GENERAL Important Safety Issues with CoilCars.

As simple as the following information is, it is often neglected and the subsequent results can often be fatal and tragic.

Balance-interaction conflict:
Is said to occur when the value of one feature is dis-proportionally dependent on another. (The centre of gravity is just under the point of no return)

This dependence may be turned against you when the vehicle is in motion and encounters something as small and as simple as a disgarded washer, nail or other similar object causing the vehicle to falter in its forward (or other) motion, thus causing it to either over balance and fall or simply just lose its load. (Not a nice thought when many of these loads can weigh from several tonnes up to 30 tonnes)

So, if or when moving a COIL-CAR across the floor the height of its lifter platform must be adjusted to accommodate the load being transported. As a general rule, try and keep the load as LOW to the ground as possible when in motion.

There is a balance condition between the height of the lifting platform and the diameter of the load. In general, empty coils (spools) can be carried at the COILCAR'S carrying-level height, while the larger coils must be carried at the COIL-CAR'S lower-limit height setting.

If this balance (or centre of gravity) is not properly maintained, then a failure may occur (the COIL-CAR may even collide with an overhead obstacle) causing the vehicle to either fall over or lose its load.

Make sure that you impliment and teach a MOTION-BALANCE-INTERACTION strategy as part of your safety training.

DO NOT OVER-LOAD THE CoilCar. This may cause any hydraulic systems to fail suddenly. If the hydraulics fail several things may occur
(1) Hydraulic oil may be sprayed over the floor area causing loss of traction for people and machinery.
(2) The Hydraulic hose may eject suddenly towards the operator causing severe physical injury even death.
(3) The "load" will drop to the lowest point of the mechanical action and even roll off the platform or support arms and crush whomever is within reach.

Ignorance is the cause of many of the problems described on this page.

Finally, DO NOT lean on the coilcar.

This is good practice and teaching especially when the vehicle is Loaded. The simple act of leaning on or against the coil car when it is loaded (especially when it has a wide load which is either not set up correctly or has been partially despatched), may be enough to either tilt the vehicle or possible cause the load to become unstable and fall down.

This can cause a very bad hair day to the person on the wrong side of the fall.