FALL-RESTRAINT SYSTEM IMPROVES TRAILER TARPING SAFETY

Loading:  safety

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INTRODUCTION:  The Huber Engineered Woods OSB mill in Spring City, Tennessee installed an overhead fall-restraint/arrest system at its woodyard in 2005.  This lanyard-and-harness system improves safety during the trailer tarping process. 

Fig. 1:  FPS fall-restraint system is convenient for the user
and cost-effective for the wood products facility.

GENERAL FEATURES:  The system consists of a heavy-duty vertical support column and an integrated truss-supported trolley rail-style horizontal frame at the top.  The frame supports a safety harness and a self-retracting lifeline/lanyard worn by the truck driver.  The fall-arrest system includes a training video that all drivers must view and "sign off" on before they tarp their first load at the Huber woodyard.

OPERATION:  Every truck driver who needs to tarp a load of wood residues or other product on site must attach the harness and be hooked up before climbing the trailer ladder.  Should the truck driver lose his or her balance and fall off the trailer, the self-retracting lifeline arrests the fall  and holds the person in place, until he or she can be lowered by a power assist or other means.

Fig. 2:  Driver attaches the harness and lanyard before climbing the open-top trailer.

APPLICATION:  Suppliers have responded positively to this safety feature and to Huber's concern for contractors' protection.  No one has fallen since Huber installed the system.

This fall-restraint system would be a valuable safety addition at any wood products facility where chip trailers and other open-top loads must be tarped or untarped.

SPECIFICATIONS AND COST:  This woodyard safety system is sold by Fall Protection Systems, Inc. of Hazelwood, Missouri.  The FPS web sites at http://www.fallprotectionsystems.com/ and www.fpssales.com (phone 877-972-0400) have photo images and additional information on various fall protection systems.  Huber's fall arrest system is the FPS model L-40, with a 30-foot-high vertical column and 40-foot-long horizontal truss bar.  The L-40 allows the operator to travel over 50 feet in full protection.

Fig. 3: Fall-restraint system reassures the truck driver
that he will be safe during the tarping process

FPS kits come with step-by-step installation instructions, complete training materials, and a five-year full warranty.  Huber used a local contractor for construction and installation to reduce its total cost (system and installation) to $26,000; installation is not technically difficult.  FPS also offers a turnkey installation option.  FPS advertises that its fall protection systems comply with all OSHA, MSHA, ANSI, and CSA fall-protection requirements.

 Todd Berman
 Huber Engineered Woods, LLC
 P.O. Box 1104
 Spring City, Tennessee  37381
 423-452-7111
 todd.berman@huber.com

Reviewed by: 
Rick Meyer 
Appalachian/Southeastern Region Manager