Giant swing safety

Background

A schoolteacher sustained a back injury because a platform ladder, used to help participants on and off the swing, wasn't removed from the swing zone before the teacher was raised and released to swing.

Recommended ways to control risks

Employers who operate bottom mount giant swings must ensure the risks of people colliding with platform ladders are controlled so far as is reasonably practicable.

Here is a step-by-step process that can help employers to control risks associated with platform ladders while operating bottom mount giant swings:

1. Use a platform ladder

First, use a platform ladder that has transport wheels to help move it out of the swing zone.

2. Define the home position

Once the size of the platform ladder is known, define the home position for the platform ladder outside of the swing zone. This can be:

• to the side of the load and unload position to reduce manual handling,
• opposite the entry gate of the swing zone. This reduces the risk of group members colliding with the ladder when pulling the haul rope to lift the participant,
• in a position that will enable interlocking the platform ladder with the haul rope.

3. Install an interlocking system.

Next, have a competent person install a two-step captive key interlocking system. The system should connect the platform ladder with the haul rope. The interlocking system controls the following:

• The first key controls the placement of the platform ladder. It also ensures it is removed from the swing zone before the haul rope can be released from the captive key interlock.
• The second key controls the use of the haul rope. It prevents the rope from being connected to the suspended participant unless the platform ladder has been returned to the "home position" and the key returned to the captive key interlock.
• When the giant swing is not in operation, both the platform ladder and the haul rope are secured and locked. This prevents unauthorised participants from accessing and using the giant swing.

4. Define the loading and unloading position

The loading and unloading position for the platform ladder should be in front of the participant. That is, between the vertical swing rope and the haul rope pulley. Placing the ladder in front of the participant further prevents the participant from being lifted into an elevated position while the platform ladder is in place.

5. Create a clear path

Provide a clearly defined path for the platform ladder between the home position and the loading/unloading position. This can be done by having a smooth surface for the transport wheels to run on.

6. Additional curbing or guides

Use pine posts or wooden sleepers to form a curb around the path to further ensure the platform ladder cannot be moved into another part of the swing zone.

Following the above incident, the workplace has implemented a captive key interlock system that connects the haul rope to the platform ladder at a home position located outside the swing zone. The interlock system prevents the haul rope from being removed from the home position and connected to the participant until the platform ladder has been removed from the swing zone and returned to the home position.

Giant swing overview

1. Secured haul rope and platform ladder

When the giant swing is not in use, both the haul rope and the platform ladder are secured in the home position by the captive key interlock preventing unauthorized use.

2. Ladder in the load/unload position

With the haul rope secured in the parked position by the captive key interlock, the authorised operator can release the platform ladder from the captive key interlock and move it to the load/unload position. Ensure the platform ladder is between the vertical swing rope and the haul rope pulley.

3. Participant ascending the platform ladder

While the haul rope is secured in the parked position by the captive key interlock, the first participant can ascend the platform ladder and be connected to the swing wire.

4. Participant suspended on swing

Once the participant is suspended from the swing wire, the platform ladder must be returned to the home position and the key inserted into the captive key interlock to release the haul rope.

5. Connecting haul rope to participant

Once the platform ladder key has been inserted into the interlock, the haul rope can be released and connected to the suspended participant.

6. Pulling participant into elevated position

With the platform ladder locked in the home position by the captive key interlock, the other group members can pull the haul rope lifting the participant into an elevated position.

7. Clear path to swing

The participant is clear to release the haul rope and swing.

8. Releasing participant

Once the participant has finished swinging, the platform ladder cannot be released until the haul rope is returned to the parked position and the key inserted into the captive key interlock.

9. Insert haul rope key

Once the haul rope key has been inserted, the operator can release the ladder key from the interlock.

10. Release platform ladder

With the haul rope secured by the captive key interlock, the operator can release the platform ladder from the home position and move it to the unload position and the process can be repeated for the next participant