A tragic workplace accident in Warren, Michigan, demonstrates how dangerous working on a flatbed trailer can be.
According to news coverage, a 61-year-old independent truck driver was making a delivery at a steel-treating facility when he reportedly slipped and fell from his flatbed trailer. The driver suffered a fatal head injury. Police and the medical examiner responded to the scene while the circumstances surrounding the accident were investigated.
Incidents like this show why falls from flatbed trailers should never be dismissed as freak accidents. Drivers and other workers regularly climb onto trailer decks to load, unload, tarp, inspect, and secure materials. Without proper fall protection, one slip or misstep can have life-changing consequences.
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How the Strap System Can Help Prevent Flatbed Falls
The product formerly known as the NoFalls System is now called the Strap System. It provides lightweight, cost-effective flatbed truck fall protection for open flatbeds, step decks, stake trucks, and compatible Conestoga trailers.
The standard Strap System protects both sides of a 48- or 53-foot flatbed trailer. It can also be configured for shorter trailers, including 24- and 28-foot beds. Separate front and rear protection is available, along with three-sided and four-sided configurations.
When properly configured, the Strap System creates a protective barrier around exposed areas of the trailer deck. This can help prevent drivers and other workers from falling from the sides, front, or rear of the trailer.
The system can be installed from ground level before a worker climbs onto the trailer. It is lightweight, easy to install, and can remain permanently attached or be taken down in sections as needed. Quick-release pins secure the system to the trailer deck, while inward- or outward-facing ratchets allow the straps to be tightened based on the operation’s needs.
The Strap System is designed to protect people working on the trailer. It does not secure cargo and should not replace the equipment required to properly secure a load.
Protect Drivers Before an Accident Happens
Companies should not wait for a serious injury or fatality before addressing fall hazards around their flatbed trailers.
Providing the Strap System can help prevent injuries, protect drivers and warehouse employees, reduce workers’ compensation and liability exposure, and support OSHA-compliant flatbed operations.
To learn more about the Strap System and determine which configuration fits your trailers, call Truck Fall Prevention at (313) 429-2121 or complete the RFQ form below.