Safe Line Handling Practices for the Inland Waterways

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Lines are probably the most used of all the tools in our industry. They are strong and durable when used properly but, without a doubt, some of the most serious and disabling injuries in our industry result from improper line handling techniques.

Over the years many deaths and serious injuries have been caused by careless handling of lines and personnel failing to recognize the threat they can pose when stressed under thousands of pounds of pressure. The goal of this program is to make deck personnel aware of the risk they face every time the head out on the tow with a coil of rope.

In general, mates and deckhands refer to fiber rope as line, while wire rope is referred to as cable, or just wire. More to the point, line refers to a piece of rope,   which is in use, or has been cut for a specific purpose, such as a heaving line, lockline, leaving line, or spring line. You will hear lines referred to by a variety of names and descriptions in the Inland Waterways. Let's take a look at a few of them.

A Leaving Line is any short length line, typically 1.5 inch in diameter with an eye in one end, used to secure barges to a dock, landing or in fleets, when the boat will not be returning to retrieve the line. It is also referred to as Mardi Gras or trash line. This lower quality synthetic line should never be used for checking barges.

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