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Posted By John C
Hello all, this is my first posting to the forum so please be gentle. To introduce myself briefly, I am a Health & Safety officer within the UK transportation industry working for a worldwide company.
My question is this:
I am currently looking at an issue regarding the use of susie airlines on yard shunting vehicles. It is common practice in the industry not to use the 'yellow' service brake airline and only to operate on the 'red' emergency airline. This practice is unacceptable in my view as there are 'numerous' concerns in doing this not least the operation of secondary braking.
I am wondering if any member has any past experience or knowledge of workplace accidents as described above.
I have been advised of a company (that will not be named) where such an accident did occur. However, I can not find out when it happened and using the company name can find no trace on the HSE database. I am wondering if it was a recent accident.
Can anyone help with any information please.
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Posted By Renny Thomson
Past experience...Yes, I used to do this many times when working in the transport industry.
The red suzie (emergency) releases the parking brakes, so allowing the trailer to be moved, however without the yellow (service) line connected, the brakes on the trailer do not get applied when the motive unit brakes are applied. This is not too bad if the speeds are low and the trailer is unladen. It is another situation altogether when the motive unit for about 6 tonnes is trying to slow a trailer weighing about 36 tonnes. The consequences are a failure to stop, or potential jack-knife, neither of which are pleasant, nor desirable.
It may be that properly designed shunters have limited speed and improved brakes to allow them to function like this safely, but extremely unlikely.
Nowadays my stance would be that both lines must be used!
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Posted By Paul Oliver
I agree, It sounds like the shunters are being a little bit lazy. I have worked in a similar environment where this practice was adopted. Its a case of it'll never happen to me but for the sake of a couple of extra seconds you have both belt and braces with both airlines attached. Getting across to the shunters will be another story.
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