Water Utilities Infrastructure

Workers routinely enter vats, tanks, access shafts, and tunnels to build and maintain water utilities, each of these environments exposes them to potential hazards. Personal risk is a part of the job for these workers, so having the right safety equipment and knowing how to properly use it is extremely important.

Water Utilities Safety

Complex infrastructure systems supply clean water to populations around the world, as well as processing and disposing of various forms of wastewater after it's used. Treatment plants, storage vessels, pumping substations, and miles of pipes and tunnels keep it all flowing without interruption.

The workers who keep these infrastructures operating and the municipalities who employ them must be familiar with the safest work practices and equipment. Tractel® offers confined space safety equipment, material handling hoists, fall protection products, and evacuation and rescue devices.

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water safety training

Confined Space Safety Basics

Confined areas have several important requirements for safely working within them, and you must always fully comply with all such regulations, laws, and guidelines.

Important Principles of Confined Space Safety:

  1. Always create a detailed safety plan for every confined space job, including all tasks, equipment, and responsibilities. This plan must be shared and reviewed by everyone involved in the job.
  2. Fully inspect the confined space before any work begins, and thoroughly monitor conditions inside the space during the job.
  3. All equipment and personnel needed for a potential rescue must be on-site and ready to deploy throughout the job, and all workers within the confined space should be wearing a rescue harness and lifelines at all times.
  4. Consult confined space safety experts to ensure that your plans and equipment fully comply with all regulations to keep your utility workers safe.

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Learn More About Confined Space Safety Solutions

The Most Important Safety Applications

Entry & Rescue

Entering confined spaces such as enclosed tanks, large vats or pools, and manhole shafts must follow all local and national regulations that pertain to safety. These usually require that each worker wear a harness and remain attached via a lifeline to an anchor point outside the confined space.

Lifting & Handling

Moving workers and supplies in and out of both confined spaces and regular work areas is a frequent part of work. To complete jobs and minimize risk of injury, a range of manual and electrically powered lifting equipment is used. The specific conditions of a worksite will determine which equipment are ideal.

Fall Prevention

Within confined spaces and throughout water utility facilities, areas where workers can encounter fall hazards and other dangers are common. Controlling access and movement on walking-working surfaces and throughout the workplace is important.

Entry & Rescue Solutions

Strong anchor points are required by water utility workers performing in confined spaces. Each anchor point should be capable of supporting multiple workers and their gear.

These anchor points may be in the form of a permanent or semi-permanent mast or boom-style device, a horizontal lifeline system within or above the enclosed space, or a portable tripod set up over a manhole or shaft.

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Davitrac™

  • Solution: permanent or semi-permanent
  • Secure up to 2 users
  • Lifting: Manual or Motorized
  • Material Lifting Capacity: up to 1,100 lb. (500 kg)
  • Suspension Work: yes. Max 100 ft. (30m) length
  • Modular: compatible with 4 bases and 3 heads

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Davimast™

  • Solution: temporary
  • Provides two 360° anchor points for installation of a horizontal lifeline
  • Secure up to 3 users: 310 lb. (140 kg) each
  • Suspended Work: from 3 to 60 Ft. / 1 to 18 meters
  • Installation: can be installed on a slope of maximum15º

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Tripod

  • Solution: semi-permanent
  • Secure only one user
  • Lifting: Manual or Motorized
  • Material Lifting Capacity: up to 500 lb. (225 kg)
  • Suspended Work: yes
  • 2 Tripod Options: 7ft. or 9ft. (2.1 to 2.7 m) height
  • Easy to install without use of any tools

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Rescue Harness

Designed for safety, versatility and comfort, this rescue harness allows for quick donning and removal, as well as maximum freedom of movement in any position. Its D-Rings allow for easy attachment and detachment from lanyards, ladder safety systems and the harnesses of other workers during a rescue operation.

The FUY119 Harness Features:

  • High tenacity polyester webbing and lock-stitching
  • Y-style design for quicker donning and keeping shoulder straps in place
  • Independent leg/seat support and six-point adjustment
Rescue Harness - FUY119

Lifting & Handling Solutions

To move tools, equipment, and people in and out of workspaces, workers rely on a range of equipment, particularly hoists. When planning a job, select equipment that can easily handle the potential weight of workers and equipment, as well as operating under the conditions of the job site.

Moisture, lack of reliable electrical power, and confined space requirements should all be considered. Detailed below are some of the most useful and reliable lifting equipment for water utility work.

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griphoist® TU Series

  • Man-riding certified
  • Capacity: 8,000 lbs. for material handling, 6,000 lbs. for man-riding
  • Cable Length: from 30 up to 250 Feet
  • Works in any position: horizontal, vertical, or angled
  • Lifting: Manual only

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tralift®

  • Compact and lightweight
  • Capacity: from 550 lbs. (250 kg) up to 40,000 lbs. (20 Ton)
  • 360° Swivel Hook with overload opening indicators
  • Anti-corrosion treated lifting and handling line
  • Lifting: Manual only

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minifor® TR Series

  • Handles unlimited wire rope length
  • Capacity: from 220 lbs. (100 kg) to 1,100 lbs. (500 kg)
  • Can be doubled with a sheave kit
  • Operated by a control pendant
  • Lifting: Electric

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Access Control & Fall Prevention Solutions

Self-closing gates which meet regulatory requirements are an excellent way to prevent workers from entering hazardous areas.

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The fabenco® Self-Closing Safety Gates

Fabenco®, a division of Tractel®, is a leader in providing gates that meet the needs of the water utility sector, including resistance to corrosion.

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Training and Support

In addition to equipment, Tractel® provides comprehensive training and global support for putting products to the safest, most effective use under demanding conditions and government regulations, worldwide.

Our Products

Tractel® offers a complete product range designed for water utilities, including confined space safety equipment, material handling hoists, active and passive fall protection products, and evacuation and rescue devices.

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How to use the tralift®?