25.05.2023
Nationwide starts installing harness device
UK rental company Nationwide Platforms, a division of Loxam, has begun installing its new ‘Harness On’ safety device on its Specialist Vehicle truck mounted platform fleet, all of which are rented with operator. The move follows the installation on some of its boom lifts. The company hopes to have more than 6,000 of its boom lifts - virtually the entire fleet - equipped with the device by the end of the year.
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The Harness On device
Developed and tested over the past four years, the Harness On component is attached to the platform’s harness anchor points and is wired into the platform controls. Anyone planning to go up in the platform must then attach their lanyard to the device, which then enables the machine to be operated. The production version also includes an indicator light allowing operators to see when the device is working or, if the light fails to illuminate, a fault.
The company is also making the device available to any company that is interested in installing it.
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Christopher Houlton of Nationwide’s BlueSky Solution division, said: “We are really excited about this new evolution of Harness On and hope to get as many people exposed to this device as possible in the coming months. There's nothing else on the market that is quite so wide reaching with multiple applications across such a wide range of machines. Harness On is the future of safely working at height.”
Glenn Hall head of sales at Nationwide’s Specialist Vehicles business added: “Having our 26 metre and above truck mounts kitted out as an initial commitment and to demonstrate how the device works is a great step to ensuring safer working conditions across the industry. We hope to see more companies take up Harness On and continue the hard work that has been put into designing and utilising the product.”
Vertikal Comment
Anything that encourages the use of a harness and properly attached lanyard in boom lifts is to be applauded. Devices such as this have been around for a couple of years, for example
Terex Utilities Positive Attachment Lanyard (PAL) warning device, although they have tended to avoid a total lock out aspect, in case of a system malfunction etc…
This one seems not only much simpler to install on almost any machine, but also does include a lock out function. It will be interesting to see how it is accepted in the self-propelled fleet. It will need to be 100 percent reliable of course.
It is also good to see the company making it widely available, a completely different attitude to what it had with the Blue Sky anti-crush device, following its
acquisition of the business in 2012. It will be very interesting to see how the take-up goes and if manufacturers purchase it or devise their own solutions.
They abound
Binnsy, possibly overkill on how to lose customers, but very valid ponts made. Would it withstand a fall arrest in imperfect conditions? Not a difficult question. You are adding several links, from the anchor point to the swivel, to the cable, to something we can't see, to the body of the device, then to the original harness carabina. Why does nobody question?
Binnsy
Nationwide - stop now, save your money. This device is a total waste of time. 1) What if the site risk assessment doesn't require a harness to be used?
2) What ensures something is connected to the other end of the lanyard?
3) Are you going to fit this to every anchor point in the machine? Some have 4,6,8,10?
Easily foolable with a spare carabiner.
This device = how to lose customers.
They abound
IanB, the answer to your question is, of course, that a correctly adjusted lanyard should indeed be used. But that doesn't mean that it will be, does it? And how would you propose calculting an SWL for such a dynamic loading as being catapulted from a basket with a badly adjusted lanyard, similar to some of the instaces that have featured on this very website, with anchor points that have held a falling body and having no extra attachment fitted?
Eric_L
Ian B, all AWP manufacturers load test their anchor points as part of homologation. It is a legal requirment. There is no SWL as it remains an anchor point for a harness, which has specific parameters, and is not to be used for anything else.
Chief
Operators refusing to use safety equipment whether seat belts in a van or harness's in a MEWP has always been a problem. Hopefully this device helps. Two questions:
1) If the platform is kitted out for two or more people and only one is in the basket how does that work?
2) Is it possible to simply put a spare hook/carabiner in the device to deactivate it?
IanB
I would like to answer your question They Abound , with another question. If the work has had a correct risk assessment carried out on it, and it is deemed that a boom type MEWP is to be utilised, would it not also be the case that a fixed restraint lanyard (correctly adjusted) be used. If this is the case (which is best practice) then there would never be a need to support the weight of a falling body. It would also be the case that a correctly adjusted lanyard would also take the minimal length of this device into account. Also might I just add that how many MEWP manufacturers load test their harness anchor points, and put an SWL on them.
They abound
Is it srong enough to retain a falling body? It lengthens the lanyard.