BARGE FALL ARREST SYSTEM

A fall arrest system for a barge includes an anchor point mechanically coupled to the deck of the barge. The anchor point includes an attachment point. The fall arrest system includes a lifeline extending along a bulkhead of the barge. The fall arrest system includes a fixed cable anchor. The fixed cable anchor may be mechanically coupled to the bulkhead. The fixed cable anchor may include a hole to which the lifeline is mechanically coupled. The fall arrest system includes an intermediate bracket. The intermediate bracket may be mechanically coupled to the bulkhead. The intermediate bracket may include a cable guide through which the lifeline extends and may pass through.

TECHNICAL FIELD/FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to safety systems, and specifically to safety systems for barges.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Barges are typically used for the transport of goods along inland waterways. Inland barges may operate in rivers and other narrow-access waterways. For the ease of loading, inland barges typically do not include safety rails and often are difficult for personnel operating on the barge to traverse owing to lading and configurations of barges. For example, inland tank barges typically have one or more large, centrally located tanks on the barge surface, allowing only a narrow walking deck about the perimeter of the barge. Operating at or near the gunwales or edges of the barge presents a risk of falls onto the barge and a risk of falling overboard for barge personnel.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides for a fall arrest system for a barge. The fall arrest system may include a lifeline extending along a bulkhead of the barge. The fall arrest system may include a fixed cable anchor. The fixed cable anchor may be mechanically coupled to the bulkhead. The fixed cable anchor may include a hole to which the lifeline is mechanically coupled. The fall arrest system may include an intermediate bracket. The intermediate bracket may be mechanically coupled to the bulkhead. The intermediate bracket may include a cable guide through which the lifeline extends and may pass through.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS.1and2depict barge10. Barge10may be an inland barge such as an inland tank barge. Barge10may include tank12positioned substantially centrally on barge10. In other embodiments, barge10may include a cargo area in place of tank12. In some embodiments, the side of tank12or other components of barge10may form bulkhead13. Barge10may include deck14. Deck14may be a substantially flat surface upon which barge personnel may traverse. Deck14may include foredeck16and afterdeck18. Foredeck16may extend between tank12and bow20of barge10. Afterdeck18may extend between tank12and aft22of barge10. In some embodiments, walking deck24may extend port and starboard of bulkhead13to gunwales26of barge10.

Barge10may include fall arrest system100. Fall arrest system100may, for example and without limitation, include one or more apparatuses positioned to allow barge personnel to secure themselves to barge10while operating at or near the periphery of barge10.

In some embodiments, fall arrest system100may include fall safety area demarcation line101. Fall safety area demarcation line101may, in some embodiments, be a line painted on or otherwise coupled to barge10. In some embodiments, fall safety area demarcation line101may be positioned a preselected distance, defined herein as a threshold distance, from the periphery of barge10to indicate to barge personnel their proximity to the perimeter of barge10. For example and without limitation, in some embodiments, fall safety area demarcation line101may be positioned 3′ from the nearest edge of barge10. The area of deck14between fall safety area demarcation line101and the nearest edge of barge10may define fall safety area103.

In some embodiments, where deck14does not extend the threshold from the nearest periphery of barge10, fall safety area demarcation line101may be positioned on deck14at the furthest point from the edge of barge10. As a nonlimiting example, in a case where walking deck24is less than the threshold distance wide, such as where walking deck24is 2′6″ wide and the threshold distance is 3′, fall safety area demarcation line101may be positioned on walking deck24adjacent or nearly adjacent to tank12, indicating that all of walking deck24is within fall safety area103.

Barge personnel operating on deck14of barge10may wear fall arrest gear that may include, for example and without limitation, a harness and a lanyard or personal fall limiter (PFL). For the purposes of this disclosure, the fall arrest gear is referred to as a PFL. The PFL may include a clip apparatus such as a carabiner at the end thereof to allow the barge personnel to attach themselves to components of fall arrest system100as further described below. In some embodiments, while operating in fall safety area103, personnel may be required to be attached to fall arrest system100using the PFL.

In some embodiments, fall arrest system100may include one or more anchor points105. Anchor points105may be mechanically coupled to deck14of barge10and may provide a hardpoint for barge personnel to attach their PFL when operating in fall safety area103. Anchor points105may be positioned at fall safety area demarcation line101or at a position proximate fall safety area demarcation line101outside of fall safety area103to allow barge personnel to couple their PFL thereto while remaining outside fall safety area103. In some embodiments, anchor points105may be positioned at open areas of deck14such as at foredeck16and afterdeck18. Anchor points105may be relatively low profile such that anchor points105present little or no tripping hazard to barge personnel.

FIG.3depicts a perspective view of anchor point105consistent with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Anchor point105may include mounting plate107. Mounting plate107may be used to couple anchor point105to deck14. Mounting plate107may, for example and without limitation, be welded or bolted directly to deck14or other components of barge10fixedly coupled to deck14or the substructure of barge10.

In some embodiments, anchor point105may include anchor bracket109. Anchor bracket109may be coupled to mounting plate107. Anchor point105may include attachment point111mechanically coupled to anchor bracket109. In some embodiments, attachment point111may be a swivel112. In some embodiments, attachment point111may include shackle113. Shackle113may allow barge personnel to couple their PFL to anchor point105. While operating in fall safety area103at or near anchor point105, barge personnel may couple their PFL thereto in order to, for example and without limitation, reduce the risk of falling overboard in the event that a fall occurs.

With reference toFIGS.1and2, fall arrest system100may include one or more lifelines115. Lifelines115may be positioned such that barge personnel may couple their PFL thereto while operating in fall safety area103at a confined area of deck14, such as when operating on or traversing walking deck24. In some embodiments, lifelines115may be formed from wire rope. Lifelines115may extend between fixed cable anchors117. Lifelines115may be rigidly coupled to fixed cable anchors117.

In some embodiments, lifelines115may extend through intermediate brackets119. Intermediate brackets119may retain lifelines115in a fixed position while allowing lifelines115to traverse therethrough while taking up loading forces in the event a fall occurs.

In some embodiments, lifelines115may be pretensioned to a desired degree between fixed cable anchors117to, for example and without limitation, provide the desired shock load capability and extension in the event one or more barge personnel experience a fall depending on the configuration and positioning of fixed cable anchors117and intermediate brackets119and the material and parameters of lifelines115.

FIG.4depicts a perspective view of fixed cable anchor117consistent with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Fixed cable anchor117may include mounting plate121. Mounting plate121may be used to couple fixed cable anchor117to bulkhead13or other raised area of barge10. Mounting plate121may, for example and without limitation, be welded or bolted directly to bulkhead13or other components of barge10. Fixed cable anchor117may include anchor plate123.

Anchor plate123may include one or more holes125positioned to allow lifeline115to couple thereto. Holes125may be positioned on anchor plate123a distance from mounting plate121such that lifeline115couples to anchor plate123a desired distance, referred to herein as a standoff distance, from bulkhead13, thereby preventing or reducing contact between lifeline115and bulkhead13. The standoff distance may reduce the likelihood that friction between lifeline115and bulkhead13may impede proper operation of fall arrest system100. Additionally, the standoff distance may allow for easier interaction between barge personnel and lifeline115while coupling a PFL thereto as compared to an embodiment in which lifeline115is proximate bulkhead13.

FIG.5depicts a perspective view of intermediate bracket119. Intermediate bracket119may include mounting plate127. Mounting plate127may be used to couple intermediate bracket119to bulkhead13or other raised area of barge10. Mounting plate127may, for example and without limitation, be welded or bolted directly to bulkhead13or other components of barge10.

Intermediate bracket119may include cable guide129. Cable guide129may be mechanically coupled to guide plate131, which may be mechanically coupled to mounting plate127. Cable guide129may be tubular such that lifeline115may pass therethrough. Cable guide129may allow lifeline115to remain in a fixed position relative to barge10while allowing lifeline115to pass therethrough in the event of an arrested fall, thereby localizing any non-aligned forces to intermediate bracket119.

In some embodiments, intermediate bracket119may include standoff133. Standoff133may extend between mounting plate127and guide plate131such that cable guide129is extended a desired distance from bulkhead13, thereby preventing or reducing contact between lifeline115and bulkhead13. The standoff distance may reduce the likelihood that friction between lifeline115and bulkhead13may impede proper operation of fall arrest system100. Additionally, the standoff distance may allow for easier interaction between barge personnel and lifeline115while coupling a PFL thereto as compared to an embodiment in which lifeline115is proximate bulkhead13.

In some embodiments, the spacing between fixed cable anchors117for a given lifeline115, and therefore the overall length of lifeline115, may be determined based on anticipated fall loads with reference to the material and diameter of lifeline115. In some embodiments, for example and without limitation, fixed cable anchors117may be spaced no more than 100′ apart for a single lifeline115. In some embodiments, the spacing between adjacent fixed cable anchors117and intermediate brackets119or between adjacent intermediate brackets119for a given lifeline115may be determined based on anticipated fall loads with reference to the material and diameter of lifeline115. In some embodiments, for example and without limitation, the maximum distance between adjacent fixed cable anchors117and intermediate brackets119or between adjacent intermediate brackets119may be no more than 20′ apart for a single lifeline115.