Railcar wheel chocks are essential in any rail loading system These simple pieces of equipment prevent accidental movement when loading, unloading, or working on a railcar. According to OSHA regulations, workers must use wheel chocks and car brakes whenever a railcar is being worked on. You can purchase this equipment from your local supplier of safe-access equipment.
Types of Railcar Chocks
Several types of railcar chocks are available for different situations. Whether you are dealing with exposed rail, need something that blocks movement in both directions, or are looking for special features, it’s essential to select the right device for loading your railcars safely. Let’s review the differences between these types of railcar chocks.
Exposed vs Flush
What type of rail are you working on? This will determine what kind of chock you should use. Exposed rail chocks are designed for tracks where the rail is open to the ties. On the other hand, flush rail chocks work for situations where the rail is encased in pavement.
Single Wheel vs Double Wheel
Next, consider how much security you need. Do you need to block movement in both directions? Will your tracks have vibrations or a slight grade? If you answered yes to either of these questions, we recommend double chocks, which provide high protection for cars being worked on. Single chocks should be sufficient if your tracks are completely flat and experience little to no vibration.
Not sure what type of chock is right for you? We’ll break down proper chocking procedures later in this post.
Tips for Using Railcar Chocks Effectively
Pair Them with Other Railcar Safety Equipment & Fall Protection Systems
Pairing your wheel chocks with other safety equipment can help bring your safety system to the next level and substantially reduce your risk of accidents. For example, blue flags should be used whenever rail cars are loaded, unloaded, or worked on. They warn approaching vehicle operators that there are workers in the area and to proceed cautiously. Additionally, we recommend investing in a safe loading platform designed to handle the unique challenges associated with working on railcars.
Follow Proper Wheel Chock Procedures
You’ll need to make sure that you are using your chocks correctly. When determining how many wheel chocks you need for your railcar, consider the following:
For single cars
If idle, on a storage track, and being worked: Use double chocks on each end of the car to block movement in both directions.
If idle and being worked on a slight dip: Single chocks on the foremost wheel on both sets of wheels to prevent it from rolling in one direction.
For multiple cars
If coupled and moved forward to be unloaded/loaded: Brake and chock both ends of the primary car being worked on, and brake and chock additional cars if needed.
If uncoupled for separate work: Brake and chock each car individually.
Remember never to use wheel chocks for railcars on slopes or hills. Instead, use car stops or rail skates.
Get the Most Out of Your Chocks with Aldon’s Replaceable Spurs
All good wheel chocks feature spurs, which are strong, heat-treated pieces of metal that bite into the rail and prevent the chock from slipping. However, much like a knife, the spurs in your chock will dull over time. Luckily for you, Aldon’s railroad wheel chocks feature replaceable spurs, meaning you can extend the life of your equipment and avoid costly replacement fees.
You can tell that your spurs have dulled when your wheel chock starts sliding. When this happens, simply tap the spur out of its slot and re-insert it with a new edge exposed. Then, once you’ve used all available sides, you can purchase replacement spurs.
Choose Northern Platforms for Turnkey Railcar Loading and Fall Protection Systems
As Western Canada’s choice for railcar loading systems, Northern Platforms has everything you need to make your operations safer, smarter, and more efficient. When you partner with us, you’ll get access to our extensive inventory of safe access solutions from trusted suppliers like SafeRack, Aldon, and more. Plus, we offer turnkey installation and preventative maintenance to all our customers.
Here’s the truth: fall protection systems save workers’ lives, regardless of industry. For example, railcar loading operations need an effective system that protects workers, prevents accidents, and helps keep everything running smoothly. But building a top-notch system is more complicated than you might think. Without professional insight, you might not know where to start.
Step 1: Partner with a Qualified Safe Access Equipment Supplier
When it comes to fall protection, there is no such thing as “one size fits all.” Each environment will have different needs, demands, and challenges. But, if you aren’t a qualified safe access professional, it might be hard to identify these unique pitfalls. That’s why partnering with an expert like Northern Platforms is essential. With over 20 years of experience, we know how to design fall protection systems with workers in mind. We’ll survey your site and your operations to identify any hazards. We recommend partnering with our team as soon as possible so we can ensure that your system is comprehensive and works together to comply with local and national safety regulations.
Step 2: Assess Your Needs
When we visit your site, we’ll ask you personalized questions to better understand your operation. For example, we might ask if you want a system that can accommodate different railcar sizes. If so, we’ll offer tailored solutions that are adaptable and customizable. Or, we might ask you for accurate and comprehensive data, such as drawings of the railcars you need to be able to access. Here are some other questions to consider when building your railcar fall protection system with Northern Platforms:
How are you moving your railcars around your site (e.g. track mobile, portable power, or a third-party provider)?
How are you loading/unloading your railcar?
How many tracks are you dealing with?
Step 3: Design Your System
Once you’ve answered the above questions, we can start creating your system. In our experience, the following equipment is essential for all types of loading and unloading applications:
The biggest advantage of working with Northern Platforms is that we’ll care for every piece of the puzzle. For an efficient system, your gangways, loading platforms, and arms must be compatible. Instead of dealing with multiple vendors and worrying about compatibility, Northern Platforms will create a seamlessly integrated turnkey system. Plus, our experts are on call if anything goes wrong.
Railcar Fall Protection Systems at Northern Platforms
Ready to start improving safe access in your railyard? Northern Platforms has got you covered with our expansive inventory of safe access, fall protection, and loading equipment. From safety cages and spill containment to wheel chocks and derailers, we have everything you need to design the safest system possible. Contact us today to schedule a railcar fall protection system assessment.
Investing in safety does more than simply mitigate the risk of employee injury while on the job site; the right system can prevent spillage, damage to machines and trucks, and increase company assets. A skilled company that brings years of experience to the table can help you invest in the fall protection system specific to your worksite.
Not all fall protection systems are made equal. At Northern Platforms, we help you to find the solution you need to ensure a safe working environment. Turnkey loading solutions are how you can optimize your loading and unloading process, and we are proud to be distributors of top brands like OPW Engineered Systems and Saferack. If you’re looking for railcar fall protection systems, find out more about what Northern Platforms supplies below.
Understanding Fall Protection Systems
Railyards often need specialized fall protection gear to safeguard the safety and efficiency of workers, equipment and materials. Fall protection systems are comprised of multiple parts that work in tandem to ensure your operations are safe and efficient. Northern Platform’s extensive knowledge and decades of experience help us to find custom solutions for your worksite. Let us design and install the proper safe access solutions onsite for you.
Whether you are looking to upgrade old systems or to install new ones, anticipate your worksite’s needs by implementing safety cages, operator gangways, spill protection, and more with Northern Platforms.
When Are You in Need of Railcar Fall Protection?
Railcar fall protection systems are meant for railyards that work with a variety of materials:
Hydrocarbon and refined fuels (like jet fuel, diesel, and gasoline)
Liquid natural gas (propane, ethane, butane)
Liquid asphalt from refineries
Ammonia
We stock quality, durable systems such as SafeRack, Emco Wheaton, OPW, and Ultratech. Our team understands that there is never a one-and-done solution for such complex and different materials. When you talk to our team, we will help you find the prevention equipment you need to ensure a good working environment for all.
Partner With Northern Platforms!
Based in Leduc, Alberta, Northern Platforms is a family-owned business whose goal is to assist businesses in agriculture, pulp and paper, oil and gas, rail, marine, and more to meet safety standards. Our professionals are ready and willing to design, install, and maintain your railcar fall protection systems for a better day’s work. Your expert in gangways, safety cages, spill containment and more, Northern Platforms operates with the sole purpose of helping businesses like yours to ensure their worksites are as safe and effective as possible.
Since 2002, businesses all over Canada have trusted us to provide them with the safe access solutions they require. We take pride in making business relationships that will last a long time so that you know that you can always come to us for your safety access equipment, loading racks, and loading arms. Contact Northern Platforms to get started on design a railcar fall protection system that suits your operation’s needs. Or, call 1-844-426-4929 to speak to a representative today.
Trains and railcars come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. As a result, when establishing a new railcar fall protection system or replacing an existing one, you’ll need a system flexible enough to accommodate every configuration that rolls into your operations. At the same time, your railcar fall protection system should also enable you to efficiently load and unload the cars while protecting your workers from potential hazards.
At Northern Platforms, our highly experienced team can help you determine the best options for your railcar fall protection needs. Let us explain more below…
Questions to Ask Regarding Your Railcar Loading/ Fall Protection System
While Northern Platform’s expert team can help you determine which railcar fall protection system will best suit your needs, we require substantial data regarding your operations to ensure we recommend the best option for your facility. When searching for a new fall protection and loading system for your railcar operations, ask yourself the following questions:
Are you working with an owned railcar fleet, or are your customers sending you their cars?
How many railcars are you loading/unloading at any given time?
How many tracks are in the work area?
Is your rail track curved or straight?
Do you need an adaptable system?
These are just a few questions the Northern Platforms team will use to understand your railcar fall protection needs better. Ultimately, a site visit will help us determine your needs, challenges, and goals. So, if you’ve been looking at upgrading your fall protection system for your railcar loading operations, reach out to Northern Platforms and let our team check out your worksite in person!
Custom Solutions for Unique Demands
As Western Canada’s leading distributor of safe access solutions, loading arms, and loading racks, Northern Platforms offers numerous solutions to meet your facility’s demands–including custom needs. No matter the industry you’re working in or the material you are transporting via rail, we can design a custom fall protection system to solve your operation’s unique challenges. With decades of experience, our team can fully integrate any new loading rack or platform into your existing system, enabling you to load/unload railcars faster, safer, and more efficiently.
Let’s look at two railcar fall protection options Northern Platforms can help you design and install:
Track-Mounted Railcar Loading Platforms
With SafeRack’s loading platforms and track-mounted gangways, Northern Platforms can add a fall protection system to your railcar loading operations, enabling you to load any size railcar. The track-mounted gangways slide horizontally along the loading platform, letting your employees easily access railcars at any point of the track system without moving the train. With a track-mounted gangway on railcar loading platform, you can see fast loading and unloading times, reduced equipment costs, and an improvement in your operation’s overall productivity.
Multi-Hatch Railcar Loading Racks
The proper loading rack and safety cages can greatly reduce falls and slips during railcar loading operations, especially in multi-hatch applications with multiple load points. Northern Platforms’ inventory of SafeRack loading racks, safety cages, gangways, canopies, and loading arms can provide your operations with an extra layer of protection, making multi-hatch railcar loading a breeze. By increasing the safety net during multi-hatch railcar loading applications, your staff can work more efficiently and safely, directly impacting your bottom line.
Ready to Partner with Northern Platforms?
For more than 20 years, Northern Platforms has been Western Canada’s leading provider of safe access solutions, fall protection systems, and loading arms and racks. With our comprehensive inventory and expertise, we can help you design a railcar fall protection system that suits your facility’s unique needs.
Whether your site requires simply safety solutions such as derailers or wheel chocks or needs a complete fall protection and loading system revamp, Northern Platforms has you covered!
Creating a railcar fall protection system that addresses your safety concerns and enhances your operations can be complicated without expert support. Luckily, Northern Platforms is here to help, as we specialize in railcar and truck loading access and fall protection solutions.
Next, we will tell you about some of the essential railcar fall protection components your railyard needs and how our team can help you create a system that ensures your crew’s safety while enhancing your bottom line. Keep reading to find out more!
Essential Railcar Fall Protection Components
When setting up a railcar fall protection system, many components are required to ensure that your railyard is safe and compliant with local and national safety standards. At Northern Platforms, we’ve been helping railyards design their fall protection systems for over 20 years. Over the years, the following equipment and components have proven themselves time and time again to be essential, no matter the type of railcar or loading/unloading application. This includes:
Loading platforms and gangways
Spill containment berms and pans
Loading arms
While this is a short list, ultimately, the scope of your railcar fall protection depends on several factors, including the size of your railyard, types of railcars, and material being transported. At Northern Platforms, we have the inventory and expertise to help you determine what equipment and components are required to make your railcar loading/unloading applications safe, efficient, and compliant.
Some Overlooked Components and Things to Consider
As mentioned previously, the scope of your railcar fall protection system will vary depending on several factors. Below are a few questions to consider, as they will help you and the Northern Platforms team narrow down your railcar fall protection options:
How many railcars does your system need to access?
What type of railcars are you working with?
How many tracks are in your work area? Is the track straight or curved?
Are the railcars always parked in the same location, or does their placement vary depending on whether the railcars are spotted / loaded or unloaded?
How are you loading and unloading the railcar? With a loading arm, hose, or other means?
What is your railcar spotting philosophy?
In addition to considering the above questions, it’s also essential not to overlook some lesser-known railcar fall protection tools and equipment, as they can make a difference in the safety and compliance of your railyard. These components may include safety cages, safety showers, wheel chocks, safety flags, derailers and rerailers, signage, and lighting. At Northern Platforms, we carry everything you need to establish a safe railcar fall protection system; let our team help you choose the right components for your operations.
Your Source for Railcar Fall Protection Expertise
Since 2002, Northern Platforms has been Western Canada’s trusted source for safe access solutions, loading equipment, fall protection and more. With decades of experience under our belts, we have the knowledge and expertise to address your railcar fall protection needs.
Whether your railyard requires a fall protection system for a single car with a single hatch or multiple cars with multiple hatches or something in between, Northern Platforms has you covered! With a specialization in both railcar and truck loading applications, our team can custom create a fall protection system that not only ensures the safety of your crew but also enhances efficiency, keeps your railyard compliant, and improves your bottom line. So, when you need expert support, trust the pros at Northern Platforms!
Ready to Get Started?
To create the best possible railcar fall protection system for your operations, the team at Northern Platforms first needs to see what you’re currently working with, meaning we need to visit your site. Contact us to schedule a railcar fall protection system assessment with Northern Platforms. One of our team members will walk you through the process and help you narrow your options so your operations can function at their safest. Let’s get started today!
