The Northern Strands Suspended Access team recently completed Outrigger Davit work at the Cory mine head frame. The Outrigger Davit was extended 10 feet high with 8 feet of reach to reach up and over a 52" parapet wall and ground obstruction. The system was rigged up in 5 days. Northern Strands is one of only a handful of companies in Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba to have specialized suspended access equipment on hand and ready to go.
The Outrigger Davit allows for easy clearance over tall parapets while the beam and counterweights are at a safe rooftop level.
Rather than using the Rolling Outrigger Northern Strands set up a 10 foot high by 8 foot outreach Outrigger Davit for Swing Stage Suspension Systems.
For more information on Suspended Access Systems, Davit Arms, or Suspended Access Training:
Carson Lowen - Suspended Access Technician
Fax: (306) 974-5527
Email: cloewen@northernstrands.com
In the industry there is a misconception that portable outrigger beams and parapet clamps being used with powered suspended access equipment can be tied back using fibre rope, and often times it is old vertical lifeline rope that is used for this application. However, using rope in this application is an incorrect practice.
Under the national CSA Safety Code For Suspended Platforms, the tieback cables for portable outriggers and parapet clamps must be of equal strength as the primary suspension rope. Since most powered climbers use a 5/16” or 8.4mm diameter wire rope that has a breaking strength of 10,000+lbs, the use of 5/8” polysteel lifeline (which has a breaking strength of only 9,000 lbs when new) is not adequate. In addition to that, ropes are usually terminated at the anchors with knots, and ANY knot will reduce the strength of rope by at least 25%. While ropes of the proper strength and construction (and when terminated with the proper approved knots) can be used with rope access systems and manual bosun’s chairs, they should never be used with any powered suspended equipment that has wire rope as the primary suspension line.
At Northern Strands, we will always supply the proper tieback cables and wire rope clips for this connection, and provide complete instruction on proper rigging of tieback cables as part of our Suspended Access Equipment Training course.
The picture below shows an example of a correct outrigger tieback with wire rope
For more information visit http://www.northernstrands.com/suspended-access-systems.aspx
"Northern Strands is proudly Saskatoon, Saskatchewan owned and operated."