ENSC32 Cathead Guard
Team Members: Kyle Branch, Andrew Algermissen, David Sweet, Travis Tran
Faculty Advisor: Art Miller
Sponsor: Center for Disease Control
Project Overview: This project is to develop a cathead guarding system on commercial shrimping boats. A cathead is a spool shaped device on the front of a winch. The manual operation can be very hazardous. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morditidty and Mortality Weekly Report, Volume 62 / Number 9 - accident data indicates that cathead entanglement is the leading cause of deck winch related nonfatal injuries in the Southern Shrimping Fleet. Of the 27 nonfatal injuries that occurred in the Southern Shrimping Fleet from 2000 to 2011 - fifteen were associated with a winch cathead. Based on this accident data, a cathead guarding system is being pursued.
Project Deliverables:
1. Project plan delineating milestones, deliverables, and working budget (first month).
2. Investigation of current guarding methods (mid-semester 1).
3. Brainstorm a host of different guarding methods and narrow them down to the top five most promising concepts. Utilize a weighted evaluation matrix to determine the most promising design. (Sponsor accepted design by end of first semester)
4. If an electrical engineering student is part of this project team, the status of the guarding system could be monitored electronically and that information sent to a display and also used to set off warning lights and alarms.
5. Project report including 3D models and 2D drawings of chosen design, bill of materials, budget, and installation guide by project completion.
6. Working prototype of design by project completion.
Management & Communication Expectations:
1. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and schedule from start to finish of project. Updated twice monthly.
2. One hour weekly meetings with sponsor.
3. Monthly progress reports.
Research Expectations: Familiarization with current and past guarding methods, and regulations regarding equipment guarding.