Griffin™ Improves Leading Salt Distributor’s Fall Protection Method

Salt City, Inc. is a leading salt distributor located in Westfield Massachusetts. They specialize in the distribution of road salt to surrounding townships and municipalities. The salt comes in on railcars, which are unloaded through a hatch at the bottom of the car and onto a conveyor below. Typically the salt flows out of the bottom hatch with ease, but sometimes, the salt sticks together in big chunks and needs to be broken apart to fit through the hatch. In this case, workers have to climb to the top of the railcar and use a metal rod with a chisel on the end to break apart the salt. As large chunks are broken up, the railcar begins to rock and shake, which exposes the workers to serious fall hazards.

Salt City made the decision that a new fall protection system was needed. Their previous system was a ladder leading up to a platform, with a small rail around it, where workers would tie-off. The operational technology manger for Salt City reached out to Jack Norton from Warner Specialty Products, Inc. for a safety evaluation.

Jack visited the facility with Rigid Lifelines®’ rep Timothy O’Leary, and Mike Gaugh, Facility Manager for Salt City. O’Leary felt they needed a dexterously engineered fall protection system to keep workers safe when climbing on top of railcars. Rigid Lifelines, along with the management team at Salt City, decided that a Skidded Griffin™ would best fit their fall protection needs.

Timothy O’Leary conducted a daylong training orientation on the newly installed Griffin system. A variety of safety standards and regulations were covered during the training. Employees learned how to put on a harness correctly, how to tie-off properly, and how to formulate a rescue plan effectively.

According to Mike Gaugh, their new Griffin Fall Anchor Track™ System is ergonomic, effective, and user-friendly. Workers are able to access the top hatch and free any stuck salt safely and effectively with the assurance of a Rigid Lifelines’ Skidded Griffin.