Standfast USA partners with WHECO Corp.

Standfast USA has signed a distributor agreement with WHECO Corp. to provide sales, installation and support of the Travel Restraint Access Module (TRAM) fall restraint system to the North American crane aftermarket. The agreement was formally signed at the TRAM booth at the SC&RA Crane & Rigging Workshop Sept. 18-20 in Orlando, FL.

Standfast’s TRAM is a movable total restraint system preventing workers from falling from the top of telescopic and lattice boom cranes, overhead cranes, gantry and tower cranes. The TRAM design consists of a waist-level handhold that moves along a foot-level rail fixed to the crane boom, and a lanyard connecting the handlebar to the worker’s harness. The system has a 180° rotating fold-down handle as well as an air-powered assistance arm that is controlled by a hand brake giving workers a boost during both ascent and descent.

OSHA’s new Cranes & Derricks in Construction Rules requires fall protection while working on cranes over 6 feet high. Also included in the rule is fall protection on lattice boom cranes except during assembly/disassembly, in which case the threshold is 15 feet with the crane’s boom horizontal.

“While we are working with the OEMs to make our systems available factory direct, we also needed a way to address the aftermarket for existing cranes that don’t currently meet the OSHA standards” said Cameron Baker, CEO of Standfast. “WHECO was the logical choice. WHECO has over 33 years of experience working on all types, makes and models of cranes and the technical expertise to do the installations.”

Baker said WHECO’s five service facilities in North America provide crane owners with convenient installation locations.

“TRAM is a patented, world-class fall protection system with so many advantages over other systems.” says Ron Williams, CEO, WHECO Corporation. “The TRAM system actually prevents the fall and doesn’t leave the worker suspended looking for a way out. With fall protection now being required, our research pointed to TRAM as having the best technology with the most cost-effective way to become compliant and keep employees safe.”

Standfast was formed in February 1999 with the mission to develop the best height safety products on the world market. The first commercial product was sold in January 2004. The company’s clients include crane owning companies from around the globe. BP, Shell, Exxon Mobil, Chevron Texaco, Caltex, Boral and Orica choose TRAM systems to protect their employees working at heights. The Standfast Group has expanded globally, setting up offices in the USA, Australia, Europe, UK and Asia.

WHECO is based in Richland, WA and operates facilities in Aiken, SC, Houston, TX, Santa Fe Springs, CA and Seattle, WA, as well as a service center on Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. At its five full-service facilities, WHECO offers a variety of repair services that are guaranteed to meet or exceed OSHA, Cal-OSHA, AWS and ANSI standards. The company’s facilities are equipped with a complete machine shop, fabrication and assembly area, service bays, paint shop and a hydraulic service center.