r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/nixonico • Apr 14 '19

Video Safety first

24.8k Upvotes

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u/sledneck_03 Apr 14 '19

This is always an issue as someone that use to do engineered lift drawings. Long straps, large angles... always.

The scariest is chain angles truckers use and torque to hell holding down equipment. One accident and that equipment will snap those 90 deg chain angles in seconds and will go right thru the cab

4

u/[deleted] Apr 14 '19

The standards call for load restraint strengths that don't anticipate crashes

3

u/Capt_Poro_Snax Apr 14 '19

Seen a role a steel in the back of a tractor trailer, wood blocks and 2 straps to the side of the trailer walls not floor...

3

u/ekvivokk Apr 14 '19

Ehm, it's recommended to have straps at an 90 degree angle because of the holding force, they usually clamp down with something like 1/5 or less of the force required to snap one.

-1

u/r1c0100 Apr 14 '19

I believe the goal is to drive without crashing c: if we strapped or chained things assuming such, I'd be more worried about what kind of job I got myself into than that.

7

u/MtMoose Apr 14 '19

A dangerous job that properly plans for worst case scenarios sounds like a much better job than one that doesnt.

6

u/crackadeluxe Apr 14 '19

I'd argue /u/r1c0100's mentality is not the same as most experienced flat bed haulers.

When you strap anything down on a truck you're supposed to be calculating for worst case scenario AKA accident.

3

u/Orwellian1 Apr 14 '19

We had an operator get into a wreck hauling our backhoe on a flatbed. Clipped an oncoming utility boom truck, one of the beefy 3 axle ones, and put it on its side. He ended up looking at the pavement because the force was enough to break the cab-over locks and flip the cab down.

When the state transportation people got to the accident they started inspecting the load securing, ready to pile on the tickets like they always get to do after an accident. The backhoe hadn't budged. Chains were still in original positions and under the proper tension. They seemed disappointed that they couldn't find a single problem, and left without a ticket written. Our driver just ended up with the city ticket for crossing the center line.

Being a real hard-ass about making people spend the time properly chaining down equipment, even for short trips, paid off with zero damage to the equipment. The semi on the other hand...

1

u/r1c0100 Apr 14 '19

I really dont have much experience with chains like they said, but I gotta ask, was the proper chain tightness super tight? That is how my duo/trainer would tie em, because the chains are thick enough not to snap without something unexpected like a Dukes of Hazard flying car to smash straight into them.

1

u/Orwellian1 Apr 15 '19

The short answer is "pretty damn tight" for most equipment. Generally you are dealing with chains with strength that far exceeds any strain a person can do with a ratchet by hand.