Alberta’s energy sector depends on reliable rail operations. From oil sands loading in Fort McMurray to crude terminals near Edmonton and Calgary, hundreds of workers access tank cars daily at significant heights. Slip hazards, extreme weather, and high-exposure openings create serious risks—making professional fall protection systems essential under Alberta OHS Code Part 9. Keep reading to learn more about railcar fall protection in Alberta—and how Northern Platforms can help.
Railcar Fall Protection Regulations in Alberta
Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code
In Alberta, fall protection requirements for worksites are determined by the Occupational Health and Safety Code, specifically Part 9. This code requires fall protection in all circumstances where workers could fall 3 meters (approximately 10 feet) or higher from an unprotected edge, platform, or opening. At railcar loading facilities, this threshold is commonly met when accessing the top of tank cars, platforms adjacent to rail spurs, or elevated gangway systems. Additionally, Alberta OHS recognizes “greater risk” situations—meaning that even falls under 3 meters may require protection if the landing surface is uneven, contains hazardous equipment, or presents other aggravating factors.
The Railway Safety Act
For facilities located on or working with federally regulated railway corridors (such as those operated by CN), additional obligations may apply. The Railway Safety Act addresses broader rail operational safety, including track maintenance, railway equipment, signal systems, grade crossings, dangerous goods handling, and the operating rules that control how workers and equipment interact with rail infrastructure. Northern Platforms designs systems that satisfy both provincial and national regulations, ensuring your facility meets all applicable requirements.
Complete Fall Protection Systems for Alberta Rail Operations
For comprehensive protection when accessing tank cars, your system will need several elements, including:
Gangways: Stable walking surfaces that connect docks and tank cars. Many Alberta operations deal with varying tank car heights, so adjustability is key. Northern Platforms product recommendation: SafeRack FRT gangway
Tank car safety gates: A simple added fall protection feature that prevents workers from falling through the crashbox opening on a tank car. Enjoy a lightweight aluminum construction, power-coated finish, and easy installation with linch pins. Northern Platforms product recommendation: Northern Platforms Rail Car Safety Gate
Additional safety systems: Beyond fall protection, railcar loading and unloading operations are required to use railcar wheel chocks and blue flags under Alberta regulations. Northern Platforms product recommendation: Aldon Railcar Wheel Chocks
Northern Platforms provides railcar fall protection to operations across Alberta, including:
Edmonton
Calgary
Red Deer
Fort McMurray
Our expertise spans oil and gas operations, petrochemical manufacturing, agricultural loading, and industrial chemicals. We understand Alberta’s regulatory environment, climate challenges, and operational demands. Ready to learn why we’re Western Canada’s number one choice for railcar fall protection systems? Get in touch with our office today.
Start Building Your Railcar Fall Protection System Today
Your Alberta railcar operations depend on fall protection designed for local conditions and regulations. So whether you are operating a Calgary transloading facility, Edmonton terminal, or Fort McMurray oil sands operation, Northern Platforms brings regional expertise and proven experience to every single contract. Plus, as a complete turnkey service provider, we can provide everything from comprehensive system design to ongoing and consistent maintenance.
Ready to ensure your Alberta rail operations meet local compliance and safety standards? Contact Northern Platforms for a no-obligation site assessment. Our Alberta specialists will evaluate your facility, recommend optimal solutions, and provide transparent proposals for supply and installation. We bring decades of experience securing workers at heights across Western Canadian energy infrastructure.
Northern Platforms is the Western Canadian leader in industrial access solutions, specializing in fall protection systems and turnkey installation services for oil and gas, petrochemical, manufacturing, and agricultural sectors. We supply some of the best products on the market, including SafeRack, ErectaStep, OPW, and more.
Industrial facilities often require workers to navigate standard and wide-span openings at ladder openings, loading docks, mezzanine platforms, high-traffic corridors, and more. In these areas, comprehensive fall protection is absolutely crucial. If you’re looking to protect openings at your facility, Northern Platforms has you covered! OSHA/OH&S-certified industrial swing gates are available in numerous models and sizes. Below, we’ll discuss standard and XL industrial swing gate systems available in our warehouse now. Keep reading to find out which system best suits your facility!
Standard Industrial Swing Gates
One of the best-selling products at Northern Platforms, industrial swing gates are a worthwhile addition to facilities, no matter the industry. This product helps protect your workers from fall hazards, including doorways, equipment passages, ladder openings, and more. With a broad field‑adjustment range and universal mounting hardware, these safety swing gates fit most standard openings and can be configured to swing left or right to match traffic flow. Additional features include a self‑closing design, high‑visibility finishes, and corrosion‑resistant construction.
Case Study: Safety Swing Gates & Alberta Oil and Gas Operations
Safety swing gates are an easy and efficient addition to all industrial worksites. For example, an Alberta oil and gas facility partnered with Northern Platforms to scale fall protection and access control using YellowGate safety swing gates across their site. This project covered roughly 60 openings spanning loading areas, equipment access points, and material transfer zones, demanding a fast‑install, width‑flexible solution that met OSHA/OH&S requirements. By using YellowGate’s standard safety swing gates, Northern Platforms was able to address every opening with a single solution featuring:
Universal mounting to pipe, tube, or other areas.
Left or right swing direction, depending on the situation.
Field adjustability for openings of various sizes.
Complete turnkey delivery from site assessment to supply to installation.
The outcome was simple: dependable fall protection and safer daily operations, without costly custom fabrication or prolonged shutdowns. You can find more information about this project on the YellowGate website or by contacting Northern Platforms.
Need help mapping openings and selecting the right gate? Northern Platforms can assess your site and deliver a compliant, easy‑to‑install swing gate system that scales with your facility.
XL Barrier Gates
Looking for an industrial swing gate for larger openings? The YellowGate XL barrier gate might be right for you. Specifically designed for wide-span areas, this product can be used for loading dock fall protection, traffic control on railyards, and more. Key features of this product include:
Adjustable range: Built to accommodate gaps between 6’ [1829mm] to 12’ [3658mm].
Easy to install design: With no opposite side receiver required, you can reduce installation times and keep your facility clean.
Lightweight: With adjustable tension springs, you can fine-tune your gate for easy lifting and lowering.
Durable construction: Powder-coated aluminum makes this gate suitable for both external and internal applications.
OH&S compliant: If you are using this product for fall protection purposes, the YellowGate XL meets relevant regulations.
Optional add-ons: Add electrical power assist to your barrier gate if needed.
As a proud Western Canadian YellowGate supplier, Northern Platforms has YellowGate XL barrier gates in stock and ready to ship now! With just one SKU, you can easily and quickly protect multiple openings in your facility. Contact us today for more information about this product or to place your order now.
Safety Swing Gates: Available from Northern Platforms Now
Since 2007, Northern Platforms has been Western Canada’s premier distributor of safe access and fall protection solutions. We are pleased to partner with numerous industry-leading manufacturers, including YellowGate, SafeRack, ErectaStep, and more! In addition to our expansive inventory, we offer several turnkey solutions, including preventative maintenance support and equipment installation services. If you’d like to learn more about our industrial swing gate options, contact Northern Platforms today!
With hundreds of fatal accidents occurring in railyards every single year, proper safety equipment isn’t just a purchase–it’s a life-saving priority. With several small additions to your operation, you can ensure your workers, environment, and surrounding communities are completely protected. Keep reading for our 2025 recommendations for essential railcar safety equipment.
Why Railcar Safety Equipment is Important
Without proper equipment, railcars pose significant safety risks. For example, take a 2013 incident in Quebec. When left unsupervised overnight, a freight train began to roll. While this freight train was seemingly secured with both hand brakes and air brakes, both these systems failed. This incident resulted in several box cars and tank cars derailing, which caused crude oil spills, fires, building damage, and 47 fatal injuries to surrounding civilians.
This incident clearly underlines the importance of railcar wheel chocks, derails and other essential physical railcar safety equipment. Now, as determined by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, Canadian railways must use additional physical protections to help prevent runaway equipment.
Essential Railcar Loading Equipment
Ready to transform your operations? Here are some essential railcar safety products–all in stock at Northern Platforms today!
Railcar Wheel Chocks
Railcar wheel chocks help secure the wheels of your railcar while it is being loaded or unloaded. Metal spurs bite into the railway, offering maximum security and safety for workers. At Northern Platforms, we stock a variety of railcar wheel chocks, including:
In some emergency situations, your best option is to derail your railcar and prevent catastrophic incidents. That’s where derails come in. These devices lift the wheel’s flange off the track, effectively allowing the wheels of the car to bite into a soft surface and slide to a stop. Derails help prevent:
One car rolling into another car.
Unauthorized rolling locomotives from crashing into stationary cars.
Loose cars from rolling onto the main line.
Blue Flags
In Alberta, blue flags are mandatory. These safety signs indicate to approaching operators that railcars are being loaded or unloaded in the area and to signal that there are workers in the area. Blue flags must be placed on the railway or on a traincar that is easily visible to approaching operators.
Switch Cube Indicators
Switch cube indicators are common at switches and are often the result of human error. For example, inexperienced operators might not know to accurately read the switch points. Illuminated switch cubes are an ideal piece of equipment that helps clearly indicate which direction the track is going. Many of these cubes are equipped with solar panels, making them energy-efficient and long-lasting.
Railcar Sockets
Tank car sockets are available in both steel and bronze configurations, with hex or 8-point designs ranging from 1-5/16″ to 1-7/8″. Steel sockets handle up to 1,500 ft./lbs. of maximum torque, while bronze versions are spark-resistant and rated for 500 ft./lbs.. These tools work with T-wrenches to provide proper leverage for opening and closing dome lid nuts without damaging gaskets or threads.
Brake Sticks
An essential piece of worker equipment, brake sticks help operators work railcar brakes without the use of a ladder. Depending on your needs, there are several different types of brake sticks available, including:
Telescoping brake sticks with or without magnetic handles
Light-weight fixed-length brake sticks
Heavy-duty brake sticks
Railcar Mover
Need to move your railcar an inch for the perfect position? These units are impossible to move without locomotive power–unless you have a railcar mover. These simple pieces of equipment allow single workers to move a fully-loaded railcar small distances, allowing them to perfectly align other equipment or loading operations.
Spill Containment Pans
Accidents happen, even in perfect operating conditions. When dealing with oil, chemicals, or other hazardous cargo, spill containment track pans are an essential fail-safe to help prevent environmental damage. Our product features a modular design that can easily be modified to contain everything from small drips to catastrophic leaks.
Ready to Enhance Your Railcar Safety?
Railcar wheel chocks, sockets, movers…what piece of safety equipment will you add to your operations? No matter what you decide, the Northern Platforms team is here to help! Explore our product catalogue online or contact our sales team today! Let us help you make your railyard safer, more compliant, and more efficient in 2025.
Top Applications for Industrial Swing Gates
Oil and Gas Plants
Oil and gas facilities can be dangerous work sites, especially when operators regularly deal with elevated work platforms, ladders, and other falling hazards. In fact, one of the most significant risks for all workers is unsecured access points on ladders and hatches.
While these risks are significant, ensuring complete safety is easy. Oil and gas facilities count on YellowGate’s industrial swing gates to provide 24/7 protection for all open access points on ladders, stairs, and other areas on their site. For example, the Northern Platforms team installed over 50 safety swing gates at an oil and natural gas facility in central Alberta. This allowed workers to safely navigate the processing plant and ensure they were protected from falling hazardous at every step.
Food Processing Facilities
Food and beverage processing facilities combine elevated work environments with strict hygiene requirements. Workers regularly access significant heights on tanks, conveyor systems, and assembly lines. In these circumstances, food processing facilities can benefit from installing safety swing gates in several locations, including:
Mixing tanks and other processing locations.
Elevated conveyor systems.
Ladders and stairways leading to packaging and bottling assembly lines.
Rooftop Access
No matter what industry you operate in, you or your workers will likely have to access the rooftop at some point. From performing HVAC checks to maintaining important equipment, these regular tasks can be dangerous without proper protection in place. Pair your safety swing gates with portable railing systems for comprehensive rooftop fall protection.
Warehouse Loading Docks
In addition to standard adjustable swing gates, YellowGate offers the XL barrier gate, which offers 6 feet of adjustable traffic control. Suitable for both interior and exterior applications, this products easily protects passageways in your facilities, helping you control dangerous areas or block unauthorized access.
The Universal Solution: YellowGate Industrial Safety Gates
When dealing with conventional safety swing gates, your supplier will need to know several details, including:
The size of each opening where the gate will be installed.
How the gate will be mounted (square tubing vs. pipes).
The direction that the gate will swing.
However, with YellowGate’s innovative industrial safety gates, you don’t have to worry about all these details. Featuring a unique universal mounting system and 16-inch adjustability, these fall protection solutions fit almost every type of opening, regardless of your facility. For complete protection, simply count the number of openings on your site and place your order with Northern Platforms—no need for measuring, mounting considerations, or other time-consuming assessments.
Protect Your Facility Today
Ready to simplify your facility’s fall protection with universal adjustable swing gates? With just one SKU, you can guarantee your workers are protected at every turn. Contact Northern Platforms today for turnkey installation, maintenance programs, and more!
Looking for reliable industrial swing gates that work across every application? YellowGate has revolutionized workplace safety with a universal industrial swing gate that is suitable for virtually every application. These adjustable swing gates eliminate the traditional complexity of safety equipment while delivering superior protection across multiple industrial sectors. Keep reading to learn more about common uses for this product—and how to order YellowGate safety swing gates from Northern Platforms today!
Top Applications for Industrial Swing Gates
Oil and Gas Plants
Oil and gas facilities can be dangerous work sites, especially when operators regularly deal with elevated work platforms, ladders, and other falling hazards. In fact, one of the most significant risks for all workers is unsecured access points on ladders and hatches.
While these risks are significant, ensuring complete safety is easy. Oil and gas facilities count on YellowGate’s industrial swing gates to provide 24/7 protection for all open access points on ladders, stairs, and other areas on their site. For example, the Northern Platforms team installed over 50 safety swing gates at an oil and natural gas facility in central Alberta. This allowed workers to safely navigate the processing plant and ensure they were protected from falling hazardous at every step.
Food Processing Facilities
Food and beverage processing facilities combine elevated work environments with strict hygiene requirements. Workers regularly access significant heights on tanks, conveyor systems, and assembly lines. In these circumstances, food processing facilities can benefit from installing safety swing gates in several locations, including:
Mixing tanks and other processing locations.
Elevated conveyor systems.
Ladders and stairways leading to packaging and bottling assembly lines.
Rooftop Access
No matter what industry you operate in, you or your workers will likely have to access the rooftop at some point. From performing HVAC checks to maintaining important equipment, these regular tasks can be dangerous without proper protection in place. Pair your safety swing gates with portable railing systems for comprehensive rooftop fall protection.
Warehouse Loading Docks
In addition to standard adjustable swing gates, YellowGate offers the XL barrier gate, which offers 6 feet of adjustable traffic control. Suitable for both interior and exterior applications, this products easily protects passageways in your facilities, helping you control dangerous areas or block unauthorized access.
The Universal Solution: YellowGate Industrial Safety Gates
When dealing with conventional safety swing gates, your supplier will need to know several details, including:
The size of each opening where the gate will be installed.
How the gate will be mounted (square tubing vs. pipes).
The direction that the gate will swing.
However, with YellowGate’s innovative industrial safety gates, you don’t have to worry about all these details. Featuring a unique universal mounting system and 16-inch adjustability, these fall protection solutions fit almost every type of opening, regardless of your facility. For complete protection, simply count the number of openings on your site and place your order with Northern Platforms—no need for measuring, mounting considerations, or other time-consuming assessments.
Protect Your Facility Today
Ready to simplify your facility’s fall protection with universal adjustable swing gates? With just one SKU, you can guarantee your workers are protected at every turn. Contact Northern Platforms today for turnkey installation, maintenance programs, and more!
An essential part of many Albertan industries, tanker trucks transport essential chemicals, food products, and water on a daily basis. However, without proper fall protection, these essential trailers can become dangerous work sites. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the basics of a truck loading platform—including how they are used, what industries rely on them, and the elements that make up the ideal system. Keep reading to learn more!
What is a Truck Loading Platform?
A truck loading platform is a specialized access system designed to provide safe, elevated access to the tops of tanker trucks and trailers during loading and unloading operations. These platforms typically consist of a sturdy steel or aluminum structure with integrated stairs, handrails, and safety features that allow workers to safely reach truck hatches, connection points, and inspection areas. By utilizing these systems, workers are protected from the significant safety risks of vehicle-mounted ladders.
Common Industrial Uses for Truck Loading Platforms
In today’s industrial world, tanker trucks are used to transport a wide variety of items. Here are some common industries that use tanker truck loading platforms daily.
Chemicals and Refined Fuels
As Alberta’s leading sector, oil and gas facilities rely on loading platforms to safely load and unload the hazardous materials they deal with on a daily basis.
Uses: In addition to basic access, operators will use a truck loading rack to connect loading arms, vent overfills, and monitor transfer operations.
Special Considerations: When dealing with harsh chemicals, pay close attention to the materials of your loading system. Opt for a strong and corrosion-resistant material like stainless steel.
Food and Beverage Operations
Food and beverage facilities across Canada require truck loading platforms that meet the highest sanitary standards while maintaining worker safety during liquid ingredient transfers.
Uses: Typically, workers in the food and beverage industry use loading platforms to inspect hatch seals for contamination prevention, connect food-grade hoses and loading arms, collect quality control samples, and monitor transfer operations of milk, juices, cooking oils, and liquid sweeteners.
Special Considerations: Food-grade materials and seals are a must for food and beverage operations. Northern Platforms has extensive experience building systems that meet or exceed the stringent sanitary regulations in this industry.
Bulk Water Stations
Remote locations and Northern communities depend on water filling trucks to access clean drinking water. However, without adequate fall protection, operators face a large risk of catastrophic injury.
Uses: Operators use these platforms to safely access the tops of water tanker trucks and provide potable water to local residents.
Special Considerations: Many Northern Canadian communities rely on truck fill stations. However, these areas also deal with harsh temperatures which demand systems that function up to -40°C. With over two decades of experience working with cold temperatures, Northern Platforms regularly builds systems that are built for the climate.
A platform to provide a solid foundation and stable work surface for workers.
Gangways are used to connect the main platform to the vehicle and protect operators from falling. Northern Platforms stocks three different gangway options which are suitable for a variety of applications. We recommend adding a safety cage to end of your gangway for complete protection.
Finally, pair your platform with a loading arm for smooth loading and unloading operations. These systems are sturdier and safer than hoses and can significantly increase the efficiency of your operation.
How Northern Platforms Can Help
With over 20 years of experience designing, building, and installing custom truck loading platforms, Northern Platforms is your trusted partner for all things fall protection. We have experience building tanker truck loading platforms for a variety of industries, including oil and gas operations, food and beverage facilities, municipal water filling stations, and more. Here’s how our process works:
On-site Consultation: Our convenient Central Alberta location means that we can be on your site within a couple of hours. Once we arrive, we’ll conduct a thorough evaluation to understand your operational requirements, safety challenges, and more.
Truck Loading Platform Design: Next, we’ll draw on decades of collective experience to design a tanker truck loading system that integrates seamlessly into your site. Our designs consider everything from material compatibility to local safety regulations. We’ll also provide a cost estimate at this stage.
Turnkey Installation: Avoid the headache of working with multiple contractors—Northern Platforms can take care of it all. With our turnkey installation services, we’ll ensure that your platform, gangway, and loading arm work together.
Request a Quote Today!
Ready to upgrade your truck loading platform? Call Northern Platforms today! Let’s work together to make your site safer and more efficient.
While flatbeds might not look as dangerous as tanker trucks or railcars, the truth is that working on these trailers regularly puts operators at risk of fatal falls. Plus, this risk is substantially increased without proper fall protection systems that adapt to the needs of the modern workplace. Enter: mobile fall protection for flatbed trailers. These simple and reliable systems turn life-threatening hazards into manageable solutions. Ready to learn how this product can transform your operations? Keep reading!
What are Mobile Fall Protection Platforms?
Combining safety, versatility, and adaptability, mobile fall protection platforms are an ideal addition to any operation that regularly deals with flatbed trailers. This equipment is designed to provide a secure working surface and fall protection for workers. It typically features large work surfaces, safety handrails, and wheels, allowing them to be positioned alongside trailers where needed.
Benefits of Mobile Platforms for Flatbed Fall Protection
Mobility: The most obvious advantage of this system is that mobile platforms move with your workers, unlike fixed systems. These systems are often equipped with 360-degree casters, making it easy for a single worker to move and position this system.
Versatility: From traditional flatbed trailers to step decks and lowboys, mobile platforms can be customized for any application. Mobile platforms are more than fall protection systems—they’re adaptable solutions with multiple uses. Once loading or unloading is complete, they can be used as standalone work platforms, access solutions, and more. Plus, mobile platforms can often be customized with modular handrails, enclosure panels, and more.
Passive Protection: While active fall protection systems like fall arrests require worker compliance, mobile platforms provide consistent support without any additional effort. With proper guardrails, operators are protected 24/7.
Introducing: RollAStep’s MP Series
Looking for your go-to flatbed fall safety solution? Look no further–RollaStep’s MP Series is one of the best products on the market. Combining the stability of a fixed work platform with the versatility of a movable platform, this fall protection system features:
9’ x 3’ work platforms to accommodate numerous operators.
360-degree swivelling and locking casters.
Removable handrails for ultimate versatility.
No-flat tires.
Aggressive no-slip surface.
Extra wide no-slip tread.
Technical Specifications
RollAStep’s MP series comes in several different sizes to accommodate the different circumstances of your site. Here are the technical specifications of each model:
Top Notch Products: We’re Western Canada’s leading supplier of RollaStep, ErectaStep, and SafeRack products. These brands are backed by decades of expertise and offer some of the bestselling fall protection products in all of North America.
One Stop Shop: Our Leduc warehouse is fully stocked and ready to serve you. On top of mobile platforms, we offer comprehensive solutions for truck and railcar loading, modular work platforms for warehouses, and more! No matter your needs, let Northern Platforms take care of it all.
On-Site Assessments: Whenever possible, the Northern Platforms team will schedule a comprehensive on-site assessment to identify your needs and recommend the ideal solution. If you are located in Alberta, give our team a call and we’ll have someone on site within a few business days.
