challenge: Custom Tank Installation in North Philadelphia

 The Project Scope

As part of a major rigging project in North Philadelphia, R. Baker & Son faced a complex installation challenge: rigging, completely assembling, and setting 12 large fiberglass cylindrical tanks, each with a 17,000-gallon capacity. The tanks were to be delivered and anchored to waiting concrete pads in the rear of the facility. The agitators, blades, motors, and instruments shipped separately and would be assembled on site. 

Coordinating Custom Equipment Delivery

The custom fiberglass tanks were fabricated and shipped on schedule from North Carolina, arriving on 12 separate wide-load tractor trailers. Each tank measured approximately 12 feet wide by 20 feet high, requiring careful logistics and planning for safe transportation and installation.

The tank agitators were custom-designed and fabricated to mix process slurry within the fiberglass tanks. These stainless steel agitators were manufactured in Alabama and shipped separately to the site. Due to the horizontal positioning of the tanks during transport and the risk of the agitators shifting in transit, the two components couldn't be shipped together. This meant the agitators and tanks would be assembled together for the first time on site, in a vertical position, in Philadelphia.

The Installation Process Begins

Once on site, R. Baker rigging crews deployed an 80-ton hydraulic crane with an extended jib to lift each tank into its vertical position directly from each tractor trailer in an assembly-line fashion at the building's large opening. The process appeared to be progressing smoothly... until a critical issue emerged.

A Show-Stopping Challenge

The problem became evident as crews lifted the 20-foot agitators with monolithic hubs to position them above and into the waiting tanks. The stainless steel hubs on the 4-inch stainless shaft were 1 inch too large to fit through the tanks' center top 16-inch reinforced flange. This was a complete show-stopper, preventing the agitators from being installed in the tanks and the tanks from being moved into the building.

Problem-Solving and Quick Action

Working collaboratively with the agitator manufacturer, R. Baker sent detailed photos with exact measurements to assess the issue. After careful analysis, the team agreed on a solution: remove or grind down corner sections of the agitator hubs to reduce the cross-sectional area, allowing the agitators to fit inside the tanks.

R. Baker immediately brought in a specialty stainless steel contractor the next morning to set up an on-site workspace. The contractor carefully ground down the hubs, rounded them, and polished them to like-new condition, ensuring both functionality and appearance were maintained.

Completing the Installation

As each 20-foot agitator shaft and hub was modified to fit properly, the R. Baker team assembled the agitators, 25-horsepower motors, and tanks together in sequence before moving them into the building in a safe and timely manner.

Once the tanks were transported from the front of the building to the rear and positioned on their pads, a second R. Baker team worked on centering each tank into its exact position and anchoring them with large epoxy anchors. After the tanks were securely set in place, crews mounted the agitator blades, baffles, and all associated instrumentation and lighting to complete the installation.

Successful Project Completion

Working in a coordinated sequence between various teams, R. Baker was able to complete the work on time, safely, and with quality results. Through effective collaboration with the client and vendors, the team successfully solved a problem that had stopped the project in its tracks and got everything back on schedule.

R. Baker & Son - Rigging & Demoliton Contractors
190 Boundary Road
Marlboro, NJ 07746
732-222-3553

https://www.rbaker.com/rigging-contractors.php

Rigging: A Complete Guide to Safety, Equipment, and OSHA Standards

Rigging is one of the most critical operations in heavy industry, and at R. Baker & Son, we specialize in safe, compliant lifting with the right equipment, planning, and OSHA-certified practices. Whether you’re hoisting a massive generator or repositioning structural steel, rigging safety is essential to protect your workers, equipment, and project timeline.

In this guide, we’ll cover essential rigging safety practices designed to keep your jobsite secure and help you stay fully compliant with OSHA and ASME standards.

Why Rigging Safety Matters

Rigging safety is the foundation of successful, efficient, and dependable project execution. When lifts are planned with precision, performed by trained professionals, and supported with the right equipment, the result is a safer jobsite, protected assets, and smooth project timelines.

At R. Baker & Son, we don't just meet OSHA standards - we exceed them. Our commitment to safety drives every lift we perform, ensuring peace of mind for our clients and the highest level of protection for our people and equipment.

Qualified and Trained Personnel 
At R Baker & Son only experienced, qualified riggers perform lifting operations. Our entire team including operators, riggers and signalpersons are rigorously trained to meet the highest safety standards for cranes and derricks in construction. They are continually trained in OSHA, ASME and ANSI standards and understand critical elements such as load weight calculations, center of gravity alignment, equipment limitations, and communication protocols.

Pre-Lift Planning
Every lift begins with a Job Hazard Analysis, an Engineered Lift Plan, and a team safety briefing - all aligned with OSHA standards and tailored to the site. We assess load weight, ground conditions, rigging methods, weather, and emergency procedures. Pre-lift checklists are required for every lift to ensure safe and efficient execution.

Inspection of Equipment 
Rigging gear - including slings, chains, hooks, spreader bars, and shackles - must be inspected before every use, after impact or overload, and at regular intervals per manufacturer guidelines. Any signs of wear, corrosion, cracks, stretching, or deformation require immediate removal from service. No piece of equipment is used unless it passes our stringent inspection protocols.

Load Control and Balance 
Understanding the load's center of gravity is critical to prevent swinging, tipping, or dropping. Use tag lines, spreader bars, and proper hitch techniques to stabilize and balance the load during lifting.

Proper Communication 
Clear communication between the rigger, signal person, and crane operator is non-negotiable. We employ standardized hand signals, two-way radios, and thorough pre-lift briefings to ensure coordination and safety.

Common Rigging Hazards to Avoid 
Overloading equipment due to incorrect weight estimates
Improper sling angles increasing tension and reducing capacity
Use of uninspected or makeshift gear
Working under suspended loads
Poor environmental visibility or wind interference

Preventing these hazards starts with expert planning and execution - our specialty at R. Baker & Son.

Our Commitment to Safety and Excellence 
Rigging safety is integral to everything we do. As one of the nation's most trusted rigging and dismantling contractors, we combine technical expertise, modern equipment, and a safety-first culture to protect your people and your investment. We proudly serve clients across energy, pharmaceutical, industrial, and commercial sectors, delivering turnkey rigging solutions from start to finish.

Contact the Rigging Experts 
Need help with a critical lift or dismantling project? R. Baker & Son is your partner in safe, strategic rigging solutions.

Call us today to discuss your project needs at 732-222-3553.

Website: https://www.rbaker.com/rigging-contractors.php

#RiggingSafety #HeavyLifting #OSHACompliance #CraneSafety #IndustrialRigging #ConstructionSafety #LiftPlanning #EquipmentInspection #SafetyFirst #RBakerAndSon #RiggingExperts #MaterialHandling #Dismantling #JobsiteSafety #WorkerSafety 

Weekend Standby Generator Replacement

A large laboratory and office complex needed to replace an existing standby generator with a new, larger 2000 kW unit with associated automatic transfer switches and day tank. The owner needed the project to be completed over a long weekend beginning on Friday morning and ending on Monday afternoon, so the electrical contractor tasked with replacing the generator chose R. Baker & Son to assist in this critical replacement project. 

The electrical contractor had prepared for the weekend installation over a few months. Due to the critical nature of the project, a site-specific safety plan was developed along with a method of procedure specifying which teams would be performing certain tasks, and when. The weather forecast looked good, with cool temperatures and a few scattered showers expected over the weekend. 

R. Baker & Son and the electrical crew arrived early on Friday morning. While electricians were shutting down and disconnecting electrical power from the generator, R. Baker millwrights and rigging team members were simultaneously disassembling the old standby generator and separating the diesel engine from the condenser/fan section. A second rigging team removed the four large louvers and dampers, allowing access to a rear parking lot area. By late afternoon on Friday, the project had progressed to where the 80-ton hydraulic crane could begin removing pieces of the generator. 

On Saturday, the Baker rigging team had removed the remains of the old generator by mid-morning and the area was cleaned and prepped with pre-fabricated steel pieces. Riggers carefully brought in the new generator using spreader bars, slings, chain blocks, and a fork lift and precisely set it in place where new electrical conduit and fuel lines sat ready for connection. The Baker Team assisted the electrical contractor with installing ATS switches, mounting the day tank, installing the exhaust system, and various other tasks. The outside louvers and dampers were reinstalled, and all remaining debris was removed. Because of all the intensive preparation, pre-fabrication, and close coordination between the electrical and rigging teams, the new generator was wired and ready for startup and testing bright and early on Tuesday morning. 

About R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services 

R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services, a Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE), in business since 1935, is a premier specialized contractor operating in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, with over one hundred employees and an exemplary safety record (we have been directly involved in four sites that received VPP OSHA Safety Awards). R. Baker & Son is financially strong, with bonding capabilities of over $10 million. Capabilities include industrial and commercial demolition, rigging, machinery- and plant-moving, dismantling, decommissioning, plant and equipment relocation, interior demolition, selective demolition, warehousing, wrecking and razing, millwright, plant reconfigurations, heavy rigging, salvage, environmental services, remediation, decontamination, abatement, and investment and asset recovery. 

R. Baker & Son - All Industrial Services 

190 Boundary Road 

Marlboro, NJ 07746 

732-222-3553 

 https://rbaker.com/rigging-contractors.php

Interior Demolition: Epoxy Floor Removal Gives Old Building a New Purpose

R. Baker & Son was contracted to perform interior demolition at a New Jersey pharmaceuticals manufacturing plant. Originally built in 1948, the second floor of the two-story building had served for decades as a 62-room vivarium, and the now-vacant area was to be repurposed as open offices with high ceilings and laboratories with down flow booths.
 
The first demolition task required to prepare for renovation was the removal of all of the old terra cotta block and concrete walls throughout the 25,500 sq. ft. area. Removal of the walls revealed sixty-two individual 12’ x 12’ areas with thick, pitched, troweled-on epoxy floors with drains in the center of the rooms, as well as seven corridors. Removal of the epoxy floors down to the concrete below would require multiple passes by five Blastrac BMS-280 ride-on floor scrapers. Four National 550 floor scrapers were utilized in areas that couldn’t be accessed by the ride-on machines. Other equipment used during the wall and floor demolition included three Bobcats and two pneumatic hammers.
 
Following wall demolition, all drains were plugged and filled with non-shrink concrete. Once the epoxy floors were removed down to the concrete base, R. Baker & Son brought in a BIM scanner system contractor to determine the level of the floors within +/- 1/32” as they needed to be as level as possible, with no high or low points. The BIM contractor identified about a dozen areas that needed to come down in height in order to have a 2-inch total poured concrete floor. Baker crew members prepped and patched several low areas with non-shrink grout to make them level. BIM scans were repeated several times until all high and low points were brought to level. 

The floor was now ready for a new poured resinous surface. Prior to the pour, R. Baker & Son was asked to assist with identifying and filling any open floor areas where conduit and piping had passed through to create a complete seal for the new resinous system. Finally, the entire area was broom swept, cleaned, and vacuumed. The entire floor demolition and preparation project was performed safely to our site-specific safety plan and took approximately three weeks to complete, clearing the way for the next project phase to begin.

About R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services

R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services, a Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE), in business since 1935, is a premier specialized contractor operating in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, with over one hundred employees and an exemplary safety record (we have been directly involved in four sites that received VPP OSHA Safety Awards). R. Baker & Son is financially strong, with bonding capabilities of over $10 million. Capabilities include industrial and commercial demolition, rigging, machinery- and plant-moving, dismantling, decommissioning, plant and equipment relocation, interior demolition, selective demolition, warehousing, wrecking and razing, millwright, plant reconfigurations, heavy rigging, salvage, environmental services, remediation, decontamination, abatement, and investment and asset recovery.

R. Baker & Son - All Industrial Services
190 Boundary Road
Marlboro, NJ 07746
732-222-3553

https://rbaker.com/demolition-contractors-new-jersey.php 

Pilot Plant Demolition Project

During a plant consolidation project, a three-story, 39,000 sq. ft. chemical pilot plant required demolition to make way for a future Butler storage building. R. Baker & Son worked closely with the client on overall safety, dust control, shutting down, locking out, and removing all utilities. Interestingly, our company had, thirty years earlier, rigged in all of the process equipment that was now being removed. 

The building had easily-removable, translucent plastic panels on the north and south sides of the building through which much of the equipment was removed. This included reactors, heat exchangers, low-temperature chillers, and associated piping, as well as a 100,000 CFM air handling unit and all ductwork and electrical throughout the facility. 

The structure was steel with concrete-filled block walls, and the east and west exteriors were brick. The demolition required two large excavators equipped with hydraulic hammers and shears working from each side. There was limited room to maneuver the excavators, so demolition debris removal required more careful coordination than usual. Debris was removed using skid steers and loaders to waiting trucks. 

The building and slab were removed, leaving grade beams below. Underground piping was removed back to the main on the street and capped. All debris had been cleared from the site, three-quarter-inch gravel was brought in and spread where the building once stood. The project went smoothly and the owner was very satisfied as the Butler buildings were scheduled to be delivered and erected in four weeks’ time. 

About R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services

R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services, a Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE),  in business since 1935, is a premier specialized contractor operating in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, with over one hundred employees and an exemplary safety record (we have been directly involved in four sites that received VPP OSHA Safety Awards). R. Baker & Son is financially strong, with bonding capabilities of over $10 million. Capabilities include industrial and commercial demolition, rigging, machinery- and plant-moving, dismantling, decommissioning, plant and equipment relocation, interior demolition, selective demolition, warehousing, wrecking and razing, millwright, plant reconfigurations, heavy rigging, salvage, environmental services, remediation, decontamination, abatement, and investment and asset recovery.

R. Baker & Son - All Industrial Services 

190 Boundary Road 

Marlboro, NJ 07746 

732-222-3553 

 https://rbaker.com/demolition-contractors-new-jersey.php

Decommissioning and Dismantling of HVAC Equipment - Pharma

A 55,000 sq. ft. pharmaceutical facility in New Jersey was slated to undergo demolition. The 60-year-old building had undergone previous renovations over the years during which obsolete HVAC equipment had been decommissioned but never removed from the rooftop. R. Baker & Son had previously completed demolition of the building’s interior, and now we were tasked with decommissioning and dismantling of equipment that had been in use until recently, dismantling of the old equipment, and rigging the disassembled equipment from the roof. This included air handlers, heat exchangers, scrubbers, large exhaust fans, chillers, and cooling towers, as well as a penthouse structure.

Following abatement of lead paint and asbestos, recovery of refrigerant and oil from old compressors and pumps, construction of barricades, and installation of a safety line at the edge of the roof, the Baker team began the dismantlement process. Several four-person crews worked inward from the edge of the building using saws, cutting torches, fire blankets, extinguishers, and ladders. With very little room to maneuver among the large machinery, clear radio communication and hand signals during rigging were particularly critical to preserving safety. Access to the rear and sides of the building was limited due to pipe racks and cable trays that were still in service for other buildings on the campus and had to remain in place until the end, So the dismantled equipment was rigged from the front of the building to a waiting lowboy tractor-trailer using two 80-ton hydraulic cranes with extended jib.

The decommissioning and dismantling phase of the project was completed safely and on schedule, paving the way for R. Baker & Son to begin the final phase of demolition.

About R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services

R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services, a Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE), in business since 1935, is a premier specialized contractor operating in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, with over one hundred employees and an exemplary safety record (we have been directly involved in four sites that received VPP OSHA Safety Awards). R. Baker & Son is financially strong, with bonding capabilities of over $10 million. Capabilities include industrial and commercial demolition, rigging, machinery- and plant-moving, dismantling, decommissioning, plant and equipment relocation, interior demolition, selective demolition, warehousing, wrecking and razing, millwright, plant reconfigurations, heavy rigging, salvage, environmental services, remediation, decontamination, abatement, and investment and asset recovery.

R. Baker & Son - All Industrial Services
190 Boundary Road
Marlboro, NJ 07746
732-222-3553

https://rbaker.com/dismantling-contractors.php

History of the Versatile Skid Steer Loader

One of the most versatile machines on any construction or demolition project is the skid steer loader, a compact, rigid-framed, engine-powered machine with lift arms that can be fitted with a variety of different tools and attachments. 

The skid steer loader was invented in Rothsay, Minnesota in 1956 by a pair of local blacksmiths named Cyril and Louis Keller. A turkey farmer asked the two brothers to make a lightweight machine he could use to clean manure from his barns, and they came up with a three-wheeled vehicle that quickly became popular. The Melroe Manufacturing Company bought the manufacturing rights in 1958 and hired the Keller brothers to develop it further. By 1960, the single rear caster wheel had been replaced by a rear axle, and in 1962 the four-wheel skid steer loader was dubbed “Bobcat.”

Skid steers are ubiquitous on R. Baker & Son demolition projects, and one or more skid steers can usually be seen on any given job site. Skid steers are light, easily transported, and can be lifted via freight elevator or rigged by crane. They are highly maneuverable, using two joysticks to operate, and can turn within their own footprint, allowing them to operate in tight spaces.

There are dozens of attachment options available for the skid steer loader including buckets, augers, hammers, brooms, saws, forks, rippers, scrapers, backhoes and more. Multi-terrain counterparts to four-wheel versions are fitted with tracks. Operating capacities range from 800 lbs. to over two tons. On demolition and construction sites, skid steer loaders are used to move debris, gravel, snow, sand, cement, dirt, etc., and can lift and manage tools and materials such as rebar, pipe, conduit, tool boxes, and air compressors. Demolition attachments commonly include shears and hydraulic breakers for demolishing walls, floors and ceilings. Popular manufacturers include Bobcat, John Deere, Caterpillar, Gehl, Case, and more.

About R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services

R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services, a Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE), in business since 1935, is a premier specialized contractor operating in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, with over one hundred employees and an exemplary safety record (we have been directly involved in four sites that received VPP OSHA Safety Awards). R. Baker & Son is financially strong, with bonding capabilities of over $10 million. Capabilities include industrial and commercial demolition, rigging, machinery- and plant-moving, dismantling, decommissioning, plant and equipment relocation, interior demolition, selective demolition, warehousing, wrecking and razing, millwright, plant reconfigurations, heavy rigging, salvage, environmental services, remediation, decontamination, abatement, and investment and asset recovery.

R. Baker & Son - All Industrial Services
190 Boundary Road
Marlboro, NJ 07746

732-222-3553

https://rbaker.com/rigging-services.php