Jim Thompson

Email Jim at jim.thompson@ipulpmedia.com

Paper Mills require a lot of vertical transportation. The first clue is to encounter a building where the "basement" is at ground level! If the "basement" is at the ground level, it is obviously only up from there.

Elevators, ladders, cranes, stairs are all vertical transportation devices laden with hazards. I once served as an Expert Witness in a case where a 70-ton center press roll was accidentally dropped about four feet. It was the sling that failed, not the crane. Let me tell you, dropping 70 tons four feet can cause a lot of damage, and not just to the roll. Fortunately, no one was injured.

I once saw an elevator engulfed in flames because the defoamer day tank located on top of the elevator and which has spilled defoamer all over the elevator shaft like syrup on a stack of pancakes, caught on fire. Who had located the day tank on top of the elevator at the instance of the pulp mill? I confess. Fortunately, again, no one was in the elevator at the time.

Stair falls are legion. I know one gentleman who fell down the stairs in his home and punched his head through the drywall and broke his neck. Doctors said he was lucky he did not hit a stud.

But the crown jewel of all vertical accidents belongs to the ladder. Sources tell me that over 164,000 people in the United States are treated for ladder-related injuries each year and 300 of those are fatal. Further, most fatalities occur from a fall of ten feet or less.

The law firm of Sullivan Paipan lists eight possible injuries from ladder falls:

1. Head
2. Spinal cord
3. Broken bones
4. Back and neck
5. Internal
6. Soft tissue
7. Cuts and lacerations
8. Psychological trauma

If you don't have aerial work platforms (such a JLG. Genie, Palfinger or similar) perhaps one of these should be your next transportation purchase.

Be safe and we will talk next week.

For a deeper dive, go here.

Vertical Transportation in Paper Mills Safety

Study Guide

This study guide is designed to help you review the key information and concepts presented in the provided source material regarding vertical transportation in paper mills.

Quiz

Instructions: Answer each question in 2-3 sentences.

1. What is the initial clue mentioned in the text that indicates the significant use of vertical transportation in a paper mill building?
2. List three examples of vertical transportation devices mentioned in the text.
3. In the expert witness case described, what piece of equipment failed when the heavy press roll was dropped?
4. How much did the dropped press roll weigh, and how far did it fall?
5. What caused the elevator fire described in the text?
6. Where was the defoamer day tank located in the instance of the elevator fire?
7. What kind of injuries are described as "legion" in the text?
8. According to sources mentioned, how many people in the United States are treated for ladder-related injuries each year?
9. Approximately how many fatalities occur annually in the United States due to ladder-related injuries?
10. What is the estimated height from which most ladder fall fatalities occur?

Quiz Answer Key

1. The first clue is encountering a building where the "basement" is located at ground level, implying that movement will primarily be upwards from that point.
2. Examples include elevators, ladders, cranes, and stairs.
3. The sling failed, not the crane, when the 70-ton center press roll was accidentally dropped.
4. The dropped press roll weighed 70 tons and fell about four feet.
5. The elevator fire was caused by spilled defoamer from a day tank, located on top of the elevator, catching fire in the elevator shaft.
6. The defoamer day tank was located on top of the elevator at the instance of the fire.
7. Stair falls are described as "legion" due to their frequency.
8. Over 164,000 people in the United States are treated for ladder-related injuries each year.
9. 300 fatalities occur each year in the United States due to ladder-related injuries.
10. Most fatalities from ladder falls occur from a height of ten feet or less.

Essay Questions

1. Consider these questions to explore the source material in more depth. Do not provide answers.
2. Analyze the significance of vertical transportation in paper mills as suggested by the text. How does the unique building structure hint at this importance?
3. Discuss the various hazards associated with different types of vertical transportation devices as described in the source material. Provide specific examples from the text.
4. Evaluate the potential severity and types of injuries that can result from vertical transportation accidents, drawing on the examples and information provided.
5. Compare and contrast the risks associated with ladders versus other vertical transportation methods mentioned in the text. Why might the author consider ladder accidents the "crown jewel" of vertical accidents?
6. Based on the hazards and injury statistics presented, what preventive measures or alternative equipment might be considered to improve safety related to vertical transportation in a paper mill setting?

Glossary of Key Terms

Vertical Transportation: The movement of people or materials upwards or downwards within a structure or area.

Paper Mills: Industrial facilities where paper is produced.

Basement (at ground level): A structural indication in paper mills suggesting that the ground floor serves as the lowest level of operation, requiring significant vertical movement upwards.

Elevators: Mechanical devices used for vertical movement of people or freight within a building.

Ladders: Portable or fixed structures consisting of two long sidepieces joined by rungs, used for climbing up or down.

Cranes: Machines used for lifting and moving heavy objects, often vertically or horizontally.

Stairs: A set of steps for moving between different levels of a building or area.

Press Roll: A heavy cylindrical component used in papermaking machinery.

Sling: A loop of material used to support and lift objects.

Defoamer Day Tank: A tank containing a substance used to reduce foam, located for daily use in an industrial process.

Elevator Shaft: The enclosed space within a building where an elevator travels.

Aerial Work Platforms: Mobile elevating platforms used to provide temporary access for people or equipment to inaccessible areas, often at height.

Soft Tissue Injuries: Injuries affecting muscles, tendons, ligaments, and skin.

Cuts and Lacerations: Injuries involving the breaking of the skin.

Psychological Trauma: Mental or emotional damage resulting from a distressing event.

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