DGUV Information 214-911e - Safe operations of helicopters during aerial work (D...

2.1
Helicopter operations as defined in this information are business operations of helicopters for the application purpose (category) "aerial work". The operations are designated as "occasional traffic" (see Section 22 Air Traffic Act). These include especially:

• photography and filming

• agricultural operations

• installation flights

• timber transporting (logging)

• measuring flights

• flights with working basket

• flights with persons outboard

• banner towing

• monitoring tasks

• flights with fixed working seat in or on the helicopter

• snowfield blasting

• fire-fighting operations

2.2
Working materials are tools, devices, machines or systems, such as, for example:

• helicopters

• ground support equipment for the helicopter

• Load Lifting Devices

• transport and loading vehicles

• tools

• means of communication

2.3
Load Lifting Devices are mounted between the helicopter's primary cargo hook and the load, to enable their lifting. These include for example:

• lifting rope systems with fittings

• slinging equipments and their components

• shock absorbers

• swivels

• remote cargo hooks

Complex Load Lifting Device

The following can again be attached to Load Lifting Devices, e.g.:

• power-driven concrete buckets

• traverses

• special lifting lugs

• ready-to-use chains and their components

• FIBC (Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container, "Big Bag")

2.4
Slinging equipments are used to fasten (attach) the load and are normally attached in the secondary cargo hook using appropriate swivels. Slinging equipments and their components are classified as Load Lifting Devices. The following are used as slinging equipments:

• slinging ropes

• lifting straps

• round slinging equipments

• sling chains

• multiple leg suspension gear (2-, 3- or 4-leg)

• detachable connecting parts (e.g. shackles, round sling hooks)

• short choker steel ropes for logging

2.5
Primary cargo hooks on the helicopter are connected to the helicopter and used to accept Load Lifting Devices or a direct load (e.g. fire extinguishing water containers - Bambi Bucket). The permitted load capacity of the primary cargo hook (Working Load Limit, WLL) is one of the limiting features of a helicopter.

2.6
Lifting rope system is the part of the Load Lifting Devices that is used between primary cargo hook and load or slinging equipments.

2.7
Personnel Carrying Device Systems (PCDS) are devices or (carrying) systems with structural features that are required for the transport of persons as external loads on the helicopter (Human External Cargo, HEC) in the context of operations. These are, in particular:

• working cages,

• platforms and

• rope systems with Personal Protective Equipment against falling for persons with and without working seats.

2.8
Technical fittings of the helicopter are working fixtures and fittings in or on the helicopter that are necessary for the execution of the respective types of operation and equipped with a Supplementary Type Certificate (STC). These include, e.g.:

• primary cargo hook

• attachment points on the skid bases

• load cell with indication

• facilities to observe the external cargo, such as for example:

  • cameras

  • mirrors

  • bubbles

2.9
Other working materials are necessary working materials for the respective type of assignment without load-bearing function, such as, for example:

• lashing belts

• holding and guiding ropes

• hook clamps

• packaging film

• assembly aids

2.10
Employer is the respective natural or legal person, where the economic outcome of the company turns out to be immediately to his advantage or disadvantage.

2.11
A Responsible Person can be entrusted with the management of a sector of the company or within the scope of the tasks and powers assigned to him for a helicopter operation by the employer.

2.12
Insured individuals as defined in this information are all persons, who enjoy the protection of the statutory accident insurance.

2.13
A Head of Operations is a person, who is entrusted by the employer to manage the respective working operation within the scope of the tasks and powers assigned to him/her.

2.14
A Marshaller is a trained person with special tasks on board or on the ground within the scope of the respective type of task of the aerial work.

2.15
OSH Professional (OSH = Occupational Safety and Health) is a person with proven safety-related specialist knowledge appointed in writing to advise the employer.

2.16
An Occupational Physician is a person with proven occupational medical specialist knowledge appointed in writing to advise the employer.

2.17
Outside working stations are permanent or temporary, portable places of work for work operations, such as, for example:

• external take-off and external landing places

• load pick-up and load drop-off places

• refueling places

• jettisoning and emergency landing places