Tractor Trailer Wash Down Bay - Fall Arrest Lifeline System

[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

[clive]

I am a great believer in fall arrests, I was putting hand rails and kick strip on top of a storage tank once and the dust acted like balls under foot and I just started to slide but got stopped as my legs went over the edge.

[digger doug]

Originally Posted by clive

I am a great believer in fall arrests, I was putting hand rails and kick strip on top of a storage tank once and the dust acted like balls under foot and I just started to slide but got stopped as my legs went over the edge.

Agreed.
But the O.P. posted a system that just provide the anchor point.
Doesn't help productivity at all, as several have said, with that much money
spent, it should have included walkways with handrails and steps.

[Ironman]

Originally Posted by digger doug

Agreed.
But the O.P. posted a system that just provide the anchor point.
Doesn't help productivity at all, as several have said, with that much money
spent, it should have included walkways with handrails and steps.

We had a similar system at Ft Nelson when I was hauling fuel on the Alcan. You pulled up alongside and went up the stairs to a control box, and a winch would lower the deck and rails over top of the tanker. The deck and rails were hinged and pivoted so that as the deck was lowered from vertical to horizontal, the railing would fold out and stand up.
It aided productivity alot, and was a safe work deck which prevented spillage as well. Anyone who has climbed up a tanker dragging a fill hose and stood on that 18" wide top walkway as the wind is blowing while they filled compartments knows what I mean.

At they are just starting out in NY State to re-invent the wheel that has been in use for years, there is bound to be some deficiencies, but in a short while the walkways and steps will be on them. They just need some time.

[digger doug]

Ironman, yup I think OPW or someone similar make that
setup, air cylinders everywhere for explosion proof.

30 year ago my uncle was top loading, and fell off.
He said he somehow got righted before hitting the pavement,
and broke his wrist, if not he would have hit his head first,
and not be with us.

[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.