OMG he’s got a WinchAnd they are not afraid to Use it!

BEFORE ANY ONE LOOSES THEIR HEAD LETS TALK

SAFETY

Yes winches have their place in safety but there are few items we all need to remember and consider

1) Are you properly trained to use that winch including company SWP and standards2) Is it properly mounted on the tow unit based upon the MANUFACTERS standards for both the WINCH and the VEHICLE3) Have we ( all of the people on site been trained on the risks and hazards of a winch no matter where or how it used, yes that means on ATV and UTV units also

One of but not withstandingOne of the hazards of a powered winch is simple, entanglement in the winch or parts of the winch. Exposed gearing can snag on clothing, pulling the user or bystander into the winch, causing severe injury to the entangled parts.• This simple hazard is known as a pinch point hazard, because of the

pinching and crushing action that occurs from the rotation of the winch. Pinch point hazards are well known, and in most situations, are regulated and guarded appropriately. Industrial equipment often has pinch points wherever power transmission occurs. Pulleys, gears, calendar rolls, and a number of other mechanical elements rely on rotation to transfer mechanical energy. Industrial machinery is regulated by standards created by ANSI, ASME, NFPA, and other standard-producing agencies. Most industrial situations involve employees and employers, making OSHA/OH&S regulations applicable as well. These standards all call for safeguarding against pinch point hazards

Use the Winch PROPERLY AND EFFECTIVELY

Think about and CONSIDER There are always going to be people buying winches who have never operated them before, whether new to the off-road scene or just starting up a recovery business. A winch is a potentially lethal piece of equipment if simple safety guidelines are ignored. 1. Make sure that your winch is suitable for the job in hand and that you’re not using a winch with a smaller capacity than is required. This can cause motors to burn out, winch brakes to fail etc. Usually a winch with an absolute minimum of 6000 lb (approx. 2700 Kg) is required for 4x4 or recovery truck use with the majority of users operating winches over 9000 lb (approx. 4000 Kg). Smaller trailers and ATV’s usually require winches from 2000 lb capacity up to 5000 lb capacity. Don’t assume that if your vehicle weighs 2 ton that you just need a 2 ton winch! 2. Check the winch mounting bolts are tight and the mounting plate / winch bumper is fitted correctly.3. Check your winch rope on a regular basis. A worn or frayed rope has the potential to snap. If off-roading for example, ropes can get worn by rubbing against trees, rocks, the ground, bushes etc. Steel ropes are relatively cheap to buy new with synthetic ropes being rather expensive. When using steel ropes, a winch sail is recommended as this forces the rope down in the event of it snapping. Synthetic ropes are expensive but are a lot safer should they snap.4. Always use winch gloves when operating winches. Steel ropes can get sharp spikes protruding over time that can rip through your hands if you’re not careful.5. When your winch is not in use, always disengage the clutch and isolate the power.6. Do not shock load the winch as this will damage the brake and don’t hold a load in transit using the winch rope as this will also wreck the brake over time.7. Ensure any winch equipment such as tree strops, bow shackles, ratchet straps and pulley blocks are all in good condition and are used correctly.8. When you’re winching in, keep your hands and clothes clear of the winch drum and ensure others are well clear of the winch itself.9. Make sure other people are stood well clear of the vehicle you’re winching and the rope.10. Never hook the winch rope around onto itself, for example wrapping the rope round a tree and hooking back onto the rope. Always use the correct shackles and straps.11. Never step over a tight winch rope. As a last resort and if you have no option but to go over the rope, make sure you stand on the rope to get over it, should it snap, this will force it down, but wherever possible walk around.12. When operating the winch in and out, hand signals can be used similar to that of crane operators which warn others that you are either winching in or out.

Broken or frayed wire rope run a high risk of breaking.

Poorly clamped cable ends can slip out when placed a under load.

Using a winch for purposes other than intended use will destroy the winch

A winch is only as safe as the people operating it.

Importance Of Wench Safety

Un-spool some of the wire rope. Leave the last layer of rope wrapped around winch.

Run rope through snatch black and back to machine and anchor tail chain. attach snatch block to a secure anchor.

Begin to run in winch rope. Make sure spotters are around to watch for problems. Every one have on hard hats.

Once the object being moved is unstuck. Unhook tail chain and snatch block and re-spool rope.

Using Winch

• Winch ~ 30,000 lb

• Wire Rope- 5/8” ~ 45,000 lb 3/4” ~ 57,000lb

• End Chain Grade 100 - 5/8” ~ 22,000 lb 3/4” ~ 35,300lb

• Snatch Block ~ 20 tons

Weight Ratings

U- Bolt Twin Base

Clamps

Both are Rated at around 100+ Ft lb of torque and 100lb weight limit,Minimum of 3 clamps per end placed at about 8 inches apart.

Never saddle a dead horse

Properly clamped end

Improperly spooled rope

3 man job. Control operator, Rope wrap Placement, Anchor.

Go Slow.Wear gloves.Anchor holds rope to keep tension on winch. Signals to

control operator.Person in charge of rope wrap placement hammers wire

rope in a uniform wrap around spool can communicate with anchor. Keep hands out of spool wile Its moving!

Control operator reels in and out the wire rope.

Procedure to role up Spool.

This rating is reduced with each wrap of cable onto the spooling drum

2500 pound rating when cable is fully extended leaving one full wrap on the spooling drum

EVEN FOR ATV/UTV’s

Winching operations

Disengage clutch to “freespool” the drum and pull out the cable

Spooling Drum Clutch

Wear gloves when

handling cable

Winching operationsRun Time Guidelines for Warn ATV/UTV Winches

Load Run Time Distance Cool Time

(Pounds)   (Feet) (Min.)

0 2.5 min. 50 12

500 2.0 min. 32 10

1000 1.0 min. 14 10

1500 25 sec. 5 10

2000 15 sec. 2 10

2500 10 sec. 1 10

SNATCH STRAPS

SNATCH STRAPS are Not WINCHESThere is a more affordable (though not as powerful) alternative to winches; the snatch strap. While winches are generally used with steel cables, the snatch strap is made of nylon fabric, designed to stretch. The strap has sewn loops on either end, is easy to store and transport, and is useful for both yourself and helping others on the trail. A snatch strap can protect your vehicle from the stress experienced during a yank out of the mud thanks to its stretching property, which absorbs much of the energy.How to Use a Snatch Strap• Refer to the owner's manual for instructions on how to connect the towing vehicle to the vehicle that is

stuck.• Only use snatch straps that are specifically designed and rated for the intended use.• Use a wooden dowel if you are connecting two straps together. The dowel should be perpendicular to the

straps as shown in the image above. Without the use of a dowel, the straps will be pulled together so tightly that you will never be able to separate them.

– Never use a D-ring or other metal objects, to connect straps. A failed strap or mounting point can result in metal becoming a dangerous projectile causing serious injury or death.

• Once the vehicles are properly connected: – Back up the towing vehicle not more than one vehicle length.– Apply light tugs - enough to stretch the strap but will not cause the strap to reach its maximum capacity.– If the stuck vehicle does not move when you apply light tugs, then gradually increase the distance and pulling force.

Alternative methods may be needed, such as using a shovel to dig out around tires or trying a winch instead of straps.

– If the vehicle is still stuck, re-evaluate the recovery scenario.

Snatch Strap Precautions

When using a snatch strap, NEVER:• Use a strap that is damaged, frayed or worn, or has any metal attached to it.• Attach a strap or winch cable to the hitch ball, suspension components, or

steering components on either vehicle.• Use a strap that is rated for less than five times the Gross Vehicle Weight

(GVW) of the stuck vehicle.• Tug another vehicle with a chain, cable, or winch, as this can increase the

shock load, resulting in a dangerous situation.• Use tow ropes, tow straps, emergency tow ropes, etc. These are NOT

designed for the purpose of pulling out a stuck vehicle.• Wrap a strap around any sharp objects that can damage or cut the strap.Safety Tip! Only use snatch straps that have sewn loop ends. Proper snatch straps do not have metal fittings at the end. Straps that do are generally called tow straps.

Five main factors of winching to think about after safety

Terrain to add weight to pull

Now do the math with slope or grade

USE an ACHOR Properly

Most important thing to rememberThe most important thing to remember when using a winch is to always follow all safety and operating instructions supplied by the manufacturer. Here are some important safety considerations to follow when using any winching system:• Always read the manufacturer's instructions prior to use.• Practice using the winch in a controlled setting with an experienced adult present.• If anchoring to a tree, use a tree protector to prevent damage to the tree and secure and secure at the

lowest possible point of the tree base.• When anchoring the winch, use a solid, stable object.• If anchoring to another vehicle, make sure to anchor to its frame to prevent damage.• Always wear hand and eye protection when using a winch. Do not slide the cable through your hands,

even when wearing gloves.• Try to have the winching cable in a straight line from the anchor point to the winch. This will help reduce

the strain on the winch and make the winching process much easier.• Never step over the winching cable for any reason. You may step on the cable if it is laying on the ground.• There should only be a single person operating the winch and handling the cable.• When pulling, the steel cable is under considerable stress, and if the cable snaps under pressure it can

cause severe injury to people. To ensure everyone's safety, have everyone remain a safe distance away from the cable, vehicle, and anchor point. There is no need to rush when winching. Take your time, and be safe.

Major SAFETY Rules for Everyone to Understand and Know onsite

5 times the WEIGHTThere are various factors to consider when selecting a winch for your vehicle. The weight of your vehicle is important when selecting a winch as winches are rated by their pulling capacity. Check your vehicle’s manufacturer manual to determine the weight of your vehicle and select the appropriate winch. The tow hooks that are attached to your vehicle's connection points need to be weight rated. The tow hook rating should be at least 5 times the weight of your ORV as more force is required to pull a stuck vehicle than is required to pull the weight of the vehicle alone.

There are 3 main types of winches:• Hydraulic: motorized hydraulic pump (component of winch) turns the winch• Power take-off (PTO): the PTO of the vehicle’s motor supplies power to the winch• Electric: requires an external power supply to turn the winch (most commonly

used)• If using an electric winch be sure that the power supply you are using is adequate

(voltage/amperage) to power the winch, sometimes two batteries are required.

Minimum *8* times Winch Precautions• It is extremely important to keep the cable wrapped around the winch drum a minimum

of eight times. Otherwise, the cable can come off the drum, releasing the tension immediately and unexpectedly, possibly resulting in serious injury or death.

• Do not plug the remote control cord into the control box until you are ready to use the remote. Keep the cord plugged in only while the remote is in use.

• Do not exceed the pulling capacity of your winch. Doing so could cause the winch to fail or the cable to break.

• While winching, you should be at a safe stand clear distance, approximately 1 1/2 to 2 times the length of the cable you are using.

• Use necessary, but appropriate winch accessories to ensure safe operation, such as leather gloves, tree trunk protector, shovels and a toolbox.

Winch Pulling Capacity• The pulling capacity or "rated maximum load" for a winch refers to the maximum load a

winch can pull with only the bottom layer of rope on the drum. Full pulling capacity is delivered on the last layer of cable on the drum. For example, a winch rated for 6,000 pounds of pull only yields the full 6,000 pounds on the last layer of cable on the drum.

One more time for the record you do know what you are doing?

Guy almost gets hit in the face with a broken winch cablehttp://www.liveleak.com/view?i=aba_1232605716

Yes bad event do happen to UNTRAINED NON COMPETENT Workers

• People are injured using vehicle-mounted winches when they become entangled in the winching mechanism. The hazardousness of these products is enhanced by the speed of the winches. Winches with high speeds are desirable to vehicle owners. As the speed of a winch increases, the allowable reaction time for human users decreases.

• Accidents often occur when the user attempts to hold the cable as it is being retracted. This is presumably done to help guide the cable onto the spool. A moment of inattention can result in the user’s hand being pulled into the winch mechanism. Accidents also occur when multiple people are working with a winch. Some winches use remote controls to provide safety for the winch operator. The downside of this intended safety system is that the winch operator may not be in a position where he or she can observe the winch itself.

• This creates an additional hazard of bystanders becoming entangled in the winch. The situation is compounded if there are no override controls at the winch itself, making it impossible for an entangled victim to free himself. An emergency stop button should be made available on all vehicle-mounted winches to prevent the severity of these type of accidents.

• Some winch manufacturers use remote controls to provide safety to the operator, intending to keep the operator away from the point of operation hazard. This safeguard by itself does not solve the problem since bystanders can be exposed to the hazard. To be effective, a remote control would have to be combined with a barrier that would prevent anyone from reaching the point of operation hazard. Simple fixed guarding is the most cost effective method of accomplishing this. These solutions are all based on established engineering design principles. Other manufacturers use spring loaded switches to help provide a small amount of safety. The theory is that the winch will only operate when the button or switch is depressed, stopping it when the switch is released. This can be a viable safeguarding method in certain situations, and while it may help reduce the severity of injuries in an entanglement situation, the better solution is to neutralize the hazard using guarding technology.