The transportation industry is the backbone of regional and national transit systems, ensuring the safe movement of people and goods. However, it’s also an industry fraught with danger, especially for workers involved in the inspection, maintenance and repair of buses, subway cars, semi-trucks and railcars.
These workers often face significant fall hazards while performing routine tasks like cleaning, repairing or securing cargo, particularly when they are required to work at heights or on elevated surfaces. Implementing effective fall protection solutions is critical for their safety and the efficiency of the transportation systems they maintain.
Understanding Fall Hazards in Transportation
In transit and trucking industries, fall hazards are prevalent in loading and unloading areas and in maintenance facilities. Workers frequently need to board flatbed trailers or railcars to secure the cargo or remove tarps and other securing items before unloading.
In these situations, the absence of adequate fall protection measures puts workers at risk of serious injury or even death due to a misstep or accidental fall. That’s why a comprehensive fall arrest system tailored to each unique environment is essential to ensure worker safety.
Buses and Subway Cars
Buses and subway cars form the core of regional transit systems and they require frequent inspection and maintenance to ensure public safety and efficiency. Many critical mechanical components of these vehicles are located on the roof, which exposes maintenance personnel to significant fall hazards.
In bus depots and subway maintenance facilities, where overhead space is often limited, fall protection systems such as horizontal lifelines or rigid rail solutions are ideal. These systems are designed to provide secure anchorage points that allow workers to move freely without obstruction while remaining protected from falls.
For outdoor maintenance areas, solutions like rails in the shape of inverted “L”s, “T”s or “U”s can be customized depending on the number of tracks, railcars and users. These structures enable the use of fall arrest systems that cover wide areas, accommodating multiple vehicles and keeping workers safe while not interfering with normal railroad operations.
Railcars and Rail Yards
Rail yards are particularly challenging environments when it comes to fall protection. These facilities are chaotic and tight locations where employees work not only at heights but also in areas that move and shift. The risk of falls is heightened by the need to frequently climb on and off railcars, often carrying heavy equipment or tools. Continuous rigid fixed-track lifeline systems or cable lifelines mounted on overhead structures such as inverted “U”s or inverted “L”s are commonly used to protect workers in these environments.
Other common fall protection solutions on railyards are davit cranes, which are revolving arms that extend past the fixed base to give workers a wider diameter of mobility. Davit cranes and rigid rail systems allow workers to move safely along the entire length of a railcar while performing their tasks without obstructing normal rail yard operations.
Semi-trucks and Trucking Facilities
The large semi-trucks that transport freight across the country’s roadways also present significant fall hazards. The maintenance and cleaning of semis, which often occur at elevated heights, expose workers to the risk of falls. Depending on the structure available, indoor fall protection solutions can include horizontal cable lifelines or rigid rail systems. Similar to rail cars, for outdoor truck maintenance, portable lifelines or inverted “U” systems mounted on steel frames provide flexible solutions that can be moved around a facility as needed.
Aircraft Maintenance
The aviation industry is another sector within transportation where fall protection is critically important yet often overlooked — and we don’t mean falling out of planes.
Aircraft maintenance workers frequently operate on elevated surfaces during routine repair and cleaning tasks. Custom-engineered fall protection systems, such as overhead horizontal cable lifelines or rigid rails, are essential to provide safe working conditions in these environments.
The design of these systems is tailored to the specific needs of the hangar, considering fall clearance measurements and available structure. Portable units may also be used when storage, clearance or budget constraints exist.
Addressing Common Fall Hazards and OSHA Compliance
While fall hazards at significant heights are easily identifiable, those at lower elevations can often go unnoticed. It’s a common misconception that falls from lower elevations are less dangerous. In reality, a fall from four feet can be just as hazardous as one from ten feet.
Companies involved in mass transit need to be vigilant in protecting their workers from falls, regardless of the height. Common violations include elevated walking surfaces with unguarded edges or maintenance tasks performed atop equipment without a platform. These scenarios expose workers to fall risks that are often overlooked until an incident occurs.
To address these risks, companies must prioritize safety audits and invest in engineering solutions that prevent falls. For example, installing handrails, portable safety gates or overhead fall protection systems can significantly reduce fall hazards. Fall protection experts can provide onsite assessments and customized solutions to help companies comply with OSHA regulations.
In the transportation industry, ensuring worker safety isn’t just a regulatory requirement; it’s a moral and operational imperative. Fall hazards, whether in rail yards, trucking facilities, bus depots or aircraft hangars, are a daily reality for transportation workers. A comprehensive fall protection system, tailored to the unique needs and conditions of each facility, is essential for protecting these workers and the seamless operation of transportation systems.
Contact EDGE Fall Protection today for a comprehensive assessment of your facility’s fall safety and all your fall protection needs.
