Hazards Associated with Catheads and Catlines
Catheads and Catlines are used on drilling rigs to hoist material. Catlines should be designed to safely lift or otherwise handle the loads.
Catline Definition and Use
The revolving cathead on the drawworks powers the friction pulley system. An employee wraps a rope, usually 1-1/4 inches in diameter, around the cathead and tensions the line. The tighter the rope and the more wraps around the cathead, the faster the material is hoisted.
Accidents involving catheads generally happen when employees’ hands are pulled into the cathead and caught beneath the catline. Watch the video to see how these two components work.
To reduce the risk of injury, manual catheads with catlines are being replaced with hydraulic and air type winches. However, manual catheads with catlines are still being used today.
Safety measures include:
- The maximum allowable working loads should be based on manufacturers' tables.
- A post or guard should be provided to deflect cathead lines away from the driller's position. Where posts are of the rotating type, the top and bottom ends should be guarded to contain the post in case the shaft fractures.
- A catline grip should be provided and used to keep the catline tight when the line is not in use.
For more detailed information on the hazards associated with catlines and catheads, visit the International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) Safety Meeting Topics page online.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-6. Accidents involving catheads generally injure the employees’ _____.
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