Equipment Safety Standards Help Prevent Injuries

Duracable Manufacturing Company has always believed in providing the highest safety standards for every piece of equipment we manufacture. Here’s a list of features on Duracable brand equipment that help technicians work more safely.

Machine Material

• Frame material on the larger machines (DM175, DM162, DM55, DM30) has a thicker wall dimension than competitors’ frames, enabling better weld penetration and stronger joints.
• Double-tube frame design encloses the wiring harness within the upper frame, preventing electrical wiring from being damaged even if the lower frame wears through.
• The material we use on our machines is a higher grade than stock or conventional material, providing more consistency and uniformity in the parts we produce and manufacture here at Duracable.

Air Foot Switches

• Provide safe start-up of electrical devices from wet areas or remote locations.
• Allow the machine operator to turn the machine on and off with the foot while having both hands on the cable.
• Reliable operation in temperature extremes of -40º to 180º F.
• 100,000+ cycle life under full mechanical, electrical and thermal loads.
• Full metal enclosure and reinforced tubing connectors available for added durability.

Rubber Feet

• Anti-vibration pads prevent machine from moving on counter tops or vinyl floors.
• Rubber feet prevent marring of surfaces.

Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI)

• Standard equipment on all machines.
• Protects against shock hazards by instantly shutting off electricity.
• Protects against shock caused by exposure of appliances and tools to water.
• Good for use indoors and outdoors.

Guide Tube

• Duracable sink machines have an optional guide tube that helps the operator safely run cable without scratching surfaces.

UL-Approved Parts

• All electrical components are UL, CSA and CE approved.
• All motors and switches are UL, CSA and CE approved.

OSHA

• We follow OSHA regulation standards – 29 CFR.

Decals/Labels

• All labels follow American National standards for product safety signs and labels per ANSI, z535.4 – 1998.
• All switches are labeled with machine direction and switch position.
• PCFR has directional label.
• All hazards are clearly marked as warning, caution or danger.

Drain Cleaning Cable Machine Safety Tips

This is not a complete list of requirements for safe operation of your Duracable machine. Refer to the User Guide for your machine.

• Wear leather gloves, rough coated rubber gloves or other sturdy gloves to protect your hands when feeding or retrieving cable.
• When using the drain machine, place two hands on the cable between the outlet of your machine and the cleanout and keep them there at all times during operation. Your hands placed in the proper position will provide a guide for the cable.
• Safety goggles are recommended.
• Avoid wearing loose-fitting clothes or jewelry when operating the machine.
• Keep guards in place to protect the operator from the electric motor and electrical wiring.
• Position the machine within three feet of the drain opening, allowing only enough room to work. This shortens the length of exposed cable and provides maximum control in high-torque situations.
• Place the machine in the horizontal position for floor drain or low openings; place the machine in the vertical position for sink drain or higher openings.
• When cleaning a drain line, do not start the machine until the blade or cable end is fully inserted in the drain line. Wait until the machine has come to a complete stop before fully removing the blade end from the line.
• Start cleaning or clearing clogs using the smallest blade first, and progressively increase blade size.
• Do not permit a blade to get hung up in an obstruction for more than three seconds. Excess torque can cause the cable to loop over. Serious injury to finger and hands is possible unless precautions are observed.
• When transporting a heavy drain machine, it is recommended to remove the reel and transport it separately to avoid back strain.
• Utilize winch hooks, loading ramps and reel carts when available.
• Ensure that forward/reverse switch locking pin is in place to prevent accidentally flipping the direction while the machine is on.
• When the machine is not in use, be sure the cable end is manually pushed all the way into the reel to prevent accidental injury or property damage.
• Read or watch our video on proper cable loading procedures before unpackaging new cable. Coiled cable may spring out and cause injury or property damage if improperly removed from packaging.
• Unplug the drain machine when not in use. Familiarize yourself with basic electrical safety procedures.

Duracable drain cleaning machines are based on a classic design invented in 1935, and perfected over 85+ years of use by professional drain cleaning technicians like you. Our machine design has stood the test of time, but we’re always interested in feedback from you. Let us know if you have ideas to make our machines even more safe and user-friendly.

Stay safe out there!