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Moving safety to the forefront: Part 2

World Pipelines,


Stability

Another major safety factor for material handlers that are required to move pipe is stability. Operators need to be conscientious of the different circumstances that can impact the stability of a loaded vehicle while in use, including speed, grade and ground conditions. There are numerous other factors related to the design stability of the machine itself. Weight distribution, suspension, wheelbase and tires can all influence a vehicle’s resistance to tipping, even during completely normal operations.

The level of stability is also going to depend on the vehicle’s intended function versus its actual use on the jobsite. Looking at a wheel loader again as an example, this machine is very good at moving dirt and is mainly designed to do exactly that.

A wheel loader can lose as much as 50% of its rated load capacity when going into a turn. Because of this, drivers with sharp turns in front of them may have no choice but to resort to multiple-point turns, moving forward and back as much as needed until the turn is complete.

Unfortunately, sometimes operators are not aware that the physical dynamics of a loader are changing when turning or otherwise manoeuvring the machine. Simply relying on the vehicle’s specification data under normal use – and failing to make proper adjustments to the speed, load or turning approach to account for these changes – will lead to a greater likelihood of an accident.

Personnel who work in stockyards where wheel loaders are routinely used are probably familiar with the sight of a loader lying on its side with pipe scattered nearby on the ground. Of course, a danger exists not only to the operator in this type of scenario, but also to bystanders in the vicinity of the machine.

Unlike forward reaching loaders that have an articulating joint, Pettibone’s Cary-Lift has a heavy-duty, solid steel frame design that gives it the ability to take full loads into sharp turns without sacrificing any load capacity or stability. In the particular case of the newly redesigned Cary-Lift 154, there is a shorter wheelbase that allows for a better turning radius without affecting load capacity.

Working on a paved or level stockyard drive aisle is one thing, but pipeline construction jobs out in the field clearly provide a whole new set of stability challenges for material handlers. Some stockyards might rely on traditional straight mast forklifts, but these machines are designed to operate on a smooth, graded work surface and are not capable of going into rough terrain applications. Using an all-terrain, 4-wheel drive machine is a basic necessity when hauling or laying pipe into place during the pipeline construction process.

Another feature offered on some machines to enhance stability is hydraulic frame sway control. Vehicles with this capability can essentially level themselves and the lifting frame to a certain degree in either direction. This levelling action compensates for the irregularities of uneven terrain, helping to ensure operators are carrying a safe, stable load.

Keeping personnel safe

Any appropriate material handler can collect a load of pipe from an open stockyard stack. Unloading pipe from railroad gondola cars, however, is another matter. Overhead lifting cranes, like gantry cranes, are commonly used to take pipe out of gondola cars. These cranes can certainly handle the workload, but they require some initial help.

In these applications, an operator or another worker has to actually climb down inside the gondola car and strap the pipe manually before it can be lifted out. This is an extremely hazardous situation.

Pettibone’s Cary-Lift line offers a solution to the problem of placing people inside a gondola car. The machine’s overhead lift arms have the correct geometry to be able to tilt the forks down 90° and scoop the pipe out. A car can be completely emptied by one machine operator without ever having to put someone inside the car. In addition to keeping people out of harm’s way, this approach is also simply more efficient from a labour standpoint.

Another growing standard in the heavy equipment industry is the addition of ergonomic features that reduce operator fatigue. Adjustable seats, padded armrests, lumbar support, and climate-controlled cabs are just a few offerings that make it much easier to work a demanding and long shift.

Along these same lines, equipment manufacturers are implementing smarter operating station arrangements to help drivers work more safely and avoid freak accidents that can happen in a split second. For example, the Cary-Lift 154 includes a multifunction joystick with intuitive fingertip controls that allow the operator to shift gears and control hydraulics without having to change hand positions or ever let go of the steering wheel.

Maintaining safety

A less obvious factor in the safety aspect of operating a forklift, wheel loader or other material handler is proper machine maintenance. When routine maintenance is neglected, there is a greater likelihood that something could break or cease to function correctly, and these outcomes could easily lead to safety issues.

Though maintenance is ultimately the responsibility of the operator or a service technician, equipment manufacturers have helped the cause by centralising the locations for lubrication and other service tasks, as well as making these areas more readily accessible. Even a simple job like fuelling the vehicle can be hazardous for a worker if it requires climbing on a machine, carrying a gas can, or lifting a fuel hose high above one’s head. Keeping maintenance tasks simple helps ensure that machines are running smoothly and that fewer incidents occur while performing the service itself.

Priorities

The oil and gas pipeline industry, like many business sectors, is highly cognizant of safety and puts forth an exceptional effort to make jobsites safe. That said, the need for speed, efficiency and profits can sometimes overshadow safety concerns. Fortunately, manufacturers like Pettibone are doing their part to aid production companies by introducing equipment that fully delivers on productivity, while still ensuring that operational safety remains a key priority.


Written by John Major, Pettibone Heavy Equipment Group, USA, and edited by Hannah Priestley-Eaton

To read the full version of the article, please download a copy of the August issue of World Pipelines

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/29082014/moving-safety-to-the-forefront-part-2/

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