Key Points for Safety Design of Loading Arm Mobile Ladders
The loading arm mobile ladder is a key auxiliary device that coordinates with loading arms for tank truck and storage tank loading/unloading operations. It can flexibly adjust its position and angle, and integrates the functions of a safe passage for operators, adaptive adjustment (to match different tank heights), and safety protection (such as guardrails and anti-slip features).
Safety design is the core of loading arm mobile ladders, and the following aspects must be focused on:
1. Protective Structure
Continuous guardrails (with a height of no less than 1.1m) shall be installed on both sides of the ladder. A middle crossbar (at a height of 0.5-0.6m) shall be set between the guardrails to prevent operators from falling sideways.
A toe board (with a height of no less than 150mm) shall be installed at the top overlapping part of the ladder to prevent tools or debris from falling off.
2. Anti-Slip Design
The surface of the ladder steps shall be treated with anti-slip measures, such as using checkered steel plates, adding anti-slip rubber pads, or drilling anti-slip holes. This prevents operators from slipping in rainy days or oily environments.
The bottom of the ladder shall be equipped with anti-slip casters (with brake locks) or anti-slip feet to avoid ladder displacement.
3. Positioning and Locking Devices
After adjusting the height of the ladder, a mechanical locking device (such as a bolt pin or ratchet lock) must be installed to prevent the ladder from falling accidentally.
The casters of mobile ladders shall be equipped with dual brakes (wheel brakes + swivel caster locks) to ensure the ladder cannot move after being stabilized.
Travel limit switches shall be installed on rail-mounted ladders to prevent them from sliding out of the rails.
4. Buffering and Anti-Collision Design
Rubber buffer pads (with a thickness of no less than 20mm) shall be installed at the parts where the top of the ladder contacts the tank truck. This avoids hard collisions that may damage the tank truck or the ladder.
Some ladders are equipped with horizontal buffering devices (such as springs), which can adapt to slight vibrations of the tank truck and prevent the ladder from being deformed.
