Some people claim they cannot do much of anything without their morning coffee. Others rely on a mid-afternoon “energy drink” to get them through the rest of the day. Nutrition advocates say that fruits like bananas and avocados provide a needed lift. Whether a jolt of caffeine, carbs, or sugar, people get a boost of power to perform their work and chores. Yet, even when asleep, a person is still burning stored calories, the body’s fuel.
Power-generating plants are similar in that they produce electricity for continuous transmission and distribution along the grid, with lulls and high points (e.g., air conditioning during a scorching hot day) when an extra boost is needed.
Upkeep of power plants to ensure reliable service means workers must perform frequent inspections, maintenance, and repair of the machinery and equipment that go into a power plant. This often requires working at height, which is inherently dangerous. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, falls, trips, and slips are major causes of workplace fatalities.
Just like there are several choices for the person who needs a pick-me-up, there are different types of power plants, each with its array of similar and diverse fall protection challenges. For each type of facility, safeguarding workers from specific risks begins with a hazard assessment. It moves on to selection, installation, and proper training within the scope of a fall protection plan.
Assessing the hazards.
Coal Plants have large boilers and turbines that workers need to access. Tall chimneys requiring maintenance present a significant fall risk, and elevated conveyors must be inspected and maintained.
Nuclear Plants typically have tall cooling towers, requiring work-at-height maintenance. Reactor buildings have nuclear cores, pressure vessels, control systems, turbines, and other large equipment that need frequent attention.
Hydroelectric Plants have turbine halls with high ceilings and large equipment. Water intake and outflow structures are slippery and dangerous, and dam walls and spillways require maintenance work at significant heights.
Wind Farms have extremely tall wind turbines, and technicians must climb heights to perform maintenance.
Solar Farms are generally located on the ground but are also found on rooftops, where there are significant fall hazards during installation and maintenance.
Geothermal Plants have drilling rigs and steam towers involving work-at-height maintenance.
POWERFUL Work at Height Solutions
Lifelines are a mainstay in the power plant industry for delivering “active” or personal fall protection.
- Overhead lifelines provide access to large equipment from above.
- Vertical lifelines make the use of ladders safer.
- Horizontal lifelines provide rooftop fall protection for up to three users.
Anchorage Systems are the foundational component of lifelines and can be permanently installed or offer mobile placement capability.
- Single-point anchors can be mounted overhead to a beam or a column, equipment, or part of an existing structure.
- Tie-back anchors offer a variety of mounting and connector options.
- Freestanding anchors can be moved from point to point on a flat or low-sloped surface.
Rigid Rail has a shorter fall arrest distance than cable-based lifelines for overhead work.
- Overhead tracks are ideal for where there is a short distance above the floor.
- Modular tracks are pre-engineered and ideal for where precise, technical work is needed.
- Truck and railcar rigid rail provide overhead access for deliveries and maintenance work.
Walkways & Crossovers, although designed for rooftops, are adaptable inside buildings and other areas to delineate safe pathways and “crossover” obstacles. They feature:
- Anti-slip, non-bounce, self-draining treads used for steps and walkway flooring.
- Galvanized steel frames for strength, durability, and corrosion resistance.
- Can be fitted with OSHA-compliant guardrails for added fall protection.
Elevated Work Platforms are a further development of walkways and crossovers (treads, frames, guardrails) adapted to the workstation needs. They are safer and more efficient than ladders.
- Static (or fixed) work platforms are designed for work in a specific area, especially for frequent use.
- Mobile work platforms feature heavy-duty locking casters for station-to-station portability.
- Custom work platforms can be engineered for adjustable height, shop services, and other features.
Rooftop Fall Protection can employ lifelines, anchorages, walkways, crossovers, and work platforms. Other OSHA-compliant rooftop fall protection should include:
- Roof hatch kits with a guardrail and a self-closing gate for safe access.
- Skylight screens or skylight guardrails to protect workers from falling through a skylight.
- Perimeter guardrails constructed of pipe-fitted aluminum or galvanized steel railing with PVC counterweights. These modular systems can be adapted to virtually any roof configuration and are installed without penetrating the roof membrane.
See us for your safety solutions
If you are responsible for worker safety at a power plant, contact Lighthouse Safety for OSHA-compliant fall protection. We will discuss your concerns about regulations and what it will take for you to comply. Our services can include as little or as much as you need, from design, engineering, and fabrication to installation, training, and other support. We typically start with a hazard assessment of your facility and then provide consulting and planning services so you can decide what you need to ensure the safety of your workers.
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