TheImportance ofInertia Reels In a Confined Space Applications
Confinedspace work is by nature very difficult and dangerous, regardless ofwhether we're talking about a rescue effort or something that's partof your daily job. Often times confined space also involves heightswhich in themselves present further dangers. That's why it isextremely important that workers utilize every safety feature theyhave available to them - including inertia reels. The inertia reel iscommonly used in construction work, urban maintenance, rescueoperations, and industrial applications.
TheInertia Reel Defined
Ifyou're unfamiliar with what an inertia reel is, think of it in termsof the lap belt in your car. The device from which you pull out thebelt is actually an inertia reel. It is designed to immediately stopmovement of the lap belt at a point of rapid deceleration. Itutilizes fairly simple mechanics to take advantage of energy,applying the brakes and locking the belt during a crash. An inertiareel used in a confined space application works exactly the same way,except in reverse.
Theinertia real is designed to arrest a fall from height. Using aconfined space rescue as an example, a rescue crew may use a separatewinch and inertia real, or a winch with an inertia reel built in. Inthe event that the winch malfunctions and the individual being liftedbegins to fall, the brakes on the inertia reel will be activated andthe fall arrested. The inertia reel is one of the simplest, yet mosteffective, innovations ever added to confined space equipment.
AtHeight Applications
Withall of the at height regulations enacted in the UK over the lastdecade, it has become imperative for certain types of workers to takeevery safety precaution possible. At height occupations, such asconstruction work, utilize inertia reels extensively. Workers manyanchor to a vertical beam, a cantilever arm, or even a floor or wallplate. As long as they remain within one meter of their anchor pointthey should remain completely safe in the event of a fall.
However,in order for inertia reels to provide maximum safety they must beingused according to the manufacturer's instructions. For example, oneof the most common errors resulting in worker injury comes by way ofattaching a shock absorbing lanyard between a worker's harness andhis inertia reel system. Such a lanyard creates a vibration in thesystem during a fall which quite often renders the inertia reelineffective.
RescueOperations
Duringa rescue operation it's very important for an inertia reel to becentred over the access point or used in conjunction with a centredpulley system. Without centring the pivot point a rescue line couldrub against the edge of the access point and break. That's whytripods or rescue davits are normally used in a confined space rescueapplications. Nonetheless, the inertia reel provides an extra measureof safety to all rescue operations requiring the use of ropes orother lines.