Regardless of your industry, ensuring your staff is safe from fall hazards is crucial for your business. This is especially true if your facility loads and unloads trucks. However, implementing a fall protection system for truck loading can be a complex challenge, as many factors can affect what would make the best system for your facility. Fortunately, Northern Platforms is here to help! As an exclusive dealer of SafeRack truck-loading fall protection equipment, our team is well acquainted with the many factors that influence fall protection systems. Continue reading to learn more about the factors you need to consider when investing in a truck-loading fall protection system.
Prioritize Fall Protection
Proper truck loading fall protection is vital for ensuring your employees are safe. Flatbeds, box trucks, and tanker trucks all have their own access points, access challenges and fall hazards that you need to be aware of. Moreover, the same can be said for different truck loading facilities, such as truck weigh stations and multibay trailer terminals. Suppose you’re loading trucks at a terminal or point of delivery. In that case, it’s critical that you have a safe means of accessing those trucks, tankers, and trailers. A truck loading fall protection system can ensure that your drivers and staff are safe throughout the loading and unloading process. Whether you require a permanent fall protection system or a temporary one, Northern Platforms has the OSHA/OH&S-compliant fall protection solutions you need.
Design Considerations
To implement an effective fall protection system for your truck loading process, there are a few factors you need to consider. Some factors to consider include trailer styles, the volume of traffic, the layout of the loading terminal, the location of the loading dock (indoors or outside), the presence of overhead cranes and more. For instance, say your truck loading facility primarily deals with tankers and bulk solid haulers. If that’s the case, a permanent loading platform with gangways is a great option to allow your personnel to safely reach the tops of these trailers. However, every truck loading fall protection system will be unique to the facility and trucks it’s working with.
Fortunately, the team at Northern Platforms can help you find the right fall protection system for your truck-loading facility. As the exclusive Canadian distributor of SafeRack products, Northern Platforms has the truck-loading fall protection equipment you need to keep your staff safe and ensure your worksite complies with OHSA/ OH&S fall protection regulations.
Truck Loading Fall Protection Systems from Northern Platforms
At Northern Platforms, our team is proud to provide our customers with a wide range of OHSA/ OH&S and IBC-compliant truck loading fall protection equipment. From mobile rolling stairs, such as the RollaStep, to truck loading platforms, gangways and OPW loading arms, Northern Platforms is your trusted source for SafeRack truck loading fall protection. Our fall protection experts can visit your facility to determine the best truck loading fall protection system for your site and applications.
Regardless of the type of truck loading facility or industry you’re working in, Northern Platforms is here to ensure your site is safe and accessible. Contact us today to learn more about truck loading fall protection and how our team can help you find the right equipment for your facility!
When you need safe loading solutions that can significantly benefit your oil and gas operations, you need loading arms from Northern Platforms. Loading arms are an incredible alternative to hoses. They can manage the demands of hydrocarbons, gasses, crude oil and more! At Northern Platforms, we are pleased to offer a range of loading arms that provide efficiency and superior performance. Below we’ll discuss some of the benefits of loading arms and how they can improve your operations loading and unloading activities. Keep reading to learn more!
What Are Loading Arms?
Loading arms are self-supporting, highly efficient means of safely transferring fluids or gasses from storage tanks to tank trucks or tankcars. Often used in the road, rail, or marine transportation industry, loading arms are an excellent option for safely transferring chemicals from one holding area to another. Loading arms can be used for top and bottom loading / unloading. Within top and bottom loading arms there are several different styles / models of loading arms that can be utilized to meet your specific needs & requirements. Each loading arm variation is best suited for specific applications and can dramatically benefit the oil & gas, agricultural, chemical, and other industries. Since loading arms have a wide range of use, your operations can see significant benefits. The team at Northern Platforms can assist you with determining the optimal loading arm for your oil & gas applications.
Adaptable for Any Application
At Northern Platforms, various loading arms are available for your operation’s unique applications. For instance, our bottom loading arms give you an improved level of safety as the operator behind this equipment is stationed on the ground beside the loading arm. Bottom loading arms have a spring counterbalance, allowing for faster loading times and a more remarkable ability to reach mobile tanker openings compared to other competing models. These bottom loading arms also improve your operations efficiency, ergonomics, and general safety and cleanliness at your loading rack.
Compared to bottom loading arms, top loading arms are used across several industries, including the oil and gas industry. Top loading arms are available in numerous models and configurations, such as fixed reach and flexible reach arms that can be designed for both closed loop tight connection loading or open hatch splash loading. Other top loading arm models include scissor or boom arms that can be adapted for railcar and tanker truck loading. With options compatible with dry disconnect fillings, hatch plates, and overfill protection, Northern Platforms has the loading arms you need for your railcar and truck loading needs over numerous industries including oil & gas, chemical, agricultural & food / pharma.
Easy to Use
One of the many advantages of loading arms in the oil and gas industry is that loading arms are an alternative to hoses. That means, instead of constantly tweaking and adjusting your equipment, loading arms are ready to do the job and adapt to your loading needs in no time. In addition, loading arms from Northern Platforms can also manage the demands of highly repetitive tasks with minor issues. Unlike hoses which wear down over time, loading arms are more durable. When you need a reliable means of loading and unloading tankers, loading arms from Northern Platforms are here to help!
Trust Northern Platforms for Oil & Gas Loading Arms
Since 2007, Northern Platforms has been dedicated to ensuring that your truck and railcar loading systems are safe, efficient and durable. Northern Platforms understands that your operations need dependable, safe access and loading solutions as a family-owned and operated business. Contact our team today to learn more about our inventory of loading arms and other loading accessories!
If you’re on the lookout for a way to safely transport gases and liquids from tank to tank, you may be wondering how to choose between using a hose or a loading arm to outfit your operation. While hoses are undeniably helpful when it comes to transferring less viscous substances, loading arms stand to significantly increase efficiency and safety as a whole. Below, we’ll take a close look as to why you should consider top and bottom loading arms for your worksite, including the many benefits they offer in comparison to hoses. Read on to learn more!
Fall Prevention
While hoses can often end up getting left strewn around and presenting a huge falling hazard to your crew, loading arms are much more conveniently stored out of the way and can typically be integrated with existing fall protection equipment for added safety. Loading arms are less likely to leak and created an unwanted spill which further reduces of the risk of slips, trips or dangerous falls.
Less Risk of Sudden Failures
Over time, hoses begin to erode and wear away, particularly when being regularly used for the transport of corrosive materials. If not carefully monitored, hoses pose a risk for suddenly exploding, which presents several layers of danger to everyone on the site. Loading arms, on the other hand, are relatively low maintenance and have a much longer lifespan without ever having to worry about such a volatile reaction down the line.
Easy to Use
Hoses are not always easy to operate, and due to their size and weight, can often be difficult to move around as needed and can sometimes require more than one worker to move them as well as less ergonomic. Top and bottom loading arms are designed to work with you, which reduces strain and lowers the risk of on-site injuries. The spring counterbalance systems on loading arms require very little force to use. With a much longer lifespan favouring loading arms as well it is a wise choice for your bottom line both upfront and in the future.
Efficient
In addition to enhancing on the job safety, loading arms connect to trucks and railcars quickly, meaning you can transfer your material fast and keep operations moving steadily.
Safety
Loading arms are often designed to incorporate different types of safety devices such as:
Safety Breakaway Couplings – In the event of unintended vehicle movement or pull-away, a breakaway coupling separates and has non-return valves that shut both ends of the breakaway protection personnel at the loading/unloading station and prevents spills.
Dry Disconnect Fittings – If you are looking to reduce spillage in your loading/unloading operation, dry disconnect fittings can help you accomplish this. There are a variety of quick and dry disconnect fittings available that are easy to handle, save time, improve safety and protect your personnel and the environment.
Overfill Protection – Loading arms can be supplied with level detection and overfill probes to help prevent unintentionally overfilling a railcar or truck.
Boost Your Safety and Productivity with Northern Platforms Today
Ready to supercharge your loading and unloading? Northern Platforms carries a wide range of loading and unloading arms from top manufacturers like OPW and Emco Wheaton. Contact us today to learn more about our inventory and services all throughout Western Canada.
