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27 October 2023
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Featured FRI Magazine article: Operating winches at accident scenes by Lenny Naidoo (FRI Vol 1 no 7)

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https://www.frimedia.org/uploads/1/2/2/7/122743954/rfi_vol1no7_final_lr.pdf

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​This week’s featured Fire and Rescue International magazine article is: Operating winches at accident scenes by Lenny Naidoo (FRI Vol 1 no 7). We will be sharing more technical/research/tactical articles from Fire and Rescue International magazine on a weekly basis with our readers to assist in technology transfer. This will hopefully create an increased awareness, providing you with hands-on advice and guidance. All our magazines are available free of charge in PDF format on our website and online at ISSUU. We also provide all technical articles as a free download in our article archive on our website.
 
Operating winches at accident scenes (FRI Vol 1 no 7)
By Lenny Naidoo
 
A common spectacle at motor vehicle accidents is the large number of tow-trucks and emergency services vehicles in attendance. Whilst the clearing up of the roadways is the mandate of the Road Traffic Inspectorate, fire services will under normal circumstances be present whilst the clear-up operation is undertaken by a tow-truck operator.
 
This article has a twofold purpose:
  • To make fire and rescue practitioners aware of the inherent dangers associated with winch operations
  • To educate fire and rescue practitioners on the correct approach in using winches on fire appliances
 
It is concerning that when winching operations take place, complacency may set in on the part of the tow-truck operator as well as the fire and rescue service personnel on scene. Has anyone ever asked the question:  What training has the tow-truck operator had? I certainly have not seen any legislative requirements with respect to training and certification for winch operations. On scene, we take it for granted that the person controlling the winch is competent to do so. We may therefore “drop our guard”, become complacent and not really look at the winch operation from a safety perspective.
 
Although, admittedly, there are hardly any incidents of winching operations going bad, it does not mean that all is well. It could just be pure luck that incidents do not occur. In any operation involving the use of equipment which could result in injury, the following elements are essential in ensuring the successful and efficient operation of said equipment:
  • Valid industry norms and standards
  • Training and certification requirements
  • Inspection, maintenance and testing procedures
  • Mandatory record keeping
  • Quality assurance 
   
Safety stipulations
  • Do not exceed load capacity
  • Wear approved safety goggles and heavy duty gloves during the operation
  • The clutch must never be disengaged whilst under load. Always engage clutch before starting.
  • Keep clear of the wire rope during operating and do not try and guide the rope under tension
  • Place heavy salvage cover over wire rope, three metres from hook to absorb the force released if the wire rope breaks.
  • Do not use the winch for lifting or moving people.
  • Position a spotter to ensure it is safe to operate the winch.
  • Do not use the vehicle to pull on the wire rope.
  • Do not use loose clothing or jewellery whilst operating the winch. Keep bystanders away from the scene.
  • Hook onto the object using the tow strap or chain; never wrap a wire rope around the object as it may damage the rope.
  • Keep at least five turns on the drum, the wire connection to the drum is not intended to sustain a load.
  • Do not operate the winch at extreme angles.
  • If the object to be pulled must be pulled at an angle in relation to the winch, use a pulley and an anchor point. See figure C
 
Operating a winch
  1. Ensure you understand the maximum load capacity of the winch and all the instructions.
  2. Examine the wire rope and winch, do not operate the winch if the rope is frayed or damaged.
  3. Ensure:
    1. The vehicle’s handbrake is engaged
    2. The vehicle’s transmission is in neutral
    3. The vehicle’s wheels are chocked
    4. The vehicle is started
  4. To pull out the wire rope, move the clutch handle to the release position, slide the loop of the hook strap over the hook, then pull on the hook strap to pull out the wire rope. Warning, leave at least five full turns of wire rope on the drum.
  5. Hook onto the object using a pulling point, tow strap, tree strap or chain.
  6. Attachment point must be centred in loop of hook and the hook’s safety clasp must be fully closed.
  7. Re-engage the clutch by moving the clutch handle to the engaged position, and make sure the vehicle to be winched is free to move - release handbrake whilst ensuring the vehicle to be winched is controlled. 
  8. Attach the controller
  9. When it is safe to do so, use the power switch on the pendant controller to retract the wire rope and winch the item as desired. Do not power the hook all the way into the fairlead to prevent damage.
  10. Caution: do not use the winch in a constant duty application; it is designed for intermittent use only. Keep the duration of the pulling job as short as possible. If the motor becomes very hot to the touch, stop and let it cool down for several minutes. Do not pull for more than one minute at or near the rated load. Do not maintain power to the winch if the motor stalls. Double line rigging will help prevent overloading and should be used whenever practical, see ″double line rigging″
  11. When finished pulling the load, reverse the direction of the winch just enough to release tension on the wire rope so that you can unfasten the hook from the load and reel in the wire rope.
  12. Avoid damage to the winch by not winching for more than the prescribed duty cycle time. The duty cycle defines the amount of time, within a 15 minute period, during which a winch can operate at its maximum capacity without overheating. For example, a winch with a 5% duty cycle at its maximum load must be allowed to rest for at least 14 minutes, 15 seconds after every 45 seconds of continuous operation. Failure to carefully observe duty cycle limitations can easily over stress a winch contributing to premature winch failure.
 
Maintenance
1. Before each use, inspect the general condition of the winch. Check for loose hardware, misalignment or binding of moving parts, cracked or broken parts, damaged electrical wiring, corroded or loose terminals, and any other condition that may affect its safe operation. Examine the wire rope. Do not use the winch if the wire rope is frayed, kinked or damaged.
2. After use, wipe external surfaces of the winch with clean cloth.
3. Lubricate the wire rope occasionally with a light oil.
4. The winch’s internal mechanism is permanently lubricated. Do not open the housing. However, if the winch is submerged, it should be opened, dried and re-lubricated by a qualified technician as soon as possible to prevent corrosion.
 
As fire fighters, we are the custodians of safety and we are expected to be on the lookout for any unsafe acts. Never drop your guard once a vehicle rescue is performed and the operation swings to vehicle recovery.

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