Anti-Collision
& Tunnel Washes!
To quote a segment of a conversation I
recently had with an operator that oversees several tunnel washes, “any tunnel
wash that operates without an anti-collision device is crazy!”
As most of you know, this equipment is
designed to mitigate the chances of collisions at the exit of the tunnel. There
are several types of machinery available to accomplish this. Ultimately, the
goal is to have a system that will sense when a collision is imminent and
automatically shut down the conveyor.
What are some of the advantages of this?
1. Accident Prevention: An operator advised that he can have over 20 incidents in a day where the
anti-collision mechanism shuts down the conveyor to avoid an accident. Consider
how much damage can be done if a BMW collides with a Lexus. I think you will
agree that an incident like that would cost a minimum of $2000 in repair costs.
Preventing just one of these accidents can pay for the cost of the system.
2. Meeting OSHA Requirements: This system can be designed to initiate a sound when the conveyor starts. OSHA standards state “Conveyor systems shall be equipped with an audible warning signal to be sounded immediately before starting up the conveyor.” As you can see, the addition of the device would provide a means for complying with this OSHA standard.
3. Reduced Loss of Income: Collisions cause your operation to shut down and creates a loss of
income. It takes much less time to re-engage the system when all you have to do
is remove the obstacle that triggered the conveyor instead of clearing up an
accident.
4. Tunnel Exit Safety: Some operators have successfully added a feature to alert employees at
the exit of the tunnel when a vehicle is coming off the conveyor. If you have
any services that are being provided at the exit, this can assist with keeping
those workers alert. This may have saved an employee the loss of his legs in a
recent accident at a wash.
It is important to remember that
anti-collision equipment is installed with a specific function. When the human element
intervenes and overrides the system, serious consequences are possible. An
example of this may have occurred at a wash where an employee was thought to
have manually overrode the system to prevent interruptions brought about by the
anti-collision system. Although there
was no definitive evidence to support that the device was tampered with, it was
not functioning properly when a car bumped into the rear of a vehicle at the
exit of the wash. The vehicle surged forward to a small decline and the
resulting momentum was enough to do some serious damage to the leg of an
employee working in the area. Had the equipment been active and functioning
properly, this accident could have been avoided! A review of the video surveillance footage
confirmed that the anti-collision equipment was functioning before and after
the accident. Whether this incident was the result of human error or device
malfunction, it indicates how important it is that the equipment is ready to
perform its intended purpose!
Contact the vendor you work with for your POS
Systems to talk about adding anti-collision equipment to your tunnel. Be sure to discuss some of the options for
safety mentioned above and find out if this equipment is right for your
operations. Do it today and start saving money by preventing property damage
and potential personal injury!
Let us know what you think! Has anyone had an
occasion where the device failed? If so, how and why?
Remember-A Safe
Wash Protects People and Profits!
