Maintenance personnel performing tasks in underground vaults, tanks, storage bins, and silos typically enter the work area through long, narrow access points measuring less than 24’ in diameter.  In the safety world, these working conditions are termed “confined space” applications.  Confined space presents two basic challenges; providing a safe means of entrance and exit and providing for rescue if an employee succumbs to hazardous atmospheric conditions or sustains an injury.  Davit arms solve both problems by allowing topside workers to assist with the controlled descent and ascent of a co-worker from a confined work space.

Davit arms fall into two main categories:  fixed and portable systems.  As the name suggests, fixed davit arms are permanently mounted in confined space areas requiring frequent maintenance.  Access is a simple matter of tying off, removing the cover protecting the hole, and lowering the worker into position.  Portable systems are ideal for work areas requiring infrequent access or in instances when a permanent installation will cause congestion.  Until recently, workers had to choose between the secure connection and larger physical footprint of a permanent system versus the convenience of a portable or temporary davit arm.

Thanks to the ingenuity of DFP engineers, we now offer a third option that combines the secure connection of a fixed davit system with the portability of a temporary unit.  Diversified Fall Protection’s Portable Davit Base features wheels, making the unit highly maneuverable and completely portable.  The wheels and compact base design allows for easy storage when the system is not in use.  The system’s receiver also adds 42” of additional height to your existing davit arm.

Each Portable Davit Base Systems comes complete with four threaded concrete inserts and four protective insert cap screws.  To use the system, simply install the threaded concrete inserts, align the base holes, and use the included bolts to secure the base in place.  To remove the davit system, simply loosen and remove the bolts, tip the base up, and wheel the base away for convenient storage. With these steps complete, finish the job by inserting and tightening the cap screws, which will prevent dirt and grease from harming the insert threads.

If the large bases associated with most portable systems or permanently installed davits crowd your work area, consider Diversified Fall Protection’s Portable Davit Base.  Portability combined with a safe, secure connection makes the Portable Davit Base an ideal solution for confined space applications.  To learn more about the Portable Davit Base, request pricing, or place an order, contact Diversified Fall Protection for additional assistance.