Safety Promotion & Education
Slinging accidents happen mostly to experienced pilots.
STAY ALERT!
Do these sound familiar?
- confined area
- awkward load
- mar ginal weather
- untrained groundcrew
- customer pressure
- tight schedule
- fatigue
- inadequate equipment
- uncertain field servicing
The safety problem…
Here’s how accidents happen:
- getting pressured into a risky operation
- accepting hazards
- flying when fatigued
- lacking training for the task
- not sure of what’s required
- operating in marginal weather
- ignoring laid-down procedures
- becoming distracted and not spotting a hazard
The major hazards:
- obstacles in the operating area
- snagged sling gear
- equipment failure
- deficient pad housekeeping
- surface condition: snow, soft spots, etc.
- incorrectly rigged load
- wind condition not known beforehand
- overloading
The safety team…
The PILOT
- follows procedures; no corner-cutting
- ensures everyone is thoroughly briefed
- watches for dangerous practices and reports them
- rejects a job exceeding his skill
- knows fatigue is cumulative and gets plenty of rest
- checks release mechanism and sling gear serviceability
The GROUNDCREW
- knows the hand signals and emergency procedures
- watches for hazards—and reports them
- rejects a task beyond his skill or knowledge
- insists on proper training in load preparation and handling
The CUSTOMER
- reasonable in demands; doesn’t pressure pilot
- insists on safety first
- reports dangerous practices
The MANAGER
- allows for weather and equipment delays
- sends the right pilot with the right equipment
- insists the pilot is thoroughly briefed on the requirements
- supports the pilot against customer pressures
- demands compliance with operating manual
- provides proper training
Remember, 60% of slinging accidents occur during pick-up
Slinging with Safety - TP 2228-34
(PDF, 597 KB)