SAFETY SOLUTIONS OVERVIEW
Falls from height are still one of the most common causes of accidents in the marine and offshore industry. Whether it’s maintenance on a vessel, fitting equipment on a roof, or inspections at container stacks, every task requires reliable fall protection. At XSPlatforms, we provide fall protection systems and equipment specifically suited for the most common activities in shipyards and offshore manufacturing.
Common activities at height in shipyards
In the marine and offshore sector, there are several recurring work situations that require extra attention to safety:
For these situations, XSPlatforms offers tailored fall protection solutions.
Safe Access to Overhead Cranes and Machinery
Overhead cranes and similar heavy machinery are indispensable in shipyards and docks. They require frequent inspection and maintenance at great heights. Workers who climb onto the crane risk falling while walking across narrow beams or accessing hoisting mechanisms. Guardrails are often impractical in these areas, as they block access to the machinery below.
Solution:
A rigid horizontal rail system ensures that workers can attach themselves securely and move freely across the crane structure. Connected via a lanyard to the system’s runner, personnel stay continuously anchored while performing maintenance. In combination with resting platforms protected by permanent XSGuardrails, workers can safely ascend and descend the structure without exposure to fall hazards.
Fall Protection on Ship Decks and Structures
Crew and contractors often need to work on exposed parts of a ship, such as the bridge, open decks, or during repair activities. These environments are especially hazardous due to motion, wet surfaces, and the possibility of falling into lower decks or directly overboard. Even a fall of a few meters can result in severe injury or drowning.
Solutions: Rail Systems and Temporary Guardrails
A horizontal rail system provides an ideal solution for areas with limited fall clearance. Its minimal deflection ensures that even short falls are safely arrested, while workers maintain complete freedom of movement along the runner.
For work on open ship decks while docked, a temporary XSGuardrail can be installed without drilling into the deck surface. Counterweight blocks keep the uprights firmly in place, and the system can easily be folded down for loading operations.
Safe Work on Containers and Tank Trailers
Loading, unloading, and cleaning tank trailers or containers is routine in harbor areas. Yet workers accessing the top surface face major risks, as these structures are high and lack built-in fall protection. Climbing onto a container for inspection or opening hatches can already exceed legal height limits, while tank cleaning involves prolonged exposure on slippery, elevated surfaces.
Solutions: Twist Anchor and Overhead Rail Systems
- Twist Anchors are temporary anchorage devices designed specifically for container corners. Used individually, they provide safe attachment points for lanyards. Used in pairs, they can be connected with a temporary horizontal lifeline, allowing workers to move safely across the full container roof.
- ⚠️ Always ensure sufficient fall clearance and consult a safety specialist before applying this solution.
- For tank trailers, a custom davit-arm with overhead rail system ensures maximum freedom of movement and minimal fall clearance requirements. Combined with a self-retracting lifeline (SRL), this solution offers the highest level of protection during cleaning or inspection.
Using Aerial Work Platforms (AWPs) and Cherry Pickers
In many cases, scaffolding is impractical or impossible in shipyards. Workers instead rely on AWPs, gondolas, or cherry pickers to access hard-to-reach areas. A common misconception is that fall protection isn’t necessary inside the cradle. Unfortunately, accidents have shown that sudden jolts or tilting platforms can eject workers from the basket, often with fatal consequences.
Solution: Aerial Work Platform PPE Set
XSPlatforms provides a dedicated PPE set for working in AWPs, consisting of a full body harness (Static I) and an adjustable positioning lanyard. By connecting the lanyard to the built-in anchor points of modern platforms, workers remain safely restrained inside the cradle, reducing the risk of ejection.
Roof Access and Maintenance in Industrial Buildings
Besides ship structures, many shipyard facilities include warehouses, workshops, or offices with large roof areas. Maintenance tasks such as installing skylights, solar panels, or HVAC units expose workers to significant fall hazards. Roof access itself is also risky, whether via roof hatches or external caged ladders.
Solutions: Lifelines, Guardrails, and Roof Access Systems
- Permanent horizontal lifelines (XSLinked or LinkedPro) enable safe movement across the roof, with capacity for 2 to 6 users depending on the system.
- Safety Guardrails can be installed on parapets or directly onto the roof surface to provide collective protection.
- Temporary free-standing guardrails are ideal for short-term projects, installed without drilling into the roof membrane.
- For access, caged ladders and roof hatches can be combined with guardrails to ensure full protection at transition points.