Railcar & Trucks

Rigid Lifelines is the industry authority in understanding the working at height needs present in the railcar and trucking industries.

Railcars

Railcar applications typically require fall protection compliance because of the overall height of the railcar. Box cars, tankers, hoppers, and locomotives all have overall heights of 15’-16’, with some container cars reaching as high at 20’. Workers must climb on top of railcars for various reasons, some of the most common being; loading or unloading of product, inspection of hatches and latches, welding and exterior work, locomotive engine overhaul, or axle changes. All of these tasks become more difficult when work must be done outdoors and adverse weather or climate conditions are introduced. Workers may be required to traverse railcars that have wet surfaces due to rain, snow, or ice.

Trucks

Trucking applications also require fall protection compliance because of the height of the vehicles. Eighteen wheelers, flatbeds, platforms, semi-trailers, tankers, delivery, garbage, and fire trucks may all be of a height that when accessed from the top will require fall protection by law. The common height of an eighteen wheeler is 13’-6”, a height that far exceeds OSHA’s 4’-0” height requirement for fall protection. Trucks are climbed on top of for jobs including loading or unloading of product, inspection, maintenance, tarping, and pressure washing. When these jobs are performed outdoors, hazards are increased due to weather and possible slippery working surfaces due to rain, snow or ice.

Rigid Lifelines offers several solutions for railcar and truck fall protection.

Possible Solution

Ceiling Mounted Monorail Fall Protection Systems

When fall protection above railcars or trucks is required indoors, Rigid Lifelines Ceiling Mounted Monorail Systems get the job done. Systems are mounted to the existing structure providing it has been approved by a qualified engineer. These systems can accommodate spans up to 100’ (multiple spans can cover thousands of feet), providing a single path of straight run fall protection coverage over one or multiple railcars or trucks. Our rigid track can also be flush mounted to allow for even greater headroom. Ceiling mounted monorails can incorporate multiple tracks allowing for more than one worker to walk the railcar or truck without the need to unhook when passing another worker. Each track utilizes a rolling trolley that allows for easy hook up with a lanyard. Attempting to stretch a cable system over railcar or truck applications can put workers at serious risk of falling between train cars or trailers, or hitting the ground. Learn More »

Possible Solution

Freestanding H-Frame Fall Protection Systems

This style of fall protection system can benefit users when pouring concrete footers or pillars is not feasible. Freestanding H-Frame systems can normally be bolted to 6” standard concrete foundations, allowing for installation in areas with underground obstacles like fuel or electrical lines. Each frame consists of two columns with a support beam, with one or multiple enclosed tracks bolted to the frames. The Freestanding H-Frame design can be engineered to heights that accommodate tall container railcars or trucks. Learn More »

Possible Solution

Freestanding Cantilever Support and Post Fall Protection Systems

These systems are chosen either as user preference or when fall protection must cover a railcar or truck loading or unloading area that is adjacent to a building or other structure. The systems extend the track above the railcars or trucks to provide a single path of coverage for the worker. Both systems require multiple foundations, but post systems can limit the number of foundations required due to their engineered design. Post systems can also be mirrored to provide multi-track or multi-bay fall protection coverage. These systems are capable of spanning up to 100’ and are perfect for covering outdoor applications like grain silos, oil refineries, or food processing facilities. Learn More »

NOTE: If the possible solutions mentioned on this page don’t fit the vision for your application, please browse our full product line here, or please call Rigid Lifelines sales for more information on how we can help engineer a solution for your specific fall protection application.