Cars, trains, ships, and airplanes are used as modes of transportation in both the commercial sector and the public sector. Classic examples include trucks and train cars in the logistics sector, as well as watercraft, aircraft, and transport vehicles in ports or hangars. Large transport vehicles are also used for emergency vehicles by fire departments or disaster response teams. During loading and unloading operations, as well as when securing cargo, skilled workers move in close proximity to the vehicles or even on top of them—and thus at heights that can be dangerous. Similarly, inspection and cleaning tasks are continuously carried out on or in the immediate vicinity of the vehicles.
In professional workshops with sufficient space, platforms, ramps, or raised platforms are used for servicing and inspection of transport vehicles. Where this is not possible, alternative fall protection is required: For example, an anchorage device combined with personal protective equipment (PPE) can be attached either overhead to building structures or directly to the vehicle. INNOTECH offers systems for securing single or multiple people under a wide variety of spatial conditions.
Local conditions and vehicles vary widely across the transport industry’s broad spectrum of applications: Conditions in a port differ from those at a logistics company. However, one thing applies everywhere: By law, safety measures are required for personnel involved in loading and unloading, as well as for servicing, inspection, and cleaning .
Particular requirements apply especially at heights between 1 and 3 meters: The risk of falls and injuries is often underestimated, and a fall protection system is legally required at heights of 2 meters or more. However, anchor points cannot be installed everywhere. In any case, the use of an airbag vest is recommended to protect against serious injuries to the back and chest.
Special considerations for transport vehicles:
- The surface area of vehicles on which work is performed is significantly smaller compared to other application areas—such as the roof of an industrial building. Unintentional movements, such as a careless step backward, can lead to a fall (from a height) more quickly here due to the small surface area.
- Loading and unloading of transport vehicles takes place outdoors in all weather conditions—entering hazardous areas is virtually inevitable. Outsis and workshops, slipping due to weather conditions adds another source of danger.
Three Solutions for Fall Protection Systems in the Transportation Sector
The size and height of transport vehicles vary greatly — a truck, for example, is generally much taller than a car. Loading and maintenance activities are also carried out indoors under sheltered conditions, but also outdoors in all weather conditions. As diverse as the applications and areas of use in transportation are, the ideal safety solutions from INNOTECH are straightforward:
- In workshops or hangars, personal safety is best ensured using PPE and lanyards connected to an overhead lifeline system.This allows multiple people to work safely on different vehicles. Continuous movement within the lifeline system is thus possible.
- If an overhead solution cannot be implemented or if work is primarily performed outdoors on the vehicle, INNOTECH fall protection systems—specifically the TAURUS rail safety system—can be mounted directly on the vehicle.
- Especially for fall heights between 1 and 3 meters, we recommend personal protective equipment (PPE) against falls from a height with an airbag, which provides protection where securing with a safety harness (full body harness) is not practical.
Benefits of a fall protection system in passenger and freight transport:
- Real safety instead of false security: A fall (from a height) from a vehicle can have consequences just as serious as a fall (from a height) from a house roof. With a professional safety solution, everyone working near or on a transport vehicle is fully secured.
- Simultaneous servicing for multiple vehicles: A continuous system, such as the AIO overhead lifeline system, is mounted along the hall on the ceiling structure. This allows servicing of multiple vehicles to be performed using a single fall protection system.
- Flexibility in installation: INNOTECH systems can be mounted on steel, concrete, and various other surfaces. This allows them to adapt to on-site conditions.
- Safety with optimal freedom of movement: A fall protection system must provide safety without negatively impacting work processes. With INNOTECH overhead fall protection or systems mounted directly on the vehicle, you remain flexible in your movements.
Challenges in Fall Protection Systems in Passenger and Freight Transport
- Underestimation of the danger: The seemingly low height of a truck, small van, or other vehicle leads to an underestimation of the fall risk and its potential consequences.
- Location-independent fall protection system, even outdoors: When a fixed fall protection system, such as an overhead solution, is not feasible, a solution directly on the vehicle is required.
- Limited space: Spatial conditions vary and cannot always be addressed by a standard solution. The fall protection system must therefore be individually adaptable.
- Low fall height: The standard does not mandate an anchorage device for low heights. To nevertheless ensure increased protection in the event of a fall, an airbag vest is a suitable solution for heights between 1 and 3 meters.