|
Introduction from the Steam Plough Club (SPC)
Committee
1. Now that we are in the
21st century, and there are fewer amongst us that
remember or have extensive experience of, working engines and tackle
in a “live” environment, it seemed an opportune time to record some
of the sound advice and lessons learnt for the benefit of all.
2. It is with this in
mind that we, the Committee, commend these notes and the guidance
contained in the supporting Annexes to all. The aim behind this is
to maintain the experience amongst our crews and to spread the
lessons learnt by our forebears so that we may operate safely as
well as discharging any duty of care to others.
3. Naturally we live in
an ever-changing environment, with greater interest being shown by
the public in working activities and as such the advice will need to
evolve over time. It is also worthwhile to note that several
members of the SPC, who worked engines and tackle commercially and
who are still very much active have commented that “you never stop
learning!”
Context
Transition from working practices to hobby
4. The working of cable
steam and diesel ploughing tackle has in the main transferred from a
commercial activity to a pleasure and hobby pursuit, with a clear
aim of maintaining the currency of skills, demonstrating the
activities that helped develop and maintain agriculture across the
past century or so.
5. The emerging issue is
that instead of working in an environment with few people present,
with working practices that were known to whole crews and perhaps a
more relaxed approach to health and safety, we now find ourselves
working with greater public presence, crews of mixed experience and
machinery, which is vintage in nature.
Wider public knowledge and
presence
6. The general public are
now much more present in working environments than in days of old.
The public, in general, is also very much less informed about the
safety aspects and working practices of engines and tackle. As
such, we must be aware of the gaps in their knowledge and take that
into account when working. This is especially true when pulling in
an implement, moving forward at the end of a bout or in cases where
visibility is restricted. A classic example of this latter aspect
is that a front tool box whilst maybe a comfortable seat, with a
nicely warmed back on the smoke box door, is not the place to be
when the engine moves forward as you cannot be seen by the driver
and risk being run over.
7. When we work, we must
ensure that we demonstrate safe working practices and spend time,
where practicable, with members of the public, in a safe location to
explain what is happening and why we operate in the way we do.
Photography
8. One aspect where
particular care is needed relates to the use of video cameras or any
other camera for that matter, people do have a tendency to put
themselves in quite dangerous positions and focus on getting their
shot rather than thinking of their own and others safety. Please be
aware of what is going on around you. If necessary stop work.
9. On several occasions
stopping work has proven necessary whilst in the middle of a pull,
which is unfortunate, spoils the spectacle for all, but far safer
than someone putting themselves in a dangerous position. Even as
recently as last summer, one of the ploughmen working at a
demonstration had to stop work and escort a “professional”
photographer outside the roped off working area. Not only was he in
a dangerous position, but was also potentially drawing members of
the public into a similar position.
10. The better
photographers always make their presence know in advance, make sure
they are where you can see them and keep well clear of the working
tackle. Working with photographers like this is a real pleasure and
some stunning photographs have been achieved. It is just a matter
of working together.
Surely this is all just common
sense?
11. Yes it is,
unfortunately common sense is built around learning, knowledge and
analysis of situations. Not everyone both watching and undertaking
steam ploughing and working has a sufficient appreciation as to what
is safe, what is not, where is safe to stand etc. We must all
remember that being human we do not always apply what most would
deem common sense to any given situation for example crossing the
plough rope when an implement is being pulled in.
Ploughing
Engines
What is a ploughing engine.
12. Steam ploughing engines
developed during the 19th and 20th centuries
to become extremely powerful workhorses. In many respects they are
similar to normal traction engines, in that they consist of a
locomotive boiler, a gear drive train (not always fitted with
guards), and an open crank mechanism. However, under the boiler
there is a large winch drum, driven by open gears and a shaft from
the crankshaft. This drum holds up to 800 yards of coiled steel
wire rope fed through open rollers at knee height to haul an
implement back and forwards across the land.
13. Needless to say all
those open gears and mechanisms, as well as the use of steel rope
under load carries some inherent risk, not least of which are finger
or clothing traps. In addition, these engines can weigh upwards
of 20 tons or more, move surprisingly fast and quietly and have
limited immediate forward visibility due to their bulk. Care is
needed.
Know your engine
14. Familiarity with your
engine and the tackle is paramount; each piece of equipment and
engine is different and behaves differently. This is even true for
matched pairs of engines. We must remember that some engines have
upwards of over a hundred years worth of wear in them.
15. Knowing your engine
well will also enable you to feel subtle changes in working parts
and rhythms whilst working. Experience and knowledge also brings
an appreciation of the capabilities and limitations of your engine,
for example when it will pull a bit harder and when to stop, how to
handle the engine under different conditions, where the limitations
in visibility and blind spots are, the sound and feeling of a rope
coiling correctly and when it is not, which areas require more
frequent oiling that others, the vagaries of injectors and capacity
for water gauges to sometimes tell interesting tales! etc.
16. Steam engines are
totally unlike just about any other mechanical device; they are
almost alive, having “personalities” of their own and are often
thought of as akin to large powerful animals. However, this is
where the similarity ends, whilst a large animal will often try hard
not to injure you, an engine unfortunately does not have that
capacity to think, be aware of the warning signs or complacency.
Clothing
General hazards including
clothing
17. Appropriate clothing is
paramount to safety of the individual, robust boots and long
trousers are really a must, you are handling coal, tools near an
open fire and hot pipework and near gauge glasses and glands that
could leak steam.
-
Most crewmembers wear a bib
and brace or a boiler suit, these offer adequate protection and
have the added bonus of not having loose ends that can become
entrapped.
-
Shorts and sandals should be
avoided as should thin fabrics or man-made fibres that could
melt under heat and offer little or no protection from steam
etc. An engine driver, well into his eighties, carried the scars
on his legs from a bursting gauge glass in his younger days.
-
Long coats or jackets can
provide protection from autumnal weather, but you have to be
aware that coat edges can become caught in mechanisms and
gearing.
-
Good footwear is essential.
Industrial/working wear type boots, with toecaps are often worn
as these provide protection for the feet and adequate grip
whilst climbing and descending from the engine as
well as in slippy ground conditions.
I learnt about ploughing from
that
18. To illustrate the need
for some guidance, below, are some examples of some interesting
anecdotes:
Eye sight and visibility
– Whilst working at an event, the plough crew noticed that in mid
pull one of the shares had become detached, kicking the plough out
of the furrow. The ploughman signalled for the engine driver to
stop, so that the missing share could be recovered and a repair
made. Unfortunately, it turned out that the driver’s eyesight was
less than perfect and he continued to pull the implement, even after
the crew had abandoned ship. Eventually the driver was made aware
of the situation and stopped. In comparison, at an event not long
ago, a very experienced driver and ploughman, took a look at the
field and said that he couldn’t see far enough with his eyesight and
elected not to drive the engine.
Signals - Even
experienced crews sometimes get confused, and follow signals given
by people other than the ploughman. This can expose the plough crew
to risk if they are adjusting the plough at the time. Luckily the
crew was alive to movements of the tackle and a whistle blast
stopped any injury.
Mobile phones and distractions
from the crowd/public – The mobile phone whilst useful tool, can be an absolute nuisance,
often ringing whilst the driver or even ploughman has his or her
hands full and needs to be concentrating on the job in hand. You
cannot juggle a plough and a phone at the same time and engine
drivers must not be diverted from watching the plough and ploughman,
he is their safety net. This coupled with members of the public or
even friends wanting to chat whilst the driver is working and
pulling in an implement can cause an unwelcome distraction leading
to missed signals etc.
Oiling up with the motion running
and clothing - Oiling up is only normally at the beginning of the day, or during
breaks with the engine at rest. On occasions it has been done
whilst an implement is on its return bout. Unfortunately, this can
lead to the driver of the idling engine not watching the implement
away (a risk in itself) and oiling up whilst the motion is ticking
over. This can have unfortunate consequences if ones coat becomes
snagged by a key or part of the motion. The driver in question was
lucky to get away with a torn pocket and a nasty scare.
Ropes
It is essential that when pulling
a rope out, that all understand just how long (or how short) the
rope is. It is disheartening to see the rope and the pulley blocks
setting off down the field after a well meaning tractor just as
you are reaching for the whistle to call a halt.
Whilst attempting to solve a
coiling problem on an engine, the rope of an engine was pulled all
the way out at an event. Due to the length of the working area, the
pulling tractor described an arc across a hillside so that all the
rope could be wound off. The first problem to be solved was that
the rope had not been properly attached to the drum. The second
problem occurred when the engine began to pull the rope back in, as
the flag man at a half way point was knocked off his feet from
behind by the rope crossing the hill slope to straighten out the
arc. Luckily he suffered no injury due to wearing stout boots!
Implements bite
– whilst working on a slope in greasy conditions over roughish
ground, the tailman attempted to climb onto the plough as it moved
off. Unfortunately he slipped and the plough kicked up as he was
climbing on, throwing him over the seat and onto the wing of last
mould board. Luckily he kept rolling but suffered some bruising and
a nasty cut from breast to hip as well as needing a new shirt and
boiler suit.
19. The Steam Plough Club
commends the following detailed guidance, which can be used with
this document or as stand alone documents to aide crews and event
organisers. The notes cover the guidelines on safety, working
method notes and signals, as well as plot safety. These notes and
methods whilst drawing on practices from commercial days have been
further developed over the recent SPC challenges and a number of
other working events.
Click here for
Annex
Annex A
– Guidelines on Safety (an aide memoir for crews and event
organisers)
Annex B
– Steam Ploughing Signals and Working Methods.
Annex C
– Guidelines on Safe Working – Plot Safety
|
