Companies that ship product using flatbed trucks need to establish a fall prevention policy and ensure that all employees are trained and know how to use the equipment properly.
Working on a flatbed, a driver may become used to the height and not think it’s dangerous – but that driver would be wrong. If a truck bed is four feet off the ground and the driver is six feet tall, taking a dive headfirst is a ten-foot fall. This sort of accident can cause severe injuries and even death. It’s too easy to trip over an uneven load or have a load shift beneath your feet. With approximately 60% of all flatbed shipments requiring tarping, there are numerous instances where falls can take place.
Several types of protection exist whether it’s steps leading up to the bed or a harness and life line, but the best protection of all is fall prevention. There are two types of fall prevention your employees can use when tarping a load. The first is a flatbed trailer platform that places workers at the height of the trailer. Workers are out of harm’s way because they stand on sturdy aluminum platforms that have side guard rails to ensure fall prevention and make it easy to inspect loads, tarp flatbeds and more.
Access to a flatbed is safer and easier when the flatbed is positioned between two platforms. The platforms adjust horizontally with the touch of a button to sandwich the trailer in between. At that point it’s easy to reach the load for tarping, securing or sampling. Aluminum construction is strong yet light enough for one worker to maneuver saving on manpower.
Besides life saving benefits, flatbed trailer platforms have choices and benefits that allow for enough versatility to fit most any jobsite.
• single or double sided systems.
• fixed position or rolling models.
• optional canopy for bad weather.
• optional swing gates for an extra layer of fall prevention.
The very best option for flatbed fall prevention is an overhead tarping system. This type of system allows the driver to keep his/her feet on the ground at all times. An overhead tarping system can be added to an existing structure or a freestanding unit can be designed. It’s easy to use and requires only one operator for the handheld controls. That way, no extra manpower is needed. The system is incredibly easy and safe to use.
The benefits of an overhead tarping system are:
• ease of use.
• saves lives, money and time.
• attaches to an existing structure or design as freestanding unit.
• spreader bar system with handheld controls guide tarp over the length of the flatbed.
At Carbis, we specialize in fall prevention equipment and our engineers can design an overhead tarping system and/or a trailer platform to fit your company’s needs. Contact us today.
