SafeRack, a leading manufacturer of bulk-loading fall protection equipment, designed and implemented a custom fall arrest system for Georgia Pacific’s paper mill facility in Big Island, VA. The system addresses the paper mills’ safety concerns for truck operators unstrapping timber loads from log trailers prior to offloading.
Georgia Pacific needed a solution to protect non-employee truck drivers who were required to climb atop their log trailers to manually unbuckle or unstrap timber loads.
Project Details
SafeRack’s engineering team designed an OSHA-compliant horizontal trolley beam fall arrest system with an access platform and a SafeRack gangway for operators to reach the top of their load on the log trailer. The design meets the facility’s requirements of providing a safe way for truck operators to prepare their load quickly for unloading for improved throughput.
Log Trailer Unloading Station Overview:
The fall arrest system and access platform was installed at the Georgia Pacific paper mill in Big Island, VA. The double-sided configuration improves the facility efficiency and increases throughput by allowing multiple log trailers to be processed simultaneously, while providing a safe working environment for truck operators as they prepare their loads for off-loading.
System Benefits:
- Provides OSHA-compliant fall protection for non-employee truck operators
- Adaptable to various log trailer lengths and heights
- Allows truck operators to safely access the top of their loads when necessary
- Arrests falls by keeping operators upright in a harness, preventing ground impact
- Enhances overall facility safety and reduces liability risks
Installation Elements
Trolley Beam Fall Arrest System
- Double-sided configuration
- Horizontal I-beam design for maximum coverage
- Compatible with self-retracting lifelines
- Meets or exceeds OSHA and ANSI standards
- Allows attachment anywhere along the beam, including midpoints
- Reduces fall distances during loading and unstrapping operations
SafeRack Gangway
- Installed on both sides of the access platform
- Self-leveling and articulating design to accommodate varying vehicle heights
- One-piece stair construction for enhanced durability and reduced weld failures
- Spring counterbalance for ease of use
SafeRack’s custom-engineered fall arrest solution effectively addresses the unique safety challenges presented by log trailer unloading operations at Georgia Pacific’s Big Island facility. By combining a trolley beam fall arrest system with accessible gangways, the installation ensures compliance with safety regulations while maintaining operational efficiency and improving throughput… safely.
A log trailer, logging trailer or timber trailer, is a specialized type of semi-trailer designed for transporting raw logs from forests to processing facilities. Log trailers are typically 40 to 53 feet long with sturdy side stakes or bunks to contain and support the load. They often feature a skeletal frame design to minimize weight while maximizing payload capacity.
