Modular Guardrail Safety Device for Shipyards
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety devices for guardrails in shipyards, such as fall-protection nets, often fail to meet safety regulations during vessel maintenance in dry docks, requiring costly and time-consuming external scaffolding, and are not effectively enforced, leading to unsafe maintenance practices.
Innovation Solution
A safety device comprising elongated rods and fall-protection nets that can be easily installed and constrained to the guardrail stanchions, providing a containment bulkhead that meets regulatory height requirements without the need for external scaffolding, while being portable and impact-resistant.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external scaffolding is built to meet safety regulations during vessel maintenance, then safety compliance is improved, but installation time and labor costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The safety device is divided into modular components: vertical rods inserted into stanchions, horizontal crossbars connecting the rods, and fall-protection nets attached to the crossbars. This segmentation allows for quick assembly and disassembly without requiring complex external scaffolding structures, thereby reducing installation time while maintaining safety compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The device utilizes the existing stanchions as housing structures. The vertical rods are inserted into the stanchion cavities, and the crossbars are constrained between the rods. This nested configuration allows the safety device to be installed within the existing guardrail structure rather than requiring separate external support structures, significantly reducing installation time and labor requirements.
2Reliability
If external scaffolding is built to meet safety regulations, then safety compliance is improved, but labor costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed to be self-assembling using the existing stanchions and guardrail structure. The vertical rods are inserted into stanchion cavities and constrained by crossbars, creating a stable structure without requiring external scaffolding. This self-service approach eliminates the need for expensive external scaffolding equipment and reduces labor costs while maintaining safety compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The device serves multiple functions: the vertical rods provide structural support, the crossbars create horizontal stability, and the fall-protection nets provide safety coverage. This multi-functionality replaces the need for separate external scaffolding structures, reducing both labor costs and installation complexity while ensuring safety compliance during vessel maintenance.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional guardrail is used during maintenance, then existing structure is preserved, but safety regulations are not met due to insufficient height and resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The device dynamically adapts to the existing guardrail structure by using the stanchions as support points. The vertical rods are inserted into the stanchion cavities and constrained by crossbars, creating an adjustable and flexible safety structure that conforms to the existing vessel geometry while meeting safety height and resistance requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The device combines different materials and structures: the vertical rods provide structural support, the crossbars create horizontal stability, and the fall-protection nets provide safety coverage. This composite approach enhances the existing guardrail structure's safety performance while preserving its original design, meeting both regulatory requirements and structural preservation goals.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~5
AI summary
It is provided a safety device (1) for guardrail (10) in use in shipyards, wherein the guardrail (10) includes a plurality of stanchions (11) constrained on the edge (12) of a hull of a vessel and at least a lifeline (13), and the device (1) comprises a plurality of rods (2) defining an axis of extension (2a) and capable of being arranged along at least part of the guardrail (10), and one or more nets (3) constrained in succession to the rods (2) in such a way as to define a continuous containment bulkhead (3a), and wherein each rod (2) is detachably constrained to a respective stanchion (11) in correspondence with at least two constraint areas (20) mutually spaced along the extension axis (2a) in such a way as to prevent translation of the rod (2) with respect to the stanchion (11) along at least one plane skew with respect to the guardrail (10).