Winching - Cable danger.

In discussions about winch design and construction, I think not enough
attention has been given to protecting the driver from the cable.

This is a report about one accident (B.G.A. 1991/20):

"At the top of a normal winch launch the weak link failed and a fast moving
"snake" of cable fell onto the winch driver's cab. It found its way
through a narrow aperture in the wire mesh guard and hit the driver about
the head, nose, jaw and teeth. Fortunately he was only marked and not
badly cut. The club proposes to modify the guard."

I know of another case where a "snake" of cable escaped from the drum, found
its way out of the drum cover, broke a window in the winch cab and attacked
the driver. It then disappeared back onto the drum leaving him to work out
what had happened. The driver was uninjured with torn clothing, he has not
driven the winch since. The drum cover has been improved.

In a third case the wire broke, then whipped back behind the winch and
attacked the winch driver's car parked behind the winch (with the front of
the car towards the winch). It trashed the rear of the car and then wound
back round and broke one of the front door windows which was up. I saw the
car afterwards, I would not like to have been sitting in it when this
happened, especially if it was a warm day and the window was down! This
particular winch driver was very experienced at winching.

All these incidents happened so quickly that there would have been no chance
to take cover.

These dangers are much greater than most people realise. They do not
happen very often, but are you prepared to take the risk?

W.J. (Bill) Dean (U.K.).
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