OSHA Standard Helicopters

Helicopter Transport Helicopters can be used to quickly transport heavy loads over difficult and even impassible terrain, like that of a forest fire. Mainly, safety concerns have to do with the downdrafts that the helicopter generates and the possible instability that can develop if carelessly loaded or handled. This means that there are some helicopter-specific regulations that must be followed. Helicopters can be used to quickly transport heavy loads over difficult and even impassible terrain, like that of a forest fire. Mainly, safety concerns have to do with the downdrafts that the helicopter generates and the possible instability that can develop if carelessly loaded or handled. This means that there are some helicopter-specific regulations that must be followed.

Helicopter Trasportation The OSHA standards for helicopters provide a set of safety standards mainly for ground operations and fastening equipment and procedures. All other safety issues are addressed by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). The OSHA standards for helicopters provide a set of safety standards mainly for ground operations and fastening equipment and procedures. All other safety issues are addressed by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration).

Helicopter Transportation - Briefing is important with helicopters, especially since there is a high level of noise during takeoff and landing, and if the helicopter is simply going to hover during the attachment or detachment of a load, work will need to be done in this noisy and windy environment (b) Briefing. Prior to each day’s operation a briefing shall be conducted. This briefing shall set forth the plan of operation for the pilot and ground personnel (b) Briefing. Prior to each day’s operation a briefing shall be conducted. This briefing shall set forth the plan of operation for the pilot and ground personnel.

Helicopter Transportation - A sling is a type of fastener used to transport cylindrical types of loads. This aspect may be more important with a helicopter than a crane, because a dropped load could fall much further from a helicopter, and could also cause the helicopter to lose balance and crash. A tag line is a line attached to the load and used to steady it from the ground (c) Slings and tag lines. Loads shall be properly slung. Tag lines shall be of a length that will not permit their being drawn up into the rotors. Pressed sleeve, swedged eyes, or equivalent means shall be used for all freely suspended loads to prevent hand splices from spinning open or cable clamps from loosening (c) Slings and tag lines. Loads shall be properly slung. Tag lines shall be of a length that will not permit their being drawn up into the rotors. Pressed sleeve, swedged eyes, or equivalent means shall be used for all freely suspended loads to prevent hand splices from spinning open or cable clamps from loosening.

Helicopter Transportation - A hook that malfunctions both electronically and mechanically could possibly tether a helicopter to an unsuitable landing zone, requiring that the fastener be destroyed to free the helicopter (d) Cargo hooks. All electrically operated cargo hooks shall have the electrical activating device so designed and installed as to prevent inadvertent operation. In addition, these cargo hooks shall be equipped with an emergency mechanical control for releasing the load. The employer shall ensure that the hooks are tested prior to each day’s operation by a competent person to determine that the release functions properly, both electrically and mechanically (d) Cargo hooks. All electrically operated cargo hooks shall have the electrical activating device so designed and installed as to prevent inadvertent operation. In addition, these cargo hooks shall be equipped with an emergency mechanical control for releasing the load. The employer shall ensure that the hooks are tested prior to each day’s operation by a competent person to determine that the release functions properly, both electrically and mechanically.

Helicopter Transportation - Incomplete eye protection would be insufficient because of the amount of airborne dust. Chin straps are required for hardhats so they cannot be blown away (e) Personal protective equipment. (1) Personal protective equipment shall be provided and the employer shall ensure its use by employees receiving the load. Personal protective equipment shall consist of complete eye protection and hardhats secured by chinstraps (e) Personal protective equipment. (1) Personal protective equipment shall be provided and the employer shall ensure its use by employees receiving the load. Personal protective equipment shall consist of complete eye protection and hardhats secured by chinstraps.

Helicopter Transportation - Downdraft cannot pull proper clothing into a pinch point (e2) Loose-fitting clothing likely to flap in rotor downwash and thus be snagged on the hoist line, may not be worn (e2) Loose-fitting clothing likely to flap in rotor downwash and thus be snagged on the hoist line, may not be worn.

Helicopter Transportation - This relates to good housekeeping (f) Loose gear and objects. The employer shall take all necessary precautions to protect employees from flying objects in the rotor downwash.

Helicopter Transportation - Loose debris and contamination is likely to spread as a result of helicopter downdraft (g) Housekeeping. Good housekeeping shall be maintained in all helicopter loading and unloading areas.

Helicopter Transportation - Again, loads can fall very far from helicopters, and cause them to lose balance (h) Load safety. The size and weight of loads, and the manner in which loads are connected to the helicopter shall be checked. A lift may not be made if the helicopter operator believes the lift cannot be made safely.

Helicopter Transportation - The helicopter pilot often cannot see what is going on underneath the helicopter. This presents an injury hazard which must be minimized (i) Hooking and unhooking loads. When employees are required to perform work under hovering craft, a safe means of access shall be provided for employees to reach the hoist line hook and engage or disengage cargo slings. Employees shall not perform work under hovering craft except when necessary to hook or unhook loads.

Helicopter Transportation - Static discharge, which is likely common when working with helicopters, could ignite flammable substances. Load can also be grounded using a ground line (j) Static Charge. Static charge on the suspended load shall be dissipated with a grounding device before ground personnel touch the suspended load, or protective rubber gloves shall be worn by all ground personnel touching the suspended load.

Helicopter Transportation - A load that is too heavy may cause undue stress to the airframe, and engine, or throw the helicopter off balance (k) Weight limitation. The weight of an external load shall not exceed the manufacturer's rating.

Helicopter Transportation - Ground line reels must be free-standing and cannot pose a danger of tethering the helicopter (l) Ground lines. Hoist wires or other gear, except for pulling lines or conductors that are allowed to "pay out" from a container or roll off a reel, shall not be attached to any fixed ground structure, or allowed to foul on any fixed structure.

Helicopter Transportation - Revolving rotors cannot be easily seen, especially in reduced visibility. This may also follow from good housekeeping practices in keeping the amount of dust in the area to a minimum (m) Visibility. When visibility is reduced by dust or other conditions, ground personnel shall exercise special caution to keep clear of main and stabilizing rotors. Precautions shall also be taken by the employer to eliminate as far as practical reduced visibility.

Helicopter Transportation - Hand signals are the most effective form of maneuvering communication because it requires no special equipment and can be done in a noisy environment where hearing protection and rotor noise makes verbal communication impossible (n) Signal systems. Signal systems between aircrew and ground personnel shall be understood and checked in advance of hoisting the load. This applies to either radio or hand signal systems. Hand signals shall be as shown in Figure N-1.

Helicopter Transportation - So when loading or unloading a hovering helicopter, the rotor blades must be at least 50 feet from the tops of the workers’ heads (o) Approach distance. No unauthorized person shall be allowed to approach within 50 feet of the helicopter when the rotor blades are turning.

Helicopter Transportation - Unexpected bursts of air from a change in rotor pitch may cause injury (p) Approaching helicopter. Whenever approaching or leaving a helicopter with blades rotating, all employees shall remain in full view of the pilot and keep in a crouched position. Employees shall avoid the area from the cockpit or cabin rearward unless authorized by the helicopter operator to work there.

Helicopter Transportation - Understaffing could cause muscle strain or an unsafe load (q) Personnel. Sufficient ground personnel shall be provided when required for safe helicopter loading and unloading operations.

Helicopter Transportation - This is so that the pilot can quickly and easily pick out the signalman (r) Communications. There shall be constant reliable communication between the pilot, and a designated employee of the ground crew who acts as a signalman during the period of loading and unloading. This signalman shall be distinctly recognizable from other ground personnel.

Helicopter Transportation - Wind could feed a fire and spread it very quickly (s) Fires. Open fires shall not be permitted in an area that could result in such fires being spread by the rotor downwash.