SAFETY--Use of Sounding Reel Retrofit Kits

To: "  WRD Archive File, Reston, VA "<wrd-archive>
cc: "Melvin Lew, Hydrologist, Reston, VA "<mlew>,
        "Carole Nethaway, Secretary (OA), Reston, VA "<ccnethaw>
Date: Wed, 25 Mar 1998 10:47:28 -0500
From: "Carole Nethaway, Secretary (OA), Reston, VA "<ccnethaw>

In Reply Refer To:
Mail Stop 405

                              MEMORANDUM

                                                        March 16, 1998

To:             District Chiefs
                Chief, Branch of Regional Research - ER, CR, WR
                Chief, Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility
                Chief, National Water Quality Laboratory
                Chief, Yucca Mountain Project Branch
                Chief, Research Hydrologist, CVO

From:           Catherine L. Hill
                Assistant Chief Hydrologist for Operations
            
Subject: SAFETY--Use of Sounding Reel Retrofit Kits

This memorandum strongly encourages the installation of a pullout fitting 
for the end of sounding-reel cables for the quick release of the cable 
and to provide for the safety of Water Resources Division (WRD) 
employees, observers, and the public.

The breakaway cable design for sounding reels was needed for situations 
when debris could lodge on the sounding weight (or other equipment) in 
the water and place an unmanageable force on the cable.  A force on the 
structure housing the reel can cause damage, loss of equipment, and 
danger to the streamgager, water sampler, and others in close proximity 
to the equipment.  To address this danger, a modification to the cable 
has been devised to provide a quick release, or breakaway, of the end of 
the cable from the sounding reel in the event that the cable pay out from 
the reel reaches the end.

To insure a controlled or designed safe release of the cable from the 
reel, the idea of a reduced-diameter section of the cable (at the point 
of attachment on the drum) that can break at a certain load was decided 
upon.  Subsequent load testing of individual strands, as well as multiple 
strands, of the Ellsworth-type cable have been conducted at the HIF.  In 
addition, a method of attaching the reduced-section part of the cable 
inside of the drum was devised.

Hardware for installation of a pullout fitting (part number 2302075) for 
the end of the sounding reel cable and a technical information sheet will 
be provided free of charge by the HIF.  With the technical information 
sheet and the hardware, WRD field personnel can modify the sounding reel 
cable so that the cable will break at a user determined safe load rather 
than cause a serious accident.  Technical information on the Breakaway 
Sounding Reel can be found at the HIF Technical Information Sheets web 
site at URL:

http://wwwhif.er.usgs.gov/uo/tis.html

The HIF-CSS II manual contains ordering procedures for the fitting. The 
manual can be accessed from the Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility 
Homepage at URL:

http://wwwhif.er.usgs.gov/uo/

If you have questions regarding the use of the fitting, please contact 
Mike Zalants at (601) 688-1572, or send email to mzalants.

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        RSO's
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        Karen T. Ray, HIF
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