Kee Track for Aircraft Hangars

Kee Track for Aircraft Hangars: Enhancing Safety and Efficiency

Maintenance work on aircraft can vary significantly and generally falls into two main categories: engineering and refinishing. Both require careful consideration to ensure safe access to all areas of the aircraft, but each type of work has different access requirements, presenting unique challenges when it comes to preventing falls from height.

Types of Aircraft Maintenance Work

• Engineering work involves routine inspections and fault correction inside and outside the aircraft
• Refinishing work includes paint stripping, cleaning, and painting the aircraft’s exterior and, on occasion, the interior.

The access demands for these tasks differ. Refinishing often requires larger working platforms, while engineering may involve closer access to the aircraft’s structure. Safe access must be carefully planned to avoid any damage to the aircraft’s skin and maintain worker safety.

Hazards in Aircraft Maintenance

Many risks in aircraft maintenance mirror those found in construction, such as fall hazards, but aircraft maintenance poses additional risks due to the aircraft’s non-linear shape and the critical need to avoid structural damage. This is where overhead fall protection becomes essential. One common solution is installing overhead fall arrest systems, such as Kee Track.

Legal Requirements for Aircraft Hangar Safety

Employers are legally required to provide safe access equipment for employees and others working at height. The Working at Height Regulations guide these requirements, highlighting the risks associated with work aircraft. When working on aircraft without specialised docking, platforms must be meticulously designed to follow the aircraft’s body, minimising gaps that could pose fall risks.

Kee Track: Overhead Fall Arrest Systems for Hangars

A critical solution for ensuring safety during aircraft maintenance is installing overhead fall arrest tracks. These systems allow workers to stay continually attached to a fall protection system, significantly reducing the risk of falling from height during maintenance.

A notable example is the installation of a Kee Track overhead fall protection system in a newly constructed aircraft hangar at Teesside Airport. As part of an investment initiative, the hangar required a solution that enabled safe and efficient maintenance on various aircraft, including cosmetic improvements. Initially, five systems were considered, but through a detailed assessment, two smaller systems designed for the tail section of the aircraft were removed to simplify operations.

The Kee Track Installation Process

Throughout the project, regular conversations and sit surveys ensured the installation proceeded smoothly. Early site visits enabled our technical team to gather essential information, such as the distances between the hangar’s purlins and steelwork. This data was used to design the ideal overhead fall arrest system, ensuring it met the needs of the hangar while avoiding interference with other services.

The detailed information gathered allowed our technical department to create a precise bill of materials and produce the necessary configuration drawings for the installation team. Once the system designs were approved, the installation of the Kee Track overhead fall arrest tracks was completed in just 7 days.

Benefits of Kee Track in Aircraft Hangars

The end result was a highly effective overhead fall protection system that not only enhanced the safety of the workforce but also improved operational efficiency. The Kee Track system eliminated the need for time-consuming scaffolding, allowing workers to move more freely while maintaining full fall protection.

By implementing an overhead fall arrest system like Kee Track, aircraft hangars can significantly reduce risks and streamline maintenance operations, ensuring both safety and productivity.

Looking for Overhead Fall Protection?

Our team is here to help: we design, build and install custom fall protection solutions to suit any building. See our Kee Track product page for more details.