As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect businesses all over the globe, manufacturers and producers confront a variety of obstacles in adhering to safety regulations while meeting demand. While maintaining productivity is vital to the success of any business, workplace safety is critical.
A safe work environment is one in which employees are protected from injury or illness while on the job. While living and working anywhere can present inherent risks, the well-being and safety of an employee should never be compromised in the name of a paycheck.
No one can argue with the fact that ensuring your workers arrive home safely after each shift is the single most important goal to be achieved by your company. In addition to consistent and thorough safety training, the installation of adequate fall protection and fall prevention equipment is necessary if your workers are expected to work or travel to a work station at heights.
Regardless of which safety system you choose, proper installation is essential to ensure reliable protection. Before installation can begin, accurate measurements must be taken. This guide is intended to provide the three simple steps your business must take prior to installing fall protection or fall prevention equipment to protect workers and keep operations running efficiently at your facility.
3 Steps to Getting Accurate Fall Protection Safety Equipment Measurements
In getting the right measurements for the proper installation of fall protection safety equipment, three key steps should always be followed:
1. Establish the Center Line
- Regardless of the design standard, it is vital to set the centerline.
- Always begin your measurements in the middle of the loading vehicle and work your way out. You should face whatever you are putting the access gangway on.
- Position the vehicle in the loading area to ensure an accurate measurement all things being equal. If placing the vehicle is not possible for some reason, mark the location of the truck or railcar’s alignment with a stripe on the floor or platform.
- Railcars are a little easier, as the rails are stationary. If your platform is long enough to accommodate numerous railcars, measure each access point.
2. Determine the Height of the Platform
- Although not as critical as the centerline measurement, the platform height is still significant. Measure the platform height from the vehicle wheels to where your worker will stand to load or unload.
- According to OSHA-compliance requirements, truck platforms are generally in the 10-12 feet range, and hopper cars range from 14-15 feet. Fortunately, gangway ramps are self-leveling and will compensate for minor measurement errors.
3. Identify Potential Obstacles
- Obstructions are one of the most difficult things to deal with in any loading or unloading situation. If conducting a site visit is not possible, find a service provider who can take photos or conduct virtual walkthroughs to identify all of the potential obstructions in your workplace and address them accordingly.
Safety Experts are Here to Help
At SafeRack we’re doing more than just developing cutting-edge products, we’re revolutionizing safety. As the industry leader in loading platform systems, our safety solutions make it safer and more efficient for your workers to:
- Load and unload trucks and railcars
- Conduct work on maintenance platforms
- Use rolling platforms safely
- Get the job done safely and efficiently using our fall prevention and protection equipment
Our team of experienced subject matter experts will assist you with design, customization, and installation, answering any questions you may have about keeping your employees working safely and efficiently.
Contact SafeRack today for more information.
