Safe and reliable access onto the tops of tankers is rightly coming under more scrutiny by Safety Managers and Health & Safety authorities locally and abroad. Recognising the inherent danger associated to working at heights upon road and rail tankers, we have developed the widest range of tanker access equipment and safety systems available in Southern Africa, and are able to cater for any requirement from standard off-the-shelf equipment to custom built solutions catering for any tanker access requirement. Principal suppliers include EMCO WHEATON & CARBIS INC.

When evaluating solutions for working at heights upon tankers there is a clear hierarchy of solutions that can be employed to make operations as safe as reasonably practical.

Within this hierarchy the fall arrest system utilising a harness and restraining cable is the least favourable method, especially when working in hazardous areas where the restraining cable may restrict mobility and emergency exit from the tanker. The integrity of the system is also dependant upon the operator putting on and wearing correctly the body harnesses. There is also a potential risk that if an operator falls he may be left suspended for some time without detection, this could result in injury and possibly even death. Companies should also be aware of the design criteria relating to any structure where a fall arrest system is fitted, stringent design conditions are specified by the standards organisations and bodies throughout the world for structures used for this purpose.

At the top of the hierarchy is the safest tanker access and safety system available today, the patented ‘Multi-Modal’ tanker access system. The ‘Multi-Modal’ is an ‘elevating working platform’, providing a ‘fully fenced’ and horizontal enclosure with flooring panels covering the entire working area. Access to the tanker top is made possible through ‘Flip-up’ panels. The Multi Modal is hydraulically powered and sized to cater for any variation in tanker height and access length as required.

The most common form of tanker access and enclosure are folding stairs, these are configured with a range of steps and step widths, and used to provide simple retractable access onto tankers of varying heights from a fixed platform. The stairs are more commonly purchased with an integral safety cage sized to suit the customer specific requirements.

Fall Arrest / Tanker Access Systems

Soliflo has developed standard systems designed, manufactured and tested to SABS EN 795 for tanker inspection and maintenance purposes. These systems comprise of a 4 to 12 meter long trolley beam, fall arrest equipment, access platform and folding stairways. Available in kit form or supplied and installed on a turn-key basis.

Standard Folding Stairs & Safety Cages

EMCO WHEATON and Carbis Inc. standard folding stairways are used throughout the world to facilitate safe access to the top of road or rail tankers from fixed platforms. 3, 4 & 5 step EMCO E0264 models are assembled and stocked for quick and cost effective delivery anywhere within Southern Africa.

As standard, folding stairways are available ex-stock with an unrestricted access width of 850mm, access widths ranging from 750mm up to 4000mm are also available.

All folding stairways supplied by SOLIFLO can be equipped with a safety cage / safety basket, the safety cage encompasses and safeguards the operator from a fall whilst working on top of the tanker.

Track-mounted Folding Stairways & Safety Cages

Ideally suited to road gantries serving multi-compartment tankers or rail loading gantries where differing configurations and lengths of tanker are common, the track mounted folding stairways are designed and supplied to be manually pushed / pulled along the length of the gantry to the appropriate access point without having to shunt the train. The gantry is normally furnished with 1000mm wide spring loaded swing gates to allow access to the stair and tanker.

Multi-Modal Elevating Platforms

Carbis Inc’s patented hydraulically elevated ‘working platform’ is independent of any existing structure and easily retrofitted to any installation. The Multi-modal is designed to ensure maximum possible safety when accessing and working on the top of any road and rail tanker.

Gangways

Gangways as supplied by Carbis Inc. are ideally suited for safe tanker access when the platform and tanker heights are generally uniform, for general safety reasons the access angle should not exceed 15 degrees up or down from the horizontal position. These gangways are available with a safety cage add-on to encompass and safeguard the operator whilst working on top of the tanker.

Mobile Tanker Access Units

The mobile tanker access range has been introduced to protect operators working on tankers. They are suitable for use with rigid tankers, trailer tankers and ISO containers and are designed such that employees, such as lab technicians and maintenance engineers are not only protected but also feel safe and secure whilst climbing on to the tanker and working within the safety cage. One person can easily position the tanker access stairs close to the tanker and secure them for use. They can be pushed to a convenient storage position when not in service.

Protective Grating & Backrests

Protective grating and backrests are designed to completely close off the gap between the tanker and platform providing a physical barrier preventing the operator falling from the tanker. These systems are designed for applications where the operator must access the full length of the tanker and can be retrofitted to almost any existing installation.

Platforms