Handling of 90 UTS rails

Handling and Maintenance of 90 UTS Rails:

1. Protection of Straightness : Avoid

• Heavy static loading and sudden impact

• Single point slinging

• End drop and flange overlap or crossing of rails

• Localized point or line contract when stacking

Ensure

• Two point slinging for rails up to 13m length. Increase slinging point at the rate

of 1 per 6.5m.(3.25m away from rail ends)

• Rails are kept horizontal and straight as far as possible while lifting, carrying or

stacking.

• Provide suitable dunnage/spacer to protect rail against point contact 

• Rails of same length are stacked on a firm level base providing uniform   support.

Successive layers may be of the same or decreasing width for stacking of unequal length of rails.

• Subsequent layers should be separated with uniformly placed suitable spacers or dunnage in vertical alignment with the base support.

• Rails ends are protected.

2. Protection of Rail Surfaces : Avoid

• Impact or abrasion of rails and rail bundles against structures, buildings, ships,

hatches, wagons, vehicles, etc.

• Crossing or flange overlap while stacking or making rail bundles. Suitable

spacers to be used while making rail bundles.

• Any rail support, handling or clamping device and rail pinch rollers which apply localized or point contact to the rail.

Ensure

• Where conventional slings are employed, use of fabric, e.g. polypropylene slings/sleeves is recommended. As an alternative, if flat link chains are used, these should be fitted with fabric sleeves.

• Rails should be protected against bruising, notching or scoring of surface 

• Wherever possible, the profile of rail support, handling or clamping device and rail pinch rollers should be contoured to rail profile 

• Use of round-link chain sling. Ideally, lift the rails by using electro-magnetic lifting devices

3. Prevention of Metallurgical Damage : Avoid

• All heating, flame cutting, welding and spot welding during rail handling or transit

Ensure:

-Protection of rail from electric arc from adjacent cables or molten metal splashes from nearby welding operations

4. Protections from Contact with Injuries Substances : Avoid

• Contact with injurious substances such as acids, alkalis, salts, fertilizers, sulphates, chlorides and nitrates

Ensure

• Rail stockpiles should be built on a well drained base as per as per Drawing No.RDSO/T-62-6219

5. Minimizing Danger to Personnel : Avoid

• Standing under suspended rails

• Sudden dropping or impact of rails

• Bundle strapping for lifting, slinging or handling of rails

• Contract with rails.

Ensure

• Steel toe-capped protective footwear are used

• Distinct coloured helmets and clothing are used for ease of identification and location of personnel while working with machine or crane

• Effective protective gloves and clothings to reduce risk of skin abrasions and lacerations and extremes of temperature

• Safe working, in the vicinity of electrical conductors and wiring

6. Stacking : Avoid

• Overlapping of rail flanges

• Crossing of layers when dunnage is used

• Leaning stack by placing rail ends (rails of the same length) in vertical alignment

Ensure

• Stacking of rails on proper concrete base and supports as per RDSO/T-6219.

• Stacking of Rails of same Length.

• Shorter rail should be placed in upper layers so that each successive layer is of

same or decreasing width

• Good vertical alignment of dunnage or spacers in the completed stack should be

done by placing them in identical positions along the rail length

• Use of suitable rail handling equipment, such as electromagnetic lifting devices,

rail grips etc.