Powered Winches Machines and Accosiated Hazards
Advantages of using winch machine instead of cranes can include:
- Lower operating costs
- The equipment is lighter and more portable
- The smaller size permits use in tight spots—they’re ideal for use inside buildings.
Winch machine can be used for both hoisting (vertical lift) and hauling (horizontal or vertical incline pulls). They may be powered hydraulically, electrically, by compressed air or by an internal combustion engine. The most common winch seen in construction are electric winches (for light lifting and pulling), and air-powered winches (for heavier loads). Wire rope is used for heavy applications while fibre rope is used for lighter applications.
Examples of winch use in construction include pulling electrical cables, moving heavy machinery, lifting vessels, and installing structural steel.
Winch machine are often used with other rigging attachments. The most common attachments include snatch blocks, sheaves, and rollers. Snatch blocks and sheaves are used to change the direction of pull while rollers are used to support the load.
Winch machines operations involve rigging. Because of this, the hazards associated with rigging operations will also be present while operating a winch machine. A very important element in winch operation safety is preplanning. Many difficulties can occur during a lift, such as an unexpected shift of the load’s centre of gravity. Planning for an adequate safety factor in, for example, the rigging components and anchor points, will avoid failures and potential catastrophe during winch use. Thorough planning of a lift will help you prepare for difficulties that may arise.
Hazards associated with tugger operation
The kinds of hazards a worker is likely to be exposed to during tugging operations are similar to those in rigging applications. Check for the following hazards, as well as conditions that can create hazards:
- Poor communication.
- Lack of training.
- Overloading.
- Failure of tugger and rigging assembly.
- Fall hazards.
- Failure of anchorage points of the winch or rigging components.
- Shifting or other movement of the tugger or point of anchorage when under load.
- Brake failure when under load.
- Unexpected movement of the equipment which can strike or crush a worker handling the load.
- The moving drum and sheaves which can pinch or crush a worker’s hand.
- Loose clothing or jewellery caught in drum or sheaves.
- Electrical hazards when using electrically powered winches.
- Carbon monoxide from combustion by-products in confined spaces.
- Fire or explosion (if operated in an area of combustible products).
- Exposure to hydraulic fluid from hoses breaking or leaks.
- Improper purging of hydraulic lines.
- Rope coming off the drum.
- Area not isolated from other workers or public during hoisting or hauling.
A winch machine must generate enough pull through the load line to lift, move, or hold the load and any associated rigging. In addition to this pull, there is also stored “potential” energy in the system. A failure in the rigging system can result in a violent whipping of the lift line due to release of this stored energy, and the release of the load. It's of paramount importance to ensure that all rigging and all points of anchorage are able to safely handle all loads, or all potential loads, to which they might be subjected.
All rigging components and points of anchorage may be subjected to forces greater than the weight of the load. It should to check and certified at regualr intervals by competent person and records to be maiantained as per local country requirements.
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment