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Fall Protection Systems & Fall Arrest Equipment for Railcars

Rail yard supervisors are under enormous pressure to keep their work areas safe and operating at maximum efficiency. Smooth and slippery tank cars, rain and snow-covered ladder rungs and railings, and variable loading platform shapes and heights expose workers to significant fall hazards.

Keeping rail yard workers safe requires a comprehensive fall prevention strategy, which includes the proper mix of fall arrest equipment, design and engineering, and personnel training. Partner with a fall protection company that appreciates the unique nature of the potential fall hazards associated with your industry.

Whether your application requires an “L” or “T” style horizontal lifeline system, a rigid rail fall arrest system, or an access platform equipped with a gangway, Diversified Fall Protection has the design, fabrication, and installation experience to keep your facility in compliance with OSHA requirements while keeping your personnel safe.

Diversified is a complete turnkey provider of rail yard fall protection systems with years of design and installation experience in the railroad market sector. As an industry leader, DFP understands the heavy regulations mandated by Federal Railroad Administration guidelines, and major North American railroads trust Diversified as their fall protection provider.

Contact DFP for expert assistance with your fall arrest, fall restraint and fall protection safety requirements.

Fall Protection Solutions

Fall Protection System Design Considerations

There is no one “best solution” to all railroad car and train siding fall protection hazards. Each situation is unique, requiring a site assessment and an engineered solution to meet your specific needs. Individual railroad companies have their own specifications, and the configuration of each rail yard, as well as the materials moving through these areas varies widely.

A fall protection system designed to accommodate the storage and servicing of stationary rolling stock needs to provide different coverage from fall arrest equipment installed for loading and unloading grain or coal. Industrial rail sidings found in factories, underground mines, outside quarries, servicing wharves, foundries, refineries, and warehouses each in turn need their own engineered solution to protect railcar workers from falls.

Although elevated catwalk and gangway systems, fixed platforms, and ladders are common, from a best practices standpoint, use of an elevated platform with a fold down gangway that allows an individual to be elevated to the height of the railcar is preferred. Railroad personnel are protected by a guardrail while attaching their SRL and walking down the gangway to access the top of the railcar.

Railcar load and unload facilities typically require an overhead fall protection system. On taller railcar facilities where working heights allow, permanent horizontal lifelines, rigid beam systems, and “L” and “T” style fall protection systems are common.

DFP sets the standard for overhead rigid rail fall protection for railcar fall protection operations, creating solutions for working over tanker, spine, and hopper cars. Whether indoor or outdoor, permanent or portable, overhead rigid rail fall protection systems provide the highest degree of mobility and safety in fall protection. DFP’s rigid rail systems utilize a patented TD3 truss to allow for greater spans between support columns, reducing both the costs and the footprint of the system.

In applications where an “L” or “T” style system is under consideration, the depth of the water table, as well as the condition and compaction of the soil must be assessed to ensure an adequate foundation to support the weight of the system. For site-specific maintenance, or temporary railcar access, a portable fall protection system may also be utilized.

Regardless of the system, care must be taken to specify equipment that is appropriate for use with the materials commonly found in the yard, such as chlorine or acids. With years of experience in the railroad and railcar industry, DFP can implement a turnkey fall protection system that keeps your employees safe and your facility compliant with all OSHA regulations.

OSHA Regulations & ANSI Standards

Regulations for fall protection systems and equipment are constantly changing. With so much on the line, find up-to date information to ensure your company is in compliance.

Walking Working Surfaces – 1910

Safety and Health Regulations for Construction – 1926

ANSI Z359 Fall Protection Codes

Talk to a fall protection specialist

Tell us about your fall protection needs, and we’ll configure a system that rises to your challenges.