The Safety Shuttle

The Problem

The ever-changing environment of a construction site can create unexpected dangers for workers. Safety procedures are in place, but they are too often overridden when they slow down pace and productivity. MSA Safety sought to create a consistently safe environment that would support and complement the typical fast-paced construction site work culture.

The Solution

The Safety Shuttle

After studying products that enable safe and efficient movement at elevated heights, CMU iii students designed a simple shuttle that clamps onto lifeline ropes, ensuring safety. This design allows two shuttles to bypass each other through a simple geometric rotation as workers move across the line and would replace products such as harnesses, retractable lanyards and stanchions. This simple tool could be included easily into the existing lifeline system, which includes a host of other tools required for construction.

Patents

In 2013, MSA Safety patented the shuttle desing and soon launched it in the marketplace.