Tractor Trailer Wash Down Bay - Fall Arrest Lifeline System

[Beaton Industrial]

Every once and a while we do something pretty cool! This time we took a Gorbel Tether Track monorail and combined it with a custom galvanized overhang to create a fall safe wash down bay for one of our customers in the Northeast. Our customer is extremely satisfied with the end result.

If anyone has any suggestions, ideas, or feedback on how we could make this better, I'll appreciate the constructive criticism.

More detail on the blog article - Tractor Trailer Fall-Arrest Lifeline System

[LKeithR]

Around here free standing fall prevention structures like that have been "required" equipment at tank loading facilities for the past 20 years or so. A lot of them have stairs and ramps so that workers aren't required to climb the ladders on the trailers. The roof is a nice touch but I can't see that it's going to do much good except in a gentle rain that's falling straight down--it won't take much wind to blow rain or snow underneath it...

[Beaton Industrial]

Originally Posted by LKeithR

Around here free standing fall prevention structures like that have been "required" equipment at tank loading facilities for the past 20 years or so. A lot of them have stairs and ramps so that workers aren't required to climb the ladders on the trailers. The roof is a nice touch but I can't see that it's going to do much good except in a gentle rain that's falling straight down--it won't take much wind to blow rain or snow underneath it...

I like the stairs and ramps idea. In fact a catwalk along side would probably be the best ergonomic solution. It's crazy to learn of the difference between the states and BC. We are just now starting to sell these kind of applications with regularity. "Some" of the more professional outfits have had some kind of fall arrest system in place for a period of time (many are the old wire rope lifeline style), but we are just now getting calls from fairly large facilities that have absolutely nothing in place. A ladder and a prayer... A lot of calls are coming from Trailer refurbishing centers or RV manufacturers.

[Cavalry]

I'm curious why they would not just use a scissor lift to wash the trucks? Moves where you want, goes up and down, not terribly expensive to purchase or maintain.

[digger doug]

Originally Posted by Cavalry

I'm curious why they would not just use a scissor lift to wash the trucks? Moves where you want, goes up and down, not terribly expensive to purchase or maintain.

Now there you go thinking again....
These systems (fall restraint) only stop you from dying from a fall.

Not to help you climb up/down, or actually improve productivity...

If you slip off the ladder, or the top of truck, you finally
get stopped by the line, you get slammed into the side
of said truck....but you didn't hit the ground.

[milomilo]

I fell once using a harness. Fell because I knew I had the harness and was not being careful. The wrench it put in my back convinced me to dump the harness and just be careful. Never fell again so it must have been the right thing to do.

[Ironman]

Originally Posted by digger doug

Now there you go thinking again....
These systems (fall restraint) only stop you from dying from a fall.

Not to help you climb up/down, or actually improve productivity...

If you slip off the ladder, or the top of truck, you finally
get stopped by the line, you get slammed into the side
of said truck....but you didn't hit the ground.

Last time I took a fall arrest course, they said a fall over 6 ft and you are write-off. A 6 ft fall exerts 2000lb of pressure on your body and more than that coming to a sudden stop will be real serious. They had us all in harness dangling from a tripod.
Fall arrest lanyards are suppose to be 1.5 meter only.

[camdigger]

Originally Posted by Cavalry

I'm curious why they would not just use a scissor lift to wash the trucks? Moves where you want, goes up and down, not terribly expensive to purchase or maintain.

You under estimate the incompetence of certain individuals usually employed to wash vehicles. I can envision collisions between said scissor lift and truck, the lower man in a two man team caught in scissor lift because upper man changed level, driving scissor lift into open drain cover with deck extended flipping lift... And many other scenarios. Simple moderate slope non slip stairs and railed off catwalk is as ID 10 Ten proof as you can get.

[BukitCase]

Cam, while I agree with you, my last 35 years in heavy industry convinced me - "if you make something idiot-proof, they'll just build a better idiot" ...Steve

[o7oBaseMetal]

I do alot of work in dairy plants. They pretty much all have similar setups. They also will often have a folding staircase that gets them all the way onto the truck.