Transport

Fall-Pac’s Experience with Fall Protection in the Transportation Industry

Maintenance Facilities – The greatest fall danger in maintenance facilities is generally when a worker requires access to the roof. The pantograph, or “pan” on the locomotive roof, for electric trains on routes with overhead lines is held up by compressed air pressure, for example. Preventative maintenance must be done on a regular basis, and some of it may only be done on the locomotive roof.

For this situation, if the worker can access the roof near the pan and does not need access to the rest of the roof, an inexpensive single-point anchor with a self-retracting lifeline (SRL) might be the only fall arrest system needed. Where access to the top of the entire locomotive in needed, the optimal solution might be either a cable or track horizontal lifeline. If an overhead crane prevents the use of a truss-mounted lifeline, a fold-away system could be used.

Inspections, Certification and Training – We offer complete examination and certification of our Fall-Pac fall protection systems, as well as any required maintenance, repair. We can also provide training for new employees and refresher courses for experienced staff on a regular basis.

Other Areas – Maintenance facilities often have rooftop HVAC, communication, and other equipment near the edge that may expose maintenance staff to a fall hazard. Guardrails and fall arrest bags are typically the greatest protection for these spaces when they can be avoided. A fall arrest or restraint system could also be created to give the desired safety when a guardrail is not feasible. Any skylights, roof hatches, or similar features should be equipped with a barrier or cover to prevent people from accidentally falling through them.