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Posted By Ian Mitchell
Here is an oddball one for everybody to get their teeth into!
We are carrying out foundation works to a site that sits adjacent to a canal basin between two closely situated locks. We have had to commandeer some of the basin area for the temporary works which has meant the available volume of the basin is reduced, causing localised flooding to the towpath. British Waterways have given us permission to manage the throughflow by operating the lower lock sluice gate tp prevent buildup when the upper lock is discharged into the basin.
Anyway, as a light hearted banter with the BW advisor we discussed the lock gate mechanisms and canal infrastructure. Basically, there are exposed heavy duty gears, trapping hazards etc etc and all being operated quite often by totally untrained personnel. I presume there are historic get-out clauses in place as otherwise the lock gates would be full of plastic interlocked guarding and safety signage etc. with only LGOC (lock gate operator card!) holders permitted to use them!
He said that they do indeed have serious difficulty when old gates nad mechanisms are replaced from the safety bods. Surely they should be under the relevant regs?
No real issue at stake here, just a curious observation!
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Posted By Raymond Rapp
Ian
It is a interesting poser. I do not have any special knowledge of canals or waterways, but I agree with you in that one would have thought British Waterways and their employees are governed by the same h&s legislation as the rest of us.
Ray
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Posted By Bob Shillabeer
Yes a good one, but I can't remember any recent cases of people being killed when operating a lock except for those falling in and drowning. From my small knowledge of locks the peole who tend to operate them have boats and go alone canals quite often. This kit is rather chunky and simple to use anyway so where is the risk, trapping hands yes but anyone with any sence would not put their hand in the gears when they are being opoerated. Ref to the thread on get a life is where this could be applicable. Its obvious to most people that its is not a good idea to put ones hand in a working gearing.
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Posted By Charlotte Hazell Hi.my family do a good deal of canal travelling and I am glad to say 'common sense' applies most of the time. New hirers are always given a good session on how to be safe whether winding paddle gear on lock gates or trying to moor and jump to the bank! We find visitors quickly pick up the essentials and are slow and careful until they are more practised. Our personal concern is the number of children on boats without life jackets. This is madness. Some H & S info on the link www.wrg.org.uk might interest you. (Waterway Recovery Group - volunteers restoring waterways)
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Posted By John Webster
The days of commercial carrying on most of our canal network are long gone, but the canals stand as a piece of industrial archeolgy and a testement to the ingenuity of the engineers who built them. Many locks still have their original mechanisms, or mechanisms that were installed during the hey-days of canal carrying.
Fortunately, the "cut" has found a new purpose with the leasure boater, bringing in revenue which helps preserve thousands of miles of canal in working order.
There have been attemps to replace old mechanisms with "safe" hydraulic gear etc., but these have to some extent destroyed the very nature of the locks. The fact that the canals ARE a preserved but useable relic of a bygone age is the reason why people want to spend their leasure time there, and why the mechanisms should not be modernised (an act of vandalism IMHO).
Reasonably practicable? British Waterways have shown that the paddle gear can be replaced with safer stuff (though not as reliable). So it is practicable. But reasonable, to destroy perfectly good industrial archeology? No way. So its down the heirarchy of controls to where we are - education & training in their safe use and maybe a bit of PPE in the shape of rigger type gloves.
In practice, despite the dangerous look of those exposed rack and pinions, gears and dogs serious injuries are thankfully rare, even though I have often seen children operating them (not mine, I hasten to add).
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Posted By Bob Shillabeer
I went to Lydney Harbopur in Gloucestershire the other morning and can recommend a trip one afternoon especially if the Tide is up. Quite a small harbour with pleasure craft now using it to moor up, etc. There are some interesting things to see. More importantly the site has been restored by the Lottery Heritage Fund and now has a flood prevention gate and a working lock. There are three sets of lock gates two controlling the central basin and a third seaward side protection the sea basin. I was lucky enough to see a boat leaving and was quite impressed by the method of operation. Signs were used to prevent sightseers straying onto the lock gates when they were being operated warning people about sudden movement and that there was no access to the other side. These signs were placed manually. There are some dos and don'ts notices around and the site looks well managed.
There are no signs about moving gears etc as the old lock controls are rusted solid and for show only. The site is owned by Gloucester CC I think and operated by the Environment agency.
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Posted By Ian Mitchell
Hi Bob. Hope you weren't asking me to 'get a life' for raising the issue;-)
Completely agree that common sense stops you from putting hands near moving gear and teeth etc! Also, I like old machinery and stuff and would certainly not like to see it b+stardised with signs and perspex guarding either.
However, modern machinery such as cartonners etc are guarded for far less than this, and saying 'common sense should have stopped Bill putting his fingers in the infeed bucket would not hold in a law court! I was just curious how they satisfy the regs on control measures alone bearing in mind the almost unlimited access to such equipment by the public. Cheers Ian M
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Posted By Bob Shillabeer
Ian. My appologies if my response seemed to be directed at you; that was not my intention. The issue you raised is a serious one especially when you look at the other hazards associated with canal and waterways. But the machinery that comes with lock gates is not that dangerous hoe can you get yur hands trapped if it takes both hands to operate the machine? More modern systems may pose a risk but these are generally far better protected than those built in the Victorian days.
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Posted By Ian Mitchell
Hi Bob. It may be that I have highlighted one particular lock that is not representative of typical design. It is the one located on the Rochdale Canal beneath the 111 Piccadilly car park. We were referring to the sluice gate mechanism which can be done one-handed and has gearing well within trapping range when operating it. I will have a look at others when I am next walking along the canal system, but don't worry as I won't be compiling a report as it will just be for my own interest! Regards Ian M.
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Posted By Bob Shillabeer
Yes I know the canal you are talking about. A bit grim with all the rubbish that was in it if my memory serves me well. Hope it is getting better, the canals around the Manchester area are supberb. I acknowledge that not all mechanisms need two hands to operate plus locks used to have lock keepers but common sense will always be a good start in ensuring the risks are adequately controlled without having to cover them with artifical cages etc., spoiling their natural sstyle. I too like the old stuff, shows how invetive our ancestors were.
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