Maritime Safety Solutions From SHEARFORCE
Fall arrest harnesses may not be sufficient to prevent serious injury if a worker falls from a shipping container at sea or in port.
There is a lot that needs to be considered with maritime safety to protect lives, vessels and the environment. Prevent injuries and protect lives with our proven Container Collective Edge Protection System (ConCEPs) for maritime applications.
How We Help – Our ConCEPs Shipping Container Fall Protection Solution
ConCEPs (Container Collective Edge Protection System) by SHEARFORCE is an innovative fall protection solution designed for shipping containers ranging from 10 feet to 40 feet in length.
Depending on the size of the container, the system may include 4 corner posts, a gate and 2 intermediate posts plus fall protection straps, which create a strong barrier around the edges of a shipping container. This edge protection system is a collective approach which protects all workers operating at height.
Manufactured in accordance with EN795 and EN12195.
How Our System Supports Health And Safety
In a maritime health and safety strategy, shipping containers must have fall protection and risk mitigation systems in place.
Whether in port or at sea, many people need access to the tops of shipping containers, which presents a fall hazard from trips and slips.
Falls from height are one of the HSE’s leading causes of accidents on freight containers, and can arise from human error or structural failure.
What Makes ConCEPs Superior To Alternative Solutions?
Unlike other solutions that seek to limit the damage once an accident has already taken place, our shipping container edge protection system eliminates fall hazards altogether.
Standard maritime safety equipment, such as PPE, marine radios, lifejackets and fall harnesses are designed to prevent or limit death or injury should a worker fall from height.
Following the hierarchy of control, many workers rely on their harnesses as fall arrest systems to prevent injury. However, workers can still sustain serious injuries and trauma from falls, even if fatalities are avoided.
- Conventional safety equipment reduces risk
- ConCEPs eliminate risk.
By securing all corners of the shipping container, ConCEPs creates a safer working environment for workers on top of shipping containers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the main maritime health and safety risks?
Working at height in a maritime environment exposes workers to a variety of hazards, the most common being falls from height off freight containers, crush injuries during container movements, and structural failure arising from overloading, uneven, or shifted loads. ConCEPs establish a safe perimeter around the edge of the container, protecting all workers on top from injury, including slippages, and accidents.
Can ConCEPs be used alongside other maritime safety equipment?
Yes. An edge protection system doesn’t altogether remove the need for PPE and other maritime safety equipment but provides a further barrier against risk for workers working at height. It is crucial to conduct risk assessments and manage risks proactively, whether you are onshore or offshore, using whatever safety equipment is required to mitigate or remove specific risks.
What are the most cost-effective maritime safety solutions?
Collective edge protection systems are the most cost-effective approach to maritime safety, as they protect an entire team and not just individual workers. So, even if an individual’s PPE fails, they are still protected from injury risk by the edge protection system. The effectiveness of safety measures can also be increased by adequate health and safety and emergency response training, and planning for all work at height.
What are the main pieces of container health and safety legislation to be aware of?
Various legal standards and best practices apply to maritime health and safety; the main ones being the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER), The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), The Work at Height Regulations 2005, and the Workplace Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations 1992. Further best practices can be found in the Guidance on Container Handling document (SIP003), published by Port Skills and Safety (PSS).
About SHEARFORCE
SHEARFORCE are health and safety engineering specialist, creating innovative lifting and safety equipment for customers in the industrial, maritime, logistics, and construction sectors. With a breadth of experience in health and safety standards and working practices, we help our customers achieve a zero-harm work environment, in which lifting operations and working at height can be carried out in the safest and most efficient means possible.
Click here to download our guide on fall arrest systems and the alternatives you should be looking out for.
Why our customers choose us:
- All products designed and made in the UK
- Highest quality materials
- Committed to customer service excellence
- Cost-effective solutions
- Pragmatic safety advice
Testimonials/feedback here
Next steps
To find out more about how SHEARFORCE can help you improve health and safety both onshore and offshore, or to request a quote, please contact one of our experienced team today by calling 01256 595009, or send us a message by clicking here.