Fall Protection - A Few Key Questions To Consider

There are a great many factors that go into planning a fall protection solution for your truck or rail loading spot.  The time spent planning cuts down on costly delays and expensive rework later. Before getting into the weeds of your project, here are a few top-level issues to consider:

• Weather – Will the vehicle have to be accessed in all kinds of weather? High wind, snow, ice, rain, etc. can make moving products more hazardous and can potentially damage products.  Do you need a canopy structure to protect your operators and products?
• Time of Day – Will the site be supervised late at night? This is especially important with harnesses and lanyards as the act of hanging from a harness can cause irreparable harm or death. Is there adequate lighting for night work? Is there adequate shade for work on bright days?
• Frequency of Use – High frequency of use could dictate different types of equipment. A spot used infrequently could, potentially, even use a portable system.  
• Cycle Time – How fast does it have to operate?
• The Material Being Loaded & Unloaded – Is it hazardous? Is it flammable? If spilled, will it make the surface slippery – especially if wet?  Do you have adequate spill containment solutions?
• Number of Operators needed – Will several people operate the equipment at the same time?  
• Operator vs. Driver Operating the equipment – Can you convey adequate training to drivers as they come on-site? How easy is the equipment to operate?
• Variety of Configurations
  • Of the rack - do you have an adequate footprint for the equipment and vehicles?
  • In the truck – Do you service many sizes of vehicles or only one?  Do they have multiple openings that operators will need to access?
  • On the railcar – Do you need to access multiple hatch openings or just one? Can you provide adequate fall protection to cover the gaps on the crash box?
• Cost – What is the total cost of installation, maintenance, and equipment?