20.08.2012

Worksafe issues warning

Worksafe Queensland has issued a safety bulletin warning of the need to properly inspect articulated jibs on Haulotte H16TPX boom lifts as per the manufacturer’s 2011 service bulletin.

The warning comes after a failure earlier this month on Australia’s Gold Coast where a pivot bushing within the jib levelling bracket cracked and pulled out of the pin causing the jib to drop and hang vertically. The operator was seriously injured.

The safety alert speaks for itself so we will simply publish the text and let it speak for itself.

The fact is that articulating jibs, while adding to the versatility and function of a boom lift, are more vulnerable to damage than a platform mounted directly to the end of the boom. If the platform is crashed into an object the forces on the jib and boom end components are magnified through leverage.

It is of course possible to beef up vulnerable components, however that adds weight where it is not wanted and simply passes the higher stresses down-line to other components. If a manufacturer built a machine to withstand any knock it would be grotesquely heavy and unsalable. Just as cars will not withstand any crash so it is not possible to allow for every level of abuse.

Rental companies, users and owners should always thoroughly check the jib and other components even more intensely when evidence is present of a ‘platform bash’ as well as doing it immediately the damage is spotted, rather than waiting for the morning walk around.

One thing to point out is that the failure of this component, which begin made of cast steel almost works as ‘fuse’ is not likely to be catastrophic the jib will remain attached to the boom but will drop to the vertical – if the operator is wearing a harness and properly adjusted lanyard he should escape with minor injuries at worst, although every case will of course be different.

In the Gold Coast case which we had not heard about, it appears that the bracket had been cracked and missed in any inspections, we do not know if the operator was wearing a lanyard or not or how his injuries were sustained, but the fact that he was ejected suggest not.

The bulletins- both the Haulotte one and the Worksafe one are repeated below in full, and are carried in full within the safety bulletin section of our on line Library. [[http://www.vertikal.net/uploads/tx_filelinks/safety_alert_haulotte_h16tpx_boom_aug_2012.pdf]] Click here to go directly to the bulletins [[link]]

SAFETY ALERT

Haulotte elevating work platform failure

Purpose

The purpose of this safety alert is to highlight risks associated with a failed cast steel linkage on an elevating work platform (EWP).

Background

A worker received severe injuries when he was ejected from an EWP on a construction site on the Gold Coast. The incident involved a Haulotte H16TPX boom type EWP, manufactured in 2008.

Contributing factors

The linkage between the fly jib and boom catastrophically failed and allowed the platform to drop so that it hung vertically (refer Photograph 1). Photograph 2 shows a close up view of the failed linkage. The linkage on this particular model is manufactured from cast steel.

Action required

As a matter of urgency, all Haulotte boom type EWPs with a linkage similar to that shown in Photograph 2 are to be inspected by a competent person.
If cracks, excessive wear or other damage are found, then the EWP is to be removed from service. Haulotte Australia Pty Ltd is currently investigating the issue. Owners should seek guidance from the manufacturer on inspection criteria and remedial measures to be taken.

Haulotte Australia can be contacted on 1300 207 683.

Further information

The Workplace Health and Safety Act 2011 (PDF, 1.43 MB) imposes health and safety obligations on a person(s) conducting a business or undertaking, whether as an employer, self-employed person, designer, manufacturer, supplier or owner of plant.

Further information may be obtained from the following codes:

• How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice 2011
• Plant Code of Practice 2005
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Photogaph 1: General view of EWP with platform hanging vertically

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Photoigraph 2: Close up of failed linkage

Visit www.worksafe.qld.gov.au or call the Workplace Health and Safety Infoline on 1300 369 915 for further information.

The original Haulotte Service bulletin #101 is as follows:

From: Product Safety Department Date: May 5th, 2011

Subject: Jib linkage Inspection

Models Affected: H16TPX/HB44J, HA120PX, HA12IP/HA33JE, HA15IP/HA43JE, HA16PE, HA16PX/HA46JRT, HA16SPX/HA46SJRT, HA18PX/HA51JRT, HA18SPX/HA51SJRT

Part Affected: Jib linkage 138P236920

Dear Customer,

With the utmost concern to ensure quality and safety of our products, we would like to draw your attention to a progressive component failure which was either missed or ignored during the routine inspection process set out in the manual supplied with the product.

As with products of this type, it is possible to subject the jib/link to high shock loads via contact with fixed objects or the like. In the event that the operator/owner has a suspicion that such a contact has taken place, the whole mechanism from the link back to the basket must be carefully inspected with particular attention being paid to the link which is the subject of this bulletin, including the metal casting linkage that could crack in the area as shown in the pictures below . As a matter of normal precaution, it is recommended that the link should be checked during the routine inspection.
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In the event that the jib linkage is found to be damaged, the machine should be put out of service and the link replaced without delay, before using the machine again.

Haulotte Services is at your disposal for further information and assistance in carrying out the inspections and part replacements as necessary.

Please note that any incident must immediately be reported to Haulotte Service Department at the following email address: [email protected]

National Product Support Manager

Ian Humphreys