How much importance do you give when it comes to choosing a crash tested wfp system?
If by “wfp system” you are only talking about a water purification system, forgive me but…
If you’re an owner operator and have little to no risk of someone else abusing your pole it may not matter as much.
If you own a company and have employees who obviously could damage your expensive wfp equipment I’d say it matters a lot!
I imagine having a “crash tested” purification system would also be very important since you’re putting so much money into buying one. But I imagine most business owners using wfp’s have bought their water purification system without such assurance. I bought mine long before I even knew of WCR and therefore didn’t know of another window cleaner in the world that used WFP’s.
I think it would weigh pretty high if I was gonna get one…
can you explain what you mean by “crash tested”?
Lee is talking about van system where you can carry a couple of hundreds of gallons of water. Its important that the tanks are very very secure in the event of the accident. I believe a company is now crash testing there systems… maybe several companies have in the past I dont recall all the details.
We will be offering Gardiner’s Crash Tested systems in the VERY near future.
Shawn how will people that buy those get them properly installed?
Great question and thats part of the genius of it. Anyone can install it based on its design.
Oh thats cool looking forward to seeing it here.
Just one thing you need to consider - just because a system is crash tested it doesn’t guarantee your safety should you choose to fit it yourself. That is a myth. And one, if not careful turning into an urban myth.
A crash tested product must be certified after installation by the installer, otherwise the crash testing is pointless. If this is done, you have a certified crash tested system that will not crush you in the event of an accident.
Heres a stat for you, those of you using ratchet straps to hold your systems down in the back of a van, check the load/ rating on it.
100L of pure water is equal to 5.2 tons of forward force.
So, if you have a 1000L tank its going to need straps strong enough to stop 52 tons of forward force. This is enough to make you look like a bad cheese and tomatoe pizza.
Chris has answered it pretty correct. I only know of 3 companies that have crash tested their wfp systems in order to ensure that it passes stringent tests thus preventing the system sliding forward and injuring you in the event of a road traffic accident.
Other companies in other industries have also started crash testing their products which are designed to be installed into the back of vans and have regonised the importance of safety.
It can also bring the price down of your vehicle insurance.
Does OSHA care about water tank safety?
PS
Will the OSHA fine exceed the cost of a properly installed system?
I don’t know, you will have to ask them. Do they not cover this area of safety then?
If you want to view a compilation film of all the crash tests, WCM has made one (food for thought and well worth viewing)
Isn’t driving down the interstate with one gallons of unsecured water behind your seat about as risky as doing chair work without a safety line? I mean how often do high rise guys actually need a safety line?
I think the important word your using there is ‘risky’.
Nobody in their right mind would do a drop without a safety line because of the perceived risk but driving down the interstate with that unsecured water tank behind you just doesn’t seem that risky.
I wonder, what are the odds of getting yourself killed in either case?
Crash tested only matters if the tank is properly installed. I think more people than not take “shortcuts” when installing such items, saving money and time.
Ya gotta love short cuts! Isn’t that how people get themselves killed doing high rise. Everything is completely safe until someone decides to take a shortcut. I was a carpet cleaner before I got back into window washing and improperly installed water tanks get people killed. Am I speaking out of turn?
I guess it is all your choice, at the end of the day. I can only point out a potential danger, its up to you to valuate the risk. I would never attempt any sort of drop from a building without a safety line. Thats like jumping out of an airplane with out your back up parachute.
Interms of less risky for a wfp system in the back of a van, ask yourself this. Have you ever had a life changing accident in a vehicle crash? Do you know of a life changing accident in a vehicle crash?
It feels less risky because you have not had an accident yet. So this is more about second, third or even fourth parachute on that sky jump.
In your country, law suits and ambulance chasers are rife, this is one way to help protect your staff from injury should the vehicle be involved in a crash. But if money is all you see, then look at the cost you save avoiding a big pay out compared to the 500 bucks extra it would cost for a manufacturer to install and then qualify the installation of a crash tested system.
Then also consider the lower vehicle insurance you will achieve because you have a CT system in place.
