Confined Space and Power Hoisting?
Power Hoisting for Confined Space????
Can it be done? Should it be done? Is it being done? If so, how is it being done?
Can it be done? Have you ever tried to raise a 250 lb person 50 ft vertically in 5 minutes or less using any of the current man lifts?
Its tuff even for a man in his mid twenties, that’s 1 foot per 6 seconds for 5 minutes.
Should it be done? What about lifting with excessive force possibly causing crippling injuries? OSHA clearly addresses that
and states No boom crane, Overhead Crane, Backhoe or Fork lift can be used to lift personnel for confined space because these
lifting devices can and will lift with active force and can cause injuries. Why can’t I use a Simple Boat Hand Winch? Well because it
too can lift with excessive force. Man lift winches have been designed to limit the force through mechanical means. One means is the
use of a slip clutch or special gear reduction.
Is it being done? Yes and for many years, the window washing industry, ship building yards, and in the mining industry have been
power-hoisting personnel. There is no way that a person could be raised from a 1000-ft shaft using a hand-operated hoist.
How is it done? We contacted J.Nigel Ellis, Ph.D., P.E., CSP, CPE Founder of RTC Corp. and a co-author of Federal Standard 1910.146 (Confined Space), and asked what were the standards? What were the hazards of power hoisting and his thoughts on addressing these hazards?
First: We developed our Load Limiter© which pins to the end of the bumper’s Davit arm and senses the weight on the lifting cable
and can shut off the hoist’s lifting signal at 350 lbs. of payload.
Second: We also have a special hoist drum, a B.L.G.L.© that is capable of meeting the 3,200 lb. minimum anchoring point that IS required for Man rating.
Third: We have a “back –up” manual winch system that is also required should the power hoist become unresponsive. We have this Back –up system mounted back away from the edge of the manhole in order to reduce the risk of the rescuer falling in to the manhole.
Fourth: The Sto-Away® also has built-in fall protection that will catch him/her in 2 feet or less should the entrant slip & fall while
he/she has decided to climb out of the manhole and finds a broken or missing step.
Fifth: A “keyed authorized – two handed” over ride switch should the hoist be needed to raise two people at once.
Sixth: A custom steering wheel Lock- Out and Tag - Out system so that the entrant can lock out the truck when the Sto-Away® is being used as a man lift.
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