Falls from tank containers

Introduction

Tank containers are used for bulk transport of liquids and powders and can be handled and stored in the same way as international shipping containers (Figure 1). Access is often required to the top of the tank, at a height of 2.6 m. This may be for filling, emptying, cleaning or inspection. In the absence of any external aids, an operator must climb on top of the tank to gain access (Figure 2). Standard access provisions on tank containers consist of a ladder and walkway along the top of the tanker from which its openings can be reached.

Accident description

During unloading of a container, a site operator climbed on top of the tank. Although the vehicle driver was responsible for any operations on top of the tank, the operator saw the need to climb on the tank. Out of sight of the driver, the operator fell from the top of the tank and sustained serious injuries including a fractured skull.

Business costs and benefits

Cost of the accident

• An accident of this type can typically result in the employee requiring over a month off work and costing in excess of £20000. This includes pay for the injured employee, the cost of their replacement as well as legal expenses and fines.

Cost of preventative measures

• The cost of fitting a folding handrail to a tank container is in the region of £500 per tank, about 2.5% of the total tank cost. However, tank operators often are responsible for fleets of hundreds of tanks.

• Mobile access ladders and site installed access gantries (Figure 3) cost around £5000 per installation. Mobile ladders and gantries have the benefit that no modifications are required to the tank containers and a single access system can serve multiple tank containers. Mobile access ladders and access gantries can also be considered as being inherently safe in comparison to tank mounted handrails.

Reducing risk of falls

Container operators have adopted a number of approaches to reduce the risk of falls from tank containers:

• Mobile access ladders and gantry access systems remove altogether the need to climb onto the tank. However, these will not necessarily be available at every port of call.
• Tank containers may be fitted with folding handrails. Even with a handrail system the containers will still need to be stacked, and so the handrail should not interfere with this. Further, folding handrails may be a target for thieves in regions where there is a market for the materials. Folding handrails also rely on the workers actively using them to make the work at height safe.
• Fall arrest systems are available which will prevent an operator falling to the ground. These usually consist of a harness tethered to a location on the tank container.

• 
  Figure 1 - tank containers.
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  Figure 2 - tank access ladder.
• 
  Figure 3 - site access gantry.