Inspection Pit Protection: A Comprehensive Guide To Inspection Safety

Inspection pits are essential for safety at work, ensuring that inspection and maintenance jobs below ground level can be carried out with minimal risk of personal injury to personnel. However, to ensure a safe working environment, adequate inspection pit protection must be implemented across multi Industries and sectors, including the Rail Industry featured in this blog.

There are various regulations and standards relating to the use of inspection pits and the safety equipment required. This comprehensive guide will cover all aspects of inspection pit protection to provide a holistic overview of what is required for an effective inspection pit safety system.

What are inspection pits?

The inspection pit is a narrow, deep trench that allows personnel to safely and easily access machinery and equipment to conduct repairs, maintenance, or inspections. It is typically found in places such as automotive repair shops, factories, and warehouses.

Working in an inspection pit can be hazardous due to several potential risks. These can include:

1. Falls from height
2. Becoming overwhelmed by toxic fumes
3. Slipping on spills or wet surfaces
4. Electric shock or burns from hot machinery parts
5. Being struck by debris or falling objects.

It is important to properly assess any risks before using an inspection pit and to adhere to correct safety practices such as control measures and wearing appropriate protective gear.

Appropriate safety equipment should also be installed around the vehicle inspection pit to reduce risks whenever possible. This may include guard rails, non-slip flooring, ventilation systems and lighting fixtures.

Inspection Safety Standards

When it comes to inspection pit protection, flooring is an incredibly important consideration. The UK Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSW Act) states that “all places of work shall be kept in a condition which is safe and without risk to the health of employees”. This includes the flooring around any inspection pits.

Several industry standards should be taken into account when selecting flooring for an inspection pit:

• British Standard 6693: Flooring and stairs in industrial premises - Code of practice

• British Standard 7188: Slip resistance of industrial-type flooring intended for use in areas where contamination by water or other liquids can occur.

• British Standard 5395-1: Specification for safety requirements for walking/working surfaces and their edges.

• EN 13036-4: Anti-slip properties of pedestrian surfaces - Requirements and test methods.

• EN 13552: Building hardware – Stairs, ladders and walkways – Guidance on slip resistance.

Safety Considerations for Inspection Pit Protection

These standards ensure floors around inspection and maintenance pits remain safe for personnel carrying out inspections or maintenance jobs.

When considering an appropriate type of flooring, factors such as:

1. Slip resistance
2. Material strength
3. Anti-fatigue qualities
4. Compatibility with potential spillages
5. Drainage capabilities and ease of cleaning should all be taken into account.

With regards to the actual installation itself, the surface must remain level at all times so as not to create trip hazards or areas conducive to slips.

Pit Safety Equipment

To ensure the highest levels of safety while working in an inspection pit area, it is important to install specific safety equipment. This includes guardrails, ladders, lighting systems and ventilation systems.

• Guardrails should be fitted around the perimeter of the inspection pit and should be strong enough to support a person's weight should they slip or fall. The guard rails should also be non-conductive to prevent electric shocks from any nearby machinery or equipment. Additionally, they should have anti-trip features built-in to reduce potential hazards.
  
• Ladders are essential for providing safe access into and out of the inspection pit, as well as allowing personnel to move around the inside with ease. The ladders must meet industry standards and have adequate handrails installed for security and stability when climbing in and out of the pit.
  
• Good lighting is vital for ensuring visibility when carrying out inspections or repairs inside the pit. All lights should have proper shielding in place to avoid glare which can lead to accidents due to lack of clarity. The lighting may also need to be waterproof if there is any chance of water entering the inspection pit due to spillages or other circumstances.
  
• Ventilation systems are also critical for providing a healthy working environment within an inspection pit as they help remove hazardous fumes such as fuel exhausts from vehicles being inspected inside. An appropriate ventilation system should be fitted with filtration devices so that these gases do not escape into surrounding areas where personnel may become exposed to them without warning.
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) such as safety glasses, hearing protection, hard hats and gloves must be worn by all personnel working in an inspection pit at all times to reduce risks related to slips, falls or electric shocks from nearby machinery or wiring.
• Inspection Pit Covers, such as The Pit Protect Ontrack, are also available. These covers provide additional protection from slips, trips and falls by covering the inspection pit when it is not used. They can also be used to contain any debris or spills that may occur during repairs or inspections.

Inspection Pit Protection - Pit protect Ontrack

Designed to improve worker safety in a rail maintenance environment, Pit Protect Ontrack featured on our Rail Industry page, is a highly adjustable safety system created to ensure that falls do not occur. It is lightweight and easily deployed while also being robust enough to handle demanding work environments.

When a train is not positioned over the inspection pit, it exposes a potential hazard in the form of an open area where there is a risk of falling from a height. To mitigate this danger, the PitProtect Ontrack system is employed, featuring a versatile concertina design that enables access to the underside of the train for inspection and repair purposes.

Constructed as a lightweight cover for inspection pits, the PitProtect Ontrack has been meticulously engineered to offer robustness, adaptability, and swift deployment while ensuring safety. This innovative inspection pit cover serves the dual purpose of safeguarding against falls while granting access to the lower part of the train.

The system is meticulously crafted from aluminium, boasting complete adjustability in terms of both length and width. Each bar within the system can be individually configured to accommodate pits of varying widths, guaranteeing a precise fit on every occasion.

The PitProtect Ontrack utilises the standard Pit Protect in conjunction with the Ontrack frame, both of which are provided in convenient 2-meter sections. These components are designed to be placed on the rails, allowing the train wheels to pass through unobstructed.

4 Tips for Inspection Pit Safety

1. Wear appropriate protective gear such as safety glasses, hearing protection, hard hats and gloves at all times when working in or around an inspection pit.
   
2. Install guard rails, pit covers, warning signage, non-slip flooring, ventilation systems and lighting fixtures to prevent falls and reduce risks whenever possible.
   
3. Make sure that the flooring meets industry standards for slip resistance, material strength and anti-fatigue qualities as set out in British Standard 6693: Flooring and stairs in industrial premises - Code of practice
   
4. Install specific safety equipment such as ladders with handrails for security and stability when climbing in and out of the pit, waterproof lighting systems with proper shielding from glare which can lead to accidents due to lack of clarity, as well as a ventilation system with filtration devices so that hazardous fumes do not escape from pit edges and fall into surrounding areas where personnel may become exposed to them without warning.

Superior Inspection Pit protection

The importance of safety when working in an inspection pit should not be underestimated.

For comprehensive advice on vehicle inspection pits, pit safety, and pit safety equipment, get in touch with Portaramp today. With our expertise and experience in providing safe working environments around inspection pits, we have the right solution for your business needs.