The Climb Assist Ladder Safety System includes top and bottom ladder bracket assemblies, the motor assembly and control panel. Standard tools can be used to install the system, which can also be easily retrofitted into short or tall wind turbines.

Capital Safety, manufacturer of the DBI-Sala and Protecta brands of fall protection equipment, has improved its Climb Assist Ladder Safety System for wind turbines. The equipment, which provides climbing assistance and fall protection to workers ascending a fixed ladder within a wind-turbine tower, has been upgraded for global compatibility, as well as to suit a wider range of operational variables.

Improvements to the system include the availability of a 110V control box in addition to the 220V version, and a separate control panel with an operational range of -35 to 122°F, expanding operational range in colder climates. A top-pulley assembly now accommodates a wider variety of ladders, and a rung-reinforcement kit is available to help strengthen the anchor points. Further improvements include the repositioning of the motor power cord from the control panel to the motor unit, reducing the weight of the panel.

The Climb Assist Ladder Safety System, which is fall-arrest rated, is unlike any other system on the market because it requires no separate or secondary fall protection system. This dual system trims time and costs, simplifies safety, and increases worker productivity.

The Climb Assist lifts from 45 to 120 lbs, which reduces the climber’s weight by that amount, reducing fatigue and allowing for faster and easier climbs. Activation and deactivation of the system is quick and simple. To use, the climber attaches the Lad-Saf Ladder Safety Sleeve to the cable system and to the front D-ring of his or her harness, activates the motor and begins climbing. The motor is deactivated if the user stops climbing. If the user slips while climbing, the system will lock and arrest the fall, letting the user regain his or her footing and handhold.

“Wind turbines can reach heights in excess of 300 feet,” says Mike Brandt, product manager for hard goods with Capital Safety. “Fatigue can easily set in for workers climbing ladders that reach these heights, which can endanger the worker and lower productivity. The Climb Assist system increases safety, and saves time and money by providing an easier climb and eliminating need to purchase an additional fall protection system.”

Captial Safety
http://www.capitalsafety.com/