Seeking Advice on Foolproof Safety Devices for Worker Descent: How Do You Ensure Maximum Protection?

Implementing Safe Ascending/Descending Devices

We would like to implement Safe Ascending/Descending Devices to ensure a foolproof arrangement while lowering workers for inspection work on the external silo walls, as well as painting and inspecting the external chimney walls, etc.

Previously, we carried out such tasks using a winch machine and a man basket arrangement. However, this setup lacks a secondary means of protection. If the winch or even a pulley fails, the entire arrangement could fail, potentially leading to a major accident.

Therefore, we require a foolproof system for these tasks. I trust you understand our specific requirement. Kindly suggest the best and safest method available in the market today. If you have any information on manufacturers' addresses, please share them as well.

I need this information to present a proposal to management. I look forward to hearing from all of you and hope to find a perfect solution to this practical problem from the forum.

Regards,
Dipil Kumar V

Awaiting your comments, suggestions, or advice in this regard, please. An earliest reply will help me a lot.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Dipil Kumar V

Dear Dipil, I sent an email to my friend regarding the safety equipment (JLG/Scissor lift) manufacturer/rental address in Chennai, but I didn't receive any reply due to the weekend. If I get the address, I will send it to you.

Thanks & Be safe,
Raghu

I need some photos to understand your risk level.

Questions:

1. How much height?
2. Frequency of work?
3. How many persons to work?
4. What are your existing control measures? (Include some photos)

Dear Dipil, Currently, we are using movable adjustable ladders (telescopic ladders), which suffice for our usage. We also have monkey ladders to reach the top of the chimney (some around 35m). Kindly provide me with details of the height and the areas where they are to be used. I do not have a sufficient answer for you at the moment. However, I can take up the same with the vendor who supplied us the fall arrestors and try to find a solution as they may have different contacts.

Thanks and regards.

Thanks for your interest shown in the topic. I am very sorry to say I did not get time today to capture the photos. I will upload the photos soon.

Let me provide you with some more data that you requested. The height of the chimney is 80 meters, and the height of the silo is 76 meters. This is a one-time task for now. We need to inspect the external walls and carry out any necessary repair work. This job requires a minimum of three persons. As I mentioned before, our current working method involves using a winch and a man basket arrangement. We are looking for something that can be a foolproof system.

Thanks for your concern. I hope the above data is sufficient for you to assist me. If you need any specific details, please let me know.

The ladder that you mentioned will not solve or help me in this situation.

I am looking forward to a fruitful outcome from the forum discussions.

Regards,
Dipil Kumar V

Dear Dipil, Have you got a crane with the required boom length to reach the height? If you have, the best method is to use a crane-suspended man basket. A man lift can be used to reach a height of around 30 meters only, whereas a crane can reach far more than your required height. There may be rental companies for you to hire a crane. The man basket is to be made to specification.

Regards,
Kesava Pillai

Dear Mr. Keshav Pillai, Thank you very much for your advice. We have a crane with a 100-ton capacity made by Grove. However, the boom height is at a maximum of 60 or 70 meters, which I will have to confirm. I have reached out to two leading safety equipment manufacturers regarding our requirements. I hope to receive a response by tomorrow. After that, I will share the information for all of your comments. Our management is keen on not keeping the crane idle for this job due to its high cost. They recommend opting for a product that meets our needs efficiently. Please allow me a day's time. I will attempt to post both the quotations and photos of the actual situation. Once again, thank you for your advice.

Best regards,
Dipil Kumar V

Dear Dipil,

Methods for Safe Access to Chimneys and Silos

There are only two methods to go up that height and do the job around a chimney: either use a crane with a suspended man basket or put up a suitable scaffold.

Around metal silos, you may be able to put up tank builders' bracket scaffolds economically. In this case, you still have to use mechanical access/egress.

Will a winch help you move around the chimney or silo? The answer is "No"!

If it is for window cleaning or building maintenance where the terrace is available to fix manufactured scaffold hanging on wire ropes, there is absolutely no problem. You can have many types of equipment. In your case, you have no other way.

The procurement department will have a catalogue of all manufacturers and suppliers of every type of equipment. It will be easy to find it from that.

Considering life as precious, sparing the crane is sensible. If not in construction, a crane will never be used all through the day, I am sure. In construction, of course, only scaffold, manlift, or crane-suspended work platforms (man baskets) are employed.

Let us know the outcome of your research, please.

Regards,
Kesava Pillai

I am attaching the following:

1. Photographs of the silo and chimney.
2. Quotation of Descending Kit and details received from M/s. Karam.
3. Quotation of Ascending & Descending Kit details received from M/s. Udyogi.

@ Keshav Sir, as you rightly said, both the quotations which I received are for window cleaning kits. However, both kits contain a sit harness and claim to be ideal for use during long working hours. I need to confirm this point.

Another point to note is that in both the cases of the silo and chimney, I have a safe anchorage point at the top. Therefore, let's focus on the descending aspect primarily, as both provide safe access to reach the top. Please suggest whether I can proceed with this product or if there is another product available that is more user-friendly and safer.

You have mentioned:

"Winch – will it help you to move around the chimney or silo? The answer is 'No'!"

Could you please provide an explanation for this? Why is it so?

In the case of a crane-suspended man basket, what is the secondary means of protection? Is it a foolproof system? Do the persons inside the man basket need to use safety harnesses? If so, where should one anchor them?

I look forward to more engagement on this matter from all of you.

Regards,

Dipil Kumar V

Dear Dipil,

Kindly try to make out a questionnaire:

- What is the task?
- How many people are to work at height at a time?
- How much time are they to be at height?
- Can a person be continuously in the same posture in the proposed system and continue to do the job for the required duration?
- What is the proposed Ascending/Descending mechanism employed?
- What are the safety measures?
- What is the rescue system planned for?
- Is the system being employed elsewhere for the same task?

Depending on your task, have a self-check, and if you find satisfactory answers, you can select any system to work for you.

You can also consider single-point suspended scaffolds rather than using the one you have attached.

However, if it were my case, I would only advise crane-suspended platforms (Man baskets). Previously, in using crane-suspended man baskets, the safety harness used to be attached to the crane hook directly, but now it is recommended to attach it to the wire rope just above the hook and to use shackles if necessary.

Regards,

Kesava Pillai

Dear Raghu, thanks for your inputs and the critical lift plan. It will surely help me. Please also send a copy to my email: [Email Removed For Privacy Reasons].

Acknowledgment to Keshav Sir

Thanks for your great explanations. I will surely adopt the idea of creating a questionnaire for the task and will analyze it.

Let me advise my management on whether to opt for a crane or a single-point suspended scaffold. I hope they are considering this seriously.

I was really confused about the suggested anchorage point when somebody is going up in a crane-suspended man basket cage. Thanks a lot for clearing that up.

Inquiry About Single-Point Suspended Scaffold

One more thing, please: Is this single-point suspended scaffold available in the market, or do we have to make it locally? Once again, thanks in advance for the great help.

Regards,
Dipil Kumar V

Dear All, Can anyone help me in knowing more about safety in winch machines? What are the inner mechanisms in a winch machine for safety? What precautions do we have to take while using the winch machine, especially in fixing and all related tasks? Can we use the winch machine and man basket arrangement to lower and raise people? If the answer is yes or no, why?

If anyone has specific write-ups or presentations regarding winch machines, please share the same. Your inputs will be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Regards,
Dipil Kumar V

Dear Dipil, regarding winch machine safety, I don't have any PPT. I will check with my friends. If I get one, I will post it. Please check the manufacturer's safety manual for a solution.

Thanks & Be safe,

Raghu

I was expecting a great contribution from your side as you have shown a keen interest in the discussions and raised a few queries. However, thanks for your participation. Can you please explain why we should not go for a crane-suspended man lift?

Thanks for your advice and inputs.

Regards,
Dipil Kumar V