www.biline.co.uk Tel: 01274 665269 Fax: 01274 656727

Declaration:

This instruction tool has been produced to provide users of the Bi-LINE system with a generic overview of the system operation, working parameters, maintenance and limitations.

The overriding design priority and function of the Bi-LINE system is for ‘Fall Prevention’ and to stop an operative entering into a fall situation. It is the responsibility of the Installer to ensure that the system performs this function on completion of the installation and before delivery to the end user.

It is the user responsibility to inspect the system on each occasion of use, checking for wear and tear, damages or missing components (in accordance with the supplied Maintenance Manual and the contents of this instruction program).

Any system that is found to be damaged or allows the operative to reach a fall position should be taken out of service and reported to the supplier.

The employer must provide adequate supervision and keep records of all personnel who have used this instruction program and report any anomalies that may be discovered.

It is required that all personal who have used this instruction program are also supervised in a practical operation session on a vehicle fitted with Bi-LINE.

The use of this instruction tool and practical operation must be documented by an ‘appropriate person’ and kept in the operatives employment record for future reference.

Disclaimer:

Bi-LINE Ltd will not take responsibility for misinterpretation of the following instruction, or failure to abide by existing local statuary health and safety regulations, or failure to abide by the governing rule ensuring the system operates as fall prevention and for any systems with unauthorised modifications.

Bi-LINE Ltd do not operate vehicles and do not have intimate working knowledge of end users vehicle operations and working procedures. The end user must ensure that an internal risk assessment supports the use of Bi-LINE as an appropriate method of safe access and fall prevention for their operatives.

THE PROBLEM

Every year people suffer injuries as a result of falls from vehicles. In addition to the human costs, such incidents impact financially upon the companies concerned through personal injury claims, increased insurance premiums, administrative and legal costs.

THE SOLUTION

Bi-LINE has been designed to provide a solution to this problem, allowing hands free secured access and fall prevention.

Extract from a recent UK HSE news letter

"Every year 2000 workers are seriously injured after falling from their vehicle and last year four workers actually lost their lives after falling from their truck or lorry. It is vital that those who work in the transport industry take this issue seriously”.

Fall Prevention or Fall Arrest

There are two basic forms of safe access for operatives who are working at height, these are Fall Prevention or Fall Arrest. The prevention of a fall should always be the preferred option for safe access and fall arrest should only be used where it is not possible to prevent a fall occurring.

The working height and surface dimensions of most vehicles do not allow a fall arrest system to function properly. An operative using ‘fall arrest’ equipment must wear a full body harness and connect to a ‘Tested and Certified’ fall arrest anchorage. Connection between the harness and the anchorage must be using a shock absorber lanyard with connection on the harness being to the Chest or Dorsal connector. A shock absorber lanyard incorporates additional looped and stitched webbing that will tear out in the event of a fall being arrested. The increased lanyard length could result in the operative colliding with structures adjacent to the vehicle, such as machinery, plant, and other vehicles etc, it may also be possible for part of the operative to hit the floor.

The most effective provision of safe access when working at height on vehicles is Fall Prevention.

The Bi-LINE system has been specifically designed to prevent an operative entering into a fall situation and to maintain full ‘Hands Free’ access for the operative. The advantages of Bi-LINE are Simplicity, connection via Work Positioning Belt, Low Cost, Low weight, Stainless Steel Construction and Minimal Maintenance.

Please Note:

The Bi-LINE system is NOT a fall arrest device and is supplied for “Work Positioning” and “Restraint” only.

FALL ARRESTIn some instances the location of access does not provide a sufficient platform to a fall prevention strategy to be adopted.

In these situations the only suitable or structural location for a safe access system may be close to the area where the risk of a fall exists.

If a fall can not be prevented, the user must be provided with a full body fall arrest harness. The safety system or anchorage must be a tested and certified item. Connection between the anchorage and the users harness must be via a fall arrest lanyard that incorporates a shock absorber.

The Lanyard connection to the harness must only be to the Dorsal or Chest anchor.

Fall arrest systems must never be connected to the waist or hip attachments of a belt or harness.

A risk assessment must assess the overall potential fall distance and ensure that the ‘arrest takes place (BSEN355 standards dictate that a fall should be arrested so that the operative’s feet do not rest within 2.5m above the floor).

The risk assessment must also allow for collision with nearby structures such as other vehicles, tool chests, buildings etc.

At around 3.5m to 4.5m, most vehicles can not employ a fall arrest device.

FALL PREVENTION

The primary objective for any safety device when working at height is to prevent a fall where ever possible.

This requires that the anchorage is locate away from the fall area and that the lanyard allows the require degree of freedom but prevents the operative reaching the fall area.

In the event that a restraint solution can be adopted and the operative is prevented from entering a fall situation, a more comfortable Work Positioning Belt can be worn.

Continue……

General Layout and Components

2 x Restraint Lines

1 x Lanyard

1 x Work Positioning Belt

General Layout

Vehicle roof CAB

Support Brackets x 4

Restraint Lines x 2

Lanyard x 1

PREPARING FOR ACCESS ONTO THE ROOF OF THE VEHCILE

The Bi-LINE system is permanently installed on the roof of the vehicle and the Lanyard connecting hook is stowed to one side/corner of the vehicle ready for use. The location of lanyard is indicated by an Access Sticker. Access to the roof would generally be via a free standing ladder or steps.

General Operation Principal and Limitations

Vehicle roof CAB

The operative wearing a Bi-LINE Work Positioning Belt is connected to a Lanyard that is connected to Shuttles

that slide along Restraint Lines.

General Operation Principal and Limitations

CAB

The Shuttles allow the operative to move along the roof area

Stoppers fitted to the Restraint Lines prevent the operative stepping off the front of the vehicle

General Operation Principal and Limitations

CAB

The Lanyard travel toward the rear of the vehicle is also restricted by stoppers…..

…preventing the operative stepping off the end of the roof area

CAB

General Operation Principal and Limitations

The Lanyard is of a fixed length to either side of the connecting hook, each half of the lanyard is less than the width of the vehicle.

As the operative moves toward the side of the roof…. the Lanyard connected to the Restraint Line on the opposite side of the vehicle will restrain them.

Max reach

CAB

General Operation Principal and Limitations

The same restraint is achieved when approaching the opposite side of the roof area

Max reach

Bi-LINE ‘Work Positioning Belt’

The Bi-LINE belt has a sliding D Shackle that is able to slide around the waist from one hip to the other.

The is allows the operator to turn through 180 degrees so that the can face in both directions without unclipping form the Bi-LINE Lanyard.

Bi-LINE

A Practical Demonstration

START

Bi-LINE ‘Lanyard & Swivel Connecting Hook’

The Swivel Hook has a double action safety mechanism to prevent accidental release during use. The gate (fig3) can not be opened unless the safety latch (fig 2) is pressed first.

This is done by squeezing both levers in the palm of the hand.

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2

3

Access the roof of the vehicle using appropriate ladder or steps.

Before starting any works, the operative must first connect the Lanyard ‘Swivel Hook’ to the ‘D Shackle’ on the ‘Bi-LINE Work Positioning Belt’.

Before stepping onto the vehicle, the operative should take hold of the Lanyard swivel hook, this provides restraint and maintains a ‘Third Point of Contact’ as they pull themselves onto the roof area.

The Lanyard has a Swivel Hook that is located to the centre of the lanyard cable and held in position between two stoppers.

The length of the lanyard between the Swivel Hook and the Restraint Line is less than the width of the vehicle roof.

Hopper Access

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2

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Most Bi-LINE systems provide access to the full length of the vehicle.

Some require and additional fixed lanyard to access extremity areas. Transference between lanyards can be done while maintaining the ‘third point of contact’ rule.

Dismounting the vehicle is the reverse of the access procedure.

Using the restraint provided by the lanyard, the operative can comfortably find the first rung of the access ladder or transfer from the roof of the vehicle onto an access platform or access steps.

keeping a firm grip on the hook to retain a ‘third point’ of contact

The operative returns to the access location and disconnects the hook from the belt…………

Inspection & MaintenanceEach Bi-LINE installation must be inspected on every occasion of use. A signed confirmation of the inspection must be entered into the vehicle log at periods not exceeding 12 months

The inspection must include:-

01. Check for loose or sagging restraint cables. 02. Check for loose or damaged anchorage's. 03. Check for cable damage, kinks or fraying. 04. Check for fraying or visual wear on the Bi-LINE Belt. 05. Check for loose or missing clevis pins and retaining clips. 06. Check for loose or missing wheel runner fixing screws. 07. Check smooth operation and closure of the swivel hook safety mechanism. 08. Check for corrosion (anchorage's). 09. Check General wear and tear. 10. Check that the restraint line stoppers are located correctly. 11. Check that the system prevents an operative entering into a fall situation. 12. Check that all securing screws are present on all restraint line stoppers.Any system that is found to have a fault must be decommissioned until repairs have been completed.

Bi-LINE OperationTo complete this instruction, It is recommended that you watch the video’s of a Bi-LINE system in use on our web site…

www.bi-lineltd.com

Thank you four your attention.