AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE MOBILE ACCESS TOWER SECTOR BY … · 2019-04-23 · Training members: Full members of the association who have been audited and approved to deliver PASMA training

AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE MOBILE ACCESS TOWER SECTOR BY CRANES & ACCESS IN COLLABORATION WITH PASMA

S U P P L E M E N T

www.pasma.co.uk

MOBILE ACCESS TOWERScranes & access

Choosing and usingmobile towers

Choosing and usingmobile towers

Towertraining - what’s

involved?

Towertraining - what’s

involved?

Tower trends& developmentsTower trends& developments

October 2009 cranes & access 37

Safety-related publicationsThe association's publications providea wealth of information and guidanceon all aspects of tower use. Producedby experts - people who know andunderstand towers and speak thelanguage - they range from pocketcards and posters to DVD's, towerinspection records and technical/safetyguidance notes. PASMA alsopublishes the Operator's Code ofPractice, the bible of the industry,and its website www.pasma.co.ukis an important focal point and resourcefor anyone connected with towers.

Developing standardsA national and international contributorto the development and updating ofstandards for tower construction anduse, PASMA's specialist committeesmeet regularly to advance towertechniques, technology and trainingfor the benefit of users everywhere.As a founder member of the AccessIndustry Forum (AIF), the association

is also actively involved in promotingbest practice through conferences,exhibitions, seminars and workshops.

Manufacturing members: Companies who are licensed tomanufacture mobile access towersto BS/EN 1004:2004 and which carrythe current British Kitemark orequivalent, such as TUV, NF Mark, etc.

Hirer dealers:Members of the association whohave, as a requirement of theirmembership, to use mobile accesstowers which carry the sameapproval marks and meet thesame standards.

Training members:Full members of the association whohave been audited and approved todeliver PASMA training courses.

Associate members:Managers, supervisors and health andsafety professionals who wish to be

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Recognised and respected as thenatural authority and focus fortowers, it works closely with theHSE and other trade bodies and isthe premier provider of knowledgeand information on tower safety,standards and best practice.

When first founded in 1974 as thePrefabricated Aluminium ScaffoldManufacturers' Association,membership was limited to the majoralloy tower manufacturers of the day,with the simple objective ofpromoting safe use and the interestsof its members to the regulatoryauthorities. Then, in the early 1980s,the association developed andintroduced its standard trainingcourse to help make the use oftowers as safe and productiveas possible.

In the late 1990s more stringentprocedures for the PASMA standardtraining course were formalised andan audit regime introduced for trainingcentres. The association alsochanged its name to better reflectits representation of manufacturersof both aluminium and fibreglasstowers and new categories ofmembership such as hirer/dealersand training organisations. Thewider membership base ensuredthat PASMA represented all sectorsof the mobile access tower industry.

Rapid growthand development

Now one of the most progressive andsuccessful trade organisations in theaccess sector, PASMA has enjoyedsignificant growth in recent yearsthrough the knowledgeable andenthusiastic involvement of its 300plus members. With an increasing

number of towers in daily use,PASMA is ensuring that industrystandards rise in line withgrowing demand.

PASMA trainingIts professional training courses, bothat standard and advanced levels, arenow universally acknowledged as theindustry yardstick. As a result, healthand safety professionals increasinglyspecify the PASMA certificate ofcompetence and training identity cardas the only acceptable proof ofcompetence as required by the Workat Height Regulations. PASMA trained50,000 delegates in 2008 and thatnumber looks certain to beexceeded this year.

So what isPASMA?Celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, PASMA,the Prefabricated Access Suppliers' andManufacturers' Association, is the only trade bodyin the UK and Ireland dedicated exclusively to themobile access tower industry.

1974 - 2009

kept abreast of the latest towernews, trends and developments.

A new category of membership,hire/assembly, is currently beingdeveloped and is scheduled for launch shortly.

PASMA's open and inclusivemembership policy is intended toencourage companies, both largeand small, from every corner of theindustry, to become members andhelp advance its agenda for bettertraining, standards and bestpractice - thus promoting safeand efficient work at height.

The productsPASMA members produce, rent orprovide training on a wide range ofproducts from the traditional aluminiummobile tower, to fibreglass and fullyinsulated towers, podium steps,bridges and modular walkways, tocustom built access solutions oftenbased on standard tower components.

PASMA members at 2009 AGM

38 cranes & access October 2009

the work area require a narrow, singlewidth tower? A wide tower can bebuilt to a greater height beforeoutriggers or counterweights arerequired and offers a larger workplatform, while a narrow tower isideal for working in confined areassuch as stairwells and aisles.

The frequency ofmovement - if a tower is to bemoved frequently it might pay tolook at larger castors and possiblyrolling outriggers.

Ground conditions andlevelling ability - if theground is uneven, adjustable legsare essential (and extra long onesif using on steps or slopes) andpossibly a special levelling frame

for staircases. If the floor is poor,larger castors will help whenmoving the tower.

Platform access - towers areoffered either with ladder spacedrungs (300mm spacings) popular incontinental Europe, with built-in orclip-in vertical or inclined ladders orwith stairs. If the work involvesfrequent ascent and descent to andfrom the platform, particularly withtools and equipment, a built-instaircase should be considered orperhaps a special stairway tower. Inthe UK most standard span towersincorporate built-in vertical ladderswhich are fine for most applications.Tools and equipment should thenbe raised to the platform using a

Choosing& Using Towers

When it comes to selecting equipment for work atheight, employers are required to follow the hierarchyset out in the Work at Height Regulations 2005.This begins with avoiding the need to work at heightwherever and whenever possible, using appropriateequipment and safeguards where such work cannotbe avoided and, where the possibility of a fall cannotbe eliminated, using all possible means to minimisethe distance and its consequences.

As more employers appreciate theproductivity and safety benefitsthat mobile access towers canbring, the more familiar a sightthey become in construction,building maintenance and facilitiesmanagement as a means of providingan effective and safe means ofaccess to work at height.

However, as with all types ofaccess equipment, users must besatisfied that a tower is the mostsuitable piece of equipment for thejob, that the right type of tower isselected and that it is assembledand used correctly.

There are a number of factors thatmust be taken into account whenusing mobile access towers. Theseinclude:

• The height to be reached.

• Any access restrictions suchas width and headroom.

• The type of work activity, itsduration and the time betweentower movements.

• The climatic conditions.

• The condition and evennessof the ground.

• The shape and weight of anyobjects to be carried to the platform.

• The risk to people and vehicles inthe immediate vicinity.

• The frequency that users willneed to ascend/descend the tower.

• Any obstacles that might needto be bridged or overcome.

Key choices to bemade include:Width - is there space for awide, double width tower or does

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A narrow tower is ideal for confined areas

A modern fibreglass tower for Zone 1

rope or other suitable method.

Type of work - if the tower isto be used for electrical work, fibreglass towers are available andthese are now widely obtainable tobuy or hire. On specialised contracts wherehigher voltages may be present, ahighly specialised fully insulatedtower is available.

Overcoming obstacles -One major advantage of mobiletowers over other accessequipment is their versatility andmodular nature. Most manufacturersand many specialist rentalcompanies offer a range ofattachments and accessories thatallow towers to be easily adapted

guardrails are in positionand the toe-boardsinstalled.

Tower inspectionFinally, the Work atHeight Regulations stipulate that any towermust be inspected by acompetent person -someone with the experience, knowledgeand appropriate qualifications to enablehim or her to identify anyrisks that are present

and decide upon the measuresneeded to control those risks.

Towers must be inspected:

• After assembly and beforeuse in any position;

• After any event likely to haveaffected its strength and stability;and

• At intervals not exceedingseven days.

Whilst a distinction is made forsmaller towers in construction,PASMA recommends the applicationof the same inspection requirementsregardless of height or industry toavoid confusion and to foster bestpractice. On a construction site,these records must be retained onsite until the project is completedand thereafter at an office for threemonths in the UK and five years in Ireland.

PASMA offers a complete range ofsafety-related products providingguidance and advice on all aspectsof tower use and inspection. Please see PASMA advertisementfor more details.


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to work over obstacles or to bridgevoids to create custom workplatforms. Any such applicationsrequire specialist knowledge andtraining.

Using mobileaccess towersDon't overlook theinstructions

While a wide variety of towers arenow available, all manufacturersand suppliers have a duty to providean instruction manual that explainshow to assemble and dismantle thetower, including any bracingrequirements. If the tower has beenrented, the rental company has aduty to provide this information andthis must be passed on to theperson erecting the tower.

The requirements of the Work atHeight Regulations give priority tocollective fall prevention measureswhich means that there are onlytwo methods currently approved bythe Health & Safety Executive (HSE)and PASMA for assembling,dismantling and altering mobileaccess towers. They are designedto eliminate the need to stand onan unprotected platform.

3T: Through the TrapThis entails the tower erectorworking through the open trap doorto position guardrails on theplatform above before moving uponto the platform to continue theassembly process.

Advanced GuardrailThe advanced guardrail methodinvolves the use of advanceguardrail units installed on a newplatform from the level below sothat when the erector climbs up onto the platform, the guardrail isalready in position.

For more information on advanceguardrails see page 40

Before starting to assemble anymobile access tower the followingpoints must be addressed:

1. Use physical barriers to set up adanger or exclusion zone to protectpassers-by from the risk of falling objects.

2. Consult and follow themanufacturer's instruction manual.If a copy is not available, the latestedition can be downloaded fromthe PASMA website.

3. Check the safe working height - a tower should never be erected toheights above those recommendedby the manufacturer.

4. Set out all the components on

the ground and make sure none aremissing or damaged. If they are, geta replacement before starting work.

If the ground is not level, use theadjustable legs to level the towerand check it vertically andhorizontally using a spirit level. Ifthe ground is not solid, use mats,sole boards or spreader plates tospread the load. Make sure thecastors are locked and the castorsor base plates are positionedcentrally on any boards/plates.Having assembled the first module,install the stabilisers or outriggersbefore progressing the build, checkingfirst with the instruction manual.Then continue using the 3T oradvanced guardrail method.

Always make sure the frames arelocked together and that accessand egress to the working platformare continuous and, veryimportantly, inside the tower. Alsomake certain the platform windlock devices are secured, the

Installing the guardrails above throughthe trap door

Advanced guardrails are fitted from below.

All manner of attachments areavailable to add to a tower’s versatility

Bridging two towers can not only leave a clear passageunderneath, but also provide a larger platform

Electrocution: Check for overhead power lines and keep your distanceSlips: Take extra care when working in rain, snow or frosty weatherand always wear suitable footwearVehicles: Pay due regard to vehicles if working on or near a publichighway, or a forklift route in industrial premises Falling objects: Be careful to safeguard against falling tools,components and materials Instability: Watch out, amongst other things, for the effects of highwinds, side loads, eccentric vertical loads, etcFalls from height: Avoid stretching out, over-reaching or climbing onguardrails.This list is by no means exhaustive. There may be hazards thatoccur with a particular type of work or site conditions. Be safe, not sorry!

POTENTIAL TOWER HAZARDS


• The 3T method uses componentsthat are readily available from allhire companies and the majority oftower users are currently employingthis very safe and efficient method.

• Advanced Guardrail systems(AGR) are now available fromseveral manufacturers for use withtheir individual tower designs.AGR systems can be in the form of :

(1) Side protection positioning tools

(2) Temporary side frames/guardrails

(3) Permanent side frames/guardrails

(1) Side protection positioning toolsare generally poles which can betemporarily fixed to the sideprotection components/guardrailframes and then used to lift themup and fit them into position inadvance of climbing to the platformabove. They are used whendismantling the tower.Side protection positioning toolscan be tricky to operate, the toolsare an additional component andthe method is slower and lessefficient than 3T or permanentside frames.

(2) Temporary side frame AGRsare positioned and removed fromthe safety of the platform below. They normally have a mechanismwhich can be operated from thelower platform to connect anddisconnect it from the end framesof the tower. Once a pair oftemporary side frames has beenfitted to the level above, the buildercan move to the upper platform andfit permanent side protection.The temporary guardrails are thenadvanced to the next level and theprocess repeated until the tower isfully erected. The advancing sideframes can then be left in positionat the top of the tower or replacedwith permanent guardrails, freeingup the temporary frames for use

erecting other towerson site. Dismantlingthe tower is areversal of theprocedure but if thetemporary sideframes have beenremoved for use elsewhere thenthey must be refitted at the top ofthe tower before the process canbegin. Temporary side frame AGRsare an additional component and themethod is slower and lessefficient than 3T or permanentside frame AGRs.They are generally quite expensiveand less robust than permanentside frames because of their morecomplex mechanisms and canalso be more prone to damage.

(3) Permanent side frame AGRsoperate in a similar way to thetemporary type but they remain inplace at each platform level to formthe permanent side protection, thusreducing the component count.The AGR frames are positionedand removed from the safety ofthe platform below.

In addition to requiring fewerhorizontal braces, towers built withthe AGR frames can be constructedwith fewer diagonals than standardtowers. Towers built with acombination of AGR frames and an

appropriate number of diagonalsmake a very rigid structure. AGRtowers without any diagonals canbe much less rigid and in somecases will not meet therequirements of EN1004.Standing on the top of a flexingtower at six metres is a less thanpleasant experience!

I also recommend that double widthtowers should be double decked atevery platform level. Although thisrequires more platforms, it puts theAGR side frames at the extremitiesof the tower structure, increasingboth lateral and rotational stiffness,but also preventing the need to overreach dangerously when fitting theAGR frames, which PASMA trainingstrictly prohibits.

Building towers safely -

the optionsDon Aers, technical manager at the Youngman Group, discusses thepros and cons of the various methods approved for the safe erectionof mobile access towers. . Mobile working towers must bebuilt in a way which ensures theperson assembling or dismantlingthe tower is never in an exposedand dangerous position on anunprotected platform.

HSE guidance document CIS 10lists the two currently recommendedmethods that were developed inconsultation between the HSE andPASMA, they are: 3T (Through TheTrap) and AGR (Advance GuardRail). So don't listen to any of thehype or rumours that may becirculating regarding one or theother, as both methods may beused according to the experts atthe HSE and PASMA.Most companies offer bothsystems and either is effective inthe hands of a competent towerbuilder.

With 3T theerector works from afully guardrailed platform

The guardrails for the next level areinstalled through the trap door beforeclimbing onto the platform.

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A temporary AGR, note that the guardrails are in place prior to the platform.A permanent AGR/advancedguardrail - side frame

With 3T theerector works from afully guardrailed platform

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had driven more than 80 miles froma company in East London.

The day is split into two, with a 9am start for the morning session inthe training room covering theinformation needed to pass thewritten test and then the afternoonpractical putting up a tower.

Subjects covered in the morninginclude: what is working at height,duties and legal responsibilities,tower inspection, the differentequipment available including singleand double width towers, guardrailheights, toe boards and rail spacing,castors, legs and braces, the twoassembly methods - 3T andadvance guardrail, moving a towerand stability, erection and dismantling procedures and muchmore - everything in fact to beaware of when assembling, usingand dismantling a tower. For thoseunfamiliar with towers, this can bequite daunting, however the trainerexplained everything very clearlyand a good PASMA slidepresentation illustrated each point.

At the end of this session a writtentest has to be completed withoutnotes or help. To pass, trainees mustachieve a pass mark of 80 per cent,

otherwise he or she has to return ata future date and retake the course.

The afternoon session is the practical(assuming you have passed in themorning session), where candidateshave to assemble a tower to thesatisfaction of the training instructor.

It soon became clear that we all hadvery different work backgrounds -from tower rental to maintenanceand events contractors - but we allshared a lack of knowledge andexperience when it came to alloytowers. Several of the companieshad just purchased a tower - mostup to four metres high - and weretaking the course before using it.However, our very experiencedinstructor, Jason Woods, soon gotthe grey matter working, testing ourknowledge (or lack of it) andexplaining the principals behind thecorrect answers.

Even the answer to the obviousquestion 'what is work at height'revealed a variety of answers, withseveral 'older' trainees mentioningworking above two metres,while it is at any height wherethere is a risk of injury from a falland includes trenches.

Essential points to note - the mainguardrail must be not less than950mm with no gaps of more than470mm and 150mm toe boardsmust be fitted to working or storageplatforms. If carrying materials tothe top of the platform, this should

only be done with a stairway tower.

With all other towers the materialsshould be hauled up using a rope,bearing in mind the maximumallowable side load is just 20kg.

PASMA’s written, ‘multiple choice’test covers all aspects of safety andbest practice, and while answers tosome of the questions were obvious(particularly as Jason’s training hadcovered everything on the paper),there were enough to trip up thosewho had not been concentrating.

All passed and so after lunch weproceeded to the demonstrationarea where we were split into twogroups each with a tower to practice on and to iron out anyteething problems before the actualpractical test. Just three mistakesare allowed, any more and it's anautomatic fail.

With so many not having built atower before, the practice sessiongot off to a faltering start, but byworking as a team we soon gotthe hang of it and successfully completed the tower assembly test.

As always, the information learntshould be mixed in with a generousdose of common sense and ifyou're unsure, ask someone whoknows. Overall, the course is avery interesting and informative onewhich everyone who uses orsupplies a tower should take.But, don't expect to just turnup and pass.

PASMAtrainingAlthough there has been an enormous growth in the useof powered access in recent years, the number of mobileaccess towers has also posted similar but less visiblegrowth levels. Current estimates suggest that there arearound 2 million towers in the UK and Ireland alone.The Work At Height Regulations2005 coupled with growing finesfor employers when they get itwrong means that there is strongdemand for proper training. In theUK, most of those requiring trainingon towers choose a PASMAcertified course. The tradeassociation offers a range ofcourses including its Standardtraining course in the erection anduse of alloy towers. Mark Darwinrecently visited a training centrein Northampton in a bid to qualifyfor a PASMA card.

PASMA courses are only availablefrom authorised and audited trainingcentres. The courses, availablenationally, provide successfuldelegates who pass the writtenand practical test with acompetency certificate and photocard that allows the holder to buildindoor towers up to 12 metres.

So early one Thursday morning Itravelled the 10 miles to the manufacturing and training facilitiesof Euro Towers' in Round Spinneyon the outskirts of Northampton.There I joined 11 other trainees forthe one-day course. Most of theothers were also local, although two


EN 1004 and the associated focuson safety has initiated two specificoutcomes. The first moves theemphasis to the safe assembly oftowers, where the previous focuswas mainly on the users themselves.In the UK, the Health and SafetyExecutive is correctly pursuing anelimination of risks for all personswhen building and using mobiletowers. This has had a significantimpact on the way in which towersare built and on the componentsrequired. This work is ongoing andwill drive further innovation.

The second is that is has helpedcreate a far larger market for safeand efficient access equipmentincluding mobile towers, as majorrental companies look to exploit thegrowth potential on the back of thenew regulations. At the same timethe market is becoming increasinglycompetitive, obliging producers tocontinually invest in new technologysuch as robotics, faster assemblytables, increased automation andsmarter manufacturing techniquessuch as Kazan and 5s as well asimproved purchasing techniques, inorder to meet customer demandswhile maintaining a satisfactory return.

But how are these trendslikely to influence thedevelopment of towersand what new featurescan buyers expect? Willthe towers they currentlyown become obsolete?Along with the increased focus onsafety and enforcement comes theintroduction of new ways in whichexisting towers are built to complywith the new standards, and at thesame time many countries areintroducing their own additions andembellishments that require furtherdevelopment. Finland, for example,has recently modified its rules,making it mandatory for steps orstairs to replace the more usual'built-in ladder frame'. This maywell be one of those trends that willeventually spread to the rest ofEurope as regulators become less

comfortable about the climbingof vertical ladders.

The varying level of enforcementis also obliging manufacturers todevelop new solutions to meetlocal demands. For example,working with our partner in Francewe have developed a number ofnew designs to make assembly ofthe tower safer according to localideas. Some of these could haveinternational potential. The way inwhich various tower manufacturersrespond to these pressures andhow they deal with the backwardcompatibility issues will certainlyinfluence the purchasing decisionsof large regional buyers.

The most significant challengefor manufacturers, however, is toprovide products that enable usersto comply with the increasingsafety demands, while ensuringthe mobile towers are a practical,cost effective and versatileaccess option.

Trends anddevelopmentsin alloy scaffold towersThe mobile aluminium access tower was conceived in1945, when an American inventor, the late WallyJohnson, came up with the idea of a modular, easy toassemble scaffold tower made from the high strengthalloys that had been developed during the war. In 1946he founded UpRight Inc in Berkley, California to commercialisethe idea, producing the first tower in February 1947. Hiscompany, now based in Ireland, remains one of the leadingmanufacturers of mobile access towers to this day.

Much has changed since that firsttower, with some significantdevelopments and steady evolution.In spite of 60 years of progress,even the most modern towers stillshare the majority of their featureswith those early towers, a truetestimony to the purity of the originaldesign and concept. The chiefexecutive of what is now Instant-UpRight, John Nevin, takes a lookat current trends and futuredevelopments in alloy towerdesign, construction and usage.

The major changes in mobile towerusage in recent years are related tothe influence of European StandardEN1004 and associated directiveshave had in increasing the focus onsafety. This effect extends wellbeyond Europe. A prime exampleis the Middle East where majorinternational contractors areworking to the most stringentsafety regulations, in line with theirglobal policy, even though thesemay be of a far higher standardthan the local regulations require.

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The first production tower - 1947

Wally Johnson the originatorof the alloy tower

Stairs are making a comebackin some markets

New rules areincreasingthe focuson safety

1945 Wire modelof the idea -

a stairwaytower section


Damage resistant chips or bar codes willbecome essential management tools.

New applications for towers are stillbeing found.

When buying a newtower system whatshould you look out for?The key factors for those buying atower system have to be safety,efficiency and competitiveness.Thus the balance between initialcost, tower assembly and safetyperformance needs to be carefullyconsidered. A good example ofthis is a tower which includes anadvanced guard rail as an integralpart of the tower - not only does itprovide a safer assembly method,but it also reduces the number ofparts in the tower, making it fasterand easier to assemble. The mostimportant factor though is to find asupplier that is committed to keepingpace with the changing requirements.

What should usersexpect when renting atower?

Simple, safe and efficient towererection is critical to those rentinga tower, along with fewer partsand easy instructions. A majorcost to both the users and rentalcompanies is lost and damagedcomponents, so fewer, larger andmore robust components can helpreduce this cost as well as makingthe tower easier to stock andbuild. Another recent trend thathelps with this is the customisedcoloured frame and components,which not only helps prevent theftby making the parts easy torecognise, but also promotes acompany's corporate identity.

There will be other developmentsover the coming year in terms oftracking capability with workableresilient bar code and chip systems,giving the end user greater controland transparency over the asset.

How will towers stack upagainst powered access orladders going forward?For those working at height, oneconsideration is which equipment isbest to use for the job, with mobiletowers often pitched against poweredaccess. Both types of equipmenthave their place in offering a safeplatform for working at height andcertainly some applications eithersuit one or the other. For generalwork, mobile towers offer moreversatility, greater portability and alower cost, providing a faster paybackperiod compared to machines.

Mobile towers, powered access andladders all have their own definedmarket space and while there issome convergence and competitivepressures by one on the other, overallwe believe all three markets willgrow on the back of an increasedfocus on safety and efficiency andusing the right tool for the job.

In recent years we have seen newopportunities open up for customisedsolutions based on mobile towersystems to provide workingplatforms for specific applications.This has been the strongest growtharea over the past two years, whilesales of regular towers have beenaffected by the global downturn.We see this trend continuing asworking at height requirements areconsidered earlier on in the project'slife rather than as an afterthought.

Innovation will be an increasinglycritical factor in the coming yearsand we are excited about thepossibilities that increasing safetyregulation, focus on ergonomicsand changing work practices willbring to the tower industry.


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Low level access products suchas podium or pulpit steps andfolding room scaffolds are not aparticularly new phenomenon, buttower manufacturers were rathertaken by surprise when a productrange which had largely been soldin the odd one or two, suddenlybecame the new must-have andin some cases began to outstripconventional tower sales as rentalcompanies geared up to meet aseemingly insatiable demand.And what was the reason for thissudden upsurge in popularity?You've guessed it - the Work atHeight Regulations of 2005!

Since 2004, industry estimates arethat something in the order of50,000 of these versatile work atheight tools been sold in the UK and Ireland alone and nowheremore so than in the constructionindustry, where battalions of themcan be seen in use by a multitude of finishing trades as they invade projects for the final fit out work.

It all started with the very strongurge to consider safer methods ofworking at height, particularly atlow heights (below two metres),which is of course no great surprise,since it has long been highlightedthat a very unhealthy number offalls from height occur in this area. Provisional statistics for 2007/8 for all workers for falls up to twometres and for falls where theheight has not been stated - thepremise being that reports of falls

from heights above two metresaccurately report the height of fall -show 15 fatalities, 2,779 major incidents and 3,597 lost time accidents (three days or more) .

The podiums, pulpits and foldingroom scaffolds seem to fit the billsince they provide a compact, lightweight and, most importantly, a protected working platform, thatis, one which prevents the operativefrom falling by having a guardrailsystem installed as standard.

So, problem solved then? No, sorry,nothing's ever that easy. As the figures above show, despite thesubstantial uptake of safer low level access equipment, the accident rate, and the ShatteredLives which inevitably accompanysuch figures, remain stubbornly and unacceptably high.

In much the same way as mobileaccess towers, when they werefirst introduced seemed to be sosimple to assemble that it was generally perceived to be child'splay and that anyone could do itsimply by following the step by step guide, so too has the perception permeated user groupswith low level access equipment.

Yes, they are very simple to use.Yes, they are very simple to puttogether. BUT, and it is a big but,they are just as dangerous in

ProblemSolved!Low level access products, such as podiumsteps, have been an increasingly popularitem in recent years.PASMA managingdirector, Peter Bennett,discusses their use andabuse and their impacton safety and best practice.

PeterBennett

untrained hands as their largertower counterparts and have manysimilar potentially harmful misuseswhich users have an uncanny knackof unconsciously finding. AND, thereare some particular misuses andabuses to which low level accessunits are especially susceptible.

We'll start by taking some obviousexamples. Most, if not all, low levelaccess units have a locking deviceof some sort which locks out thebase to become a rigid unit on

Low LevelWork atHeight -

which you can safely stand andwork, and yes, we know it is beinga little simplistic, but these have tobe locked and should be checked ona regular basis to make sure theyare still engaged, otherwise you willhave a very shaky unit and possiblyan untimely and unexpected crash.

A prerequisite for all units is, notsurprisingly, a platform on which tostand comfortably and work safely.In pulpit and podium steps access tothe platform is pretty straightforward,you climb the steps or rungs whichlead up to the (usually gated)access point and there you are.

However, as we have said before,things are rarely that easy, althoughit should be. For reasons bestknown to themselves some usersseem to prefer a bit of a challengeand want to climb up the other side- the difficult side - obliging them toclimb over the guardrail onto theplatform. Quite apart from the factthat this does seem an awful lot ofadditional, and pointless effort, it isalso decidedly dangerous since itapplies a quite dramatic dynamicload where it is not supposed to bewhich can easily overturn the unitwith potentially lethal consequences.

As you would rightly expect, reputable manufacturers go to considerable lengths to ensure theirproducts are as safe as possible,including in many cases the provision of gate access to the platform. Unfortunately, all too often,users see these as a hindrance totheir work and go to extraordinaryand ever more ingenious lengths to prevent them from closing by, for instance, wedging them openstrapping them open with the everuseful tie wrap to make doubly surethat the gate cannot do what it is

designed to do - prevent the userfrom falling!

As we frequently hear, necessity isthe mother of invention, and thereare none so necessitous and consequently inventful than thoseanxious to get a job done, so evenwhen they have not succumbed tothe temptation to remove fall prevention devices, there are someusers out there who feel that thedesigners have missed a trick andfor whom those mid guardrails areideally placed to position anotherstep / platform to reach that previously unreachable fitting, fixingor such like.

Little do they realise that in so doingthey have in fact increased the riskto themselves because the halfmetre guardrail that remains will notonly fail to prevent them fromfalling, but is also likely to act as apivot point conveniently ensuringthat the falling body is flipped so asto inflict the maximum damage tothe most vulnerable part of the body- the head.

These are some of the more determined, you might say, organised, misuses we encounter ona regular basis. Equally concerninghowever are the daily, spur of themoment misuses which are just aseffective in negating the built insafety of these otherwise safer workat height tools. Climbing onto themid guardrail is about as dangerousas placing a step or platform there,you still have the pivot point butyou now add some dynamic andeccentric loads as the tradesmantries to maintain balance by wedging his upper leg against thetop guardrail.

These units are generally and primarily intended for internal useand not designed for all terrain


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applications, so they tend not toperform too well on sloping,uneven or undulating ground.

A couple of other favourites are ofcourse the popular manoeuvringfrom the platform technique, countering the designer's job slowing device of brakes on thecastors which have to be appliedand released from ground level,which over the course of a day'swork can cost whole minutes in analready tight schedule. Let's alsonot forget the most common mis-use of all - over-reaching. This rep-resents the very epitome of dis-placement

of risk. Where, in the past, tradesmen had a healthy respectfor and were largely accustomed tothe limitations of stepladders andwould certainly think twice aboutover stretching. Nowadaysbecause they have a protectiveguardrail around them they are alltoo often lulled into a false sense ofsecurity, and are more inclined tostretch that extra inch, in the beliefthat the guardrail has miraculouspowers to suspend the laws ofphysics whilst they are in the protective cocoon of the low levelaccess unit.

There are two major issues whichmust be addressed if we are to seriously influence the statistics inrespect of falls from height at lowlevel. The first is that everyonemust accept that podiums, pulpitsand folding room scaffolds have

their limitations and,like any other workat height equipment, employers have astatutory obligationto ensure that anyone who usesthem is competentand aware of thefactors which canaffect their safe use.

This can only beeffectively achievedthrough trainingwhich is whyPASMA has devisedan additional modulein its widely recognised trainingscheme devotedsolely to low levelaccess. This is

available through the associationsnetwork of over 300 approved training centres and is soon to besupported by a 'best practice' lowlevel access DVD. More details canbe found at www.pasma.co.uk

The second is the need for a set of minimum product standards for low level access equipment.Unfortunately, wherever there ishigh demand for a product, there isinevitably an opportunity for somecompanies to offer cheap, inferiorproducts which, in the absence of a minimum standard, can be distributed with impunity, exacerbating the already concerningaccident statistics for low levelwork at height. PASMA's technicalcommittee is therefore working withthe British Standards Institute (BSI)to draft a publicly available specification.

A fibreglass folding room scaffold.

Leading Tower and Training

suppliersGeneration through it’s nationwide network of branches supply MAST,

BOSS and GRP Zone 1 Towersproviding a safe access

solution for all applications.

Freephone: 0800 783 8376

East London: 020 7476 4760

West London: 01895 430630

Towers

A wide range of access related Training Courses are

available nationwide

Freephone: 0800 587 5224

Training

w w w . g e n e r a t i o n h i r e a n d s a l e . c o . u k

UK (Excluding N. Ireland)PLANET PLATFORMSTel:- 01924 263377Email:- [email protected]:- www.planetplatforms.co.uk

NORTHERN IRELANDRIDGEWAY PLANTTel:- 028 9045 4599Email:- [email protected]:- www.ridgeway-online.com

IRELANDFAST SCAFFOLDSTel:- +353(0)1830 8133Email:- [email protected]:- www.fastscaffolds.ie

Instant Spandeck is a lightweight aluminium walkway, bridgingand staging system in ONE versatile unit.

Available 'off the shelf' as a prefabricated unit, the Spandeckwalkway system provides a modular, cost effective and safe solutionfor bespoke access requirements. It can also be used in conjunctionwith all types of scaffold towers (including steel and façade systems)to provide a stable, non-slip, staging and bridging platform.

For the professional access provider, whether selling or renting,Instant Spandeck can provide excellent utilisation and anextremely high return on investment.

For further details contact your local InstantDistributor or visit our technical website and video

www.instantupright.com

pro fess iona l des ign supp ly wa r ran ty i n s t a l l a t i on ne twork

Documents

AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE MOBILE ACCESS TOWER SECTOR BY … · 2019-04-23 · Training members: Full members of the association who have been audited and approved to deliver PASMA training