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Every year WorkSafe recognise outstanding OSH management, solutions and innovation in Western Australian workplaces. The Lifting Company were engaged by Fremantle Commercial Diving to provide a turn key solution for a working at heights application for cleaning and inspection services to potable water tanks across WA and further afield. These large tanks often have varied levels of fall prevention in place and Fremantle Commercial Diving wanted to provide their workers with a reliable fall arrest and rescue system. They consulted with The Lifting Company and after significant research and development, the Skyhook Mk IV was designed and built. The Skyhook MkIV is a unique truck-mounted fall arrest and rescue system. The tanks have varied levels of fall prevention systems ranging from stairway access including large working platforms and handrails, to a ladder and roof only with no inbuilt safety systems present. Working at height and rescue plans need to be generated at each site specific to each tank and rely heavily on the integrity of the tank stand and tank. Many of these assets are approaching the end of their design life and almost all of them are unique in their construction. Creating safe systems of work at each tank utilising the existing tank infrastructure is often challenging and time consuming and requires a very high level of skill and experience in the dive team. Site based risk assessments are critical in this process. The most problematic style of tanks from a working at heights perspective, are platform elevated tanks which generally around 15 m high and consist of a small tank located atop an elevated platform. FCD engaged with Water Corporation, a major asset owner of these tanks, to gauge their acceptance of and support for the concept. Water Corporation undertook their own due diligence and eventually came back in full support of the project offering advice and assistance where required. When the decision was taken to progress to the build stage TLC engaged with WorkSafe WA early in the construction process to ensure the device would meet and exceed all required standards. The SkyHook project from concept, through the design phase and to field deployment was undertaken through FCD’s management of change process with all internal and external stakeholders identified and involved as required. This included clients, regulators, suppliers and end users. TLC consulted widely with multiple industry suppliers and training providers during the construction of the SkyHook Mk IV to achieve industry first outcomes including accredited training for all FCD operators prior to use.   The SkyHook is a unique truck mounted mobile fall arrest system, the first of its kind to be designed and built. Designed and manufactured to AS1891 and AS5532, the SkyHook has a reach of 25 m high and13 m radius. In a scenario where there is no WAH and/or rescue equipment installed on an asset or the available equipment is deemed inappropriate for use, the SkyHook MkIV provides a rated overhead anchor point for 2 persons (272 kg). The SkyHook has two 10 m LinQ Self-Retracting Inertial Reels attached to enable WAH in limited free fall at all times. In addition to rated WAH anchor points, the SkyHook also provides a rated overhead anchor point suitable for rescue recovery of an injured person. This anchor point can be used with the factory installed Harken Lokhead INLH500 rescue winch built into the SkyHook, or alternately can be used to attach a RescueMaster or similar device. Both FCD and TLC believe the SkyHook breaks new ground for innovation in an area where there is potential to prevent a significant number of injuries or deaths. The project has required extensive engineering and problem solving to reach the point of final delivery. We believe this device sets a new standard for “as low as reasonably practical” (ALARP) in many working at heights situations.   Call us on 9353 4333 to discuss our TLC Skyhook range today, or head to our website http://www.tlcskyhook.com.au

Is there anything The Lifting Company won't do?   TLC were recently engaged to come up with a solution to install Chandelier’s at the new Crown 6 star Hotel in Burswood. [gallery ids="31149,31150,31151"] With no precedent to work off, TLC designed, engineered and installed the lifting and rigging equipment, mounting and raising hardware in the ceiling space during the hotel build.  Working with minimum headroom we had to engineer a solution capable of raising and then permanently mounting the chandelier’s weighing up to half a tonne. [gallery columns="4" ids="31156,31158,31179,31161"] Working to a tight timeline, the TLC team often worked late hours and weekends to install the chandelier’s without interrupting the many other trades working on site.   With one installation leading to another, TLC installed nearly 100 Chandeliers in total including the 4 stunning modules in the main hotel lobby. [gallery columns="5" ids="31167,31165,31163,31162,31178"] For your next “Outside the Square” type of job, contact the team at TLC because “There is Always a Solution"  

With record rainfalls across the Wheatbelt and Great Southern, fields across WA have turned muddy. "I've never seen rain like it in the wheatbelt." Traditionally snatch straps and tow strops are made as a standard 9mtr length, but this summer with the high levels of rain farmers  are struggling. 9mtrs is too short to reach the bogged vehicle to be towed out safely. Recently at The Lifting Company we manufactured a number of 100t MBS x 25mtr Snatch Straps to reach these bogged vehicles and keep the towing vehicle safely on dry land.   http://www.theliftingcompany.com.au/products/lifting-equipment/snatch-straps-2/

A fall from any height can leave an employee with permanent and debilitating injuries. From only one metre, serious injuries like fractures, spinal cord injuries, concussions and brain damage can occur. At any height over two metres, the risk of serious injury or death increases insignificantly. Falls can happen in any industry, however they seem to be most prevalent in the following:

• Construction
• Manufacturing
• Community services
• Trade
• Communication
• Transport and storage

If you’re involved in any of the industries mentioned above, you need to be extra vigilant when it comes to height safety. You might think fatalities are extremely rare, but during the June 2003 to June 2011, 232 workers lost their lives after falling from a height at work. The fact of the matter is it happens and as an employer, you need to be responsible for the safety of your workers. Falls on the work site can have a disastrous impact on the lifestyle of the victim and on the morale of your team. It can also negatively impact the profitability of your business through lost working time and worker’s compensation. It pays in more ways than one to practice safety when working from heights and it’s what we are going to explore in this blog.

Training

If your business operations require work that is performed at a height, you really should have people in your team trained in the skills and knowledge to work safely at heights. That state and federal governments provide comprehensive units in training in this area.

Planning

Before you even set foot onto a site, the person responsible for occupational health and safety needs to make an inspection of the layout, checking the condition of structures, potential hazards, required equipment and weather conditions. This can help them plan accordingly (and redesign if necessary) so they are complying with OHS requirements. During the planning phase, all the safety equipment needs to be check for serviceability. If equipment is faulty, replace it immediately with qualified products from a reputable retailer. Before work commences, the worksite needs to be managed in a way to reduce any risk. This could mean the installation of fall protection and perimeter protection equipment, or working how to how safely move tools and equipment around in the work area.

Working From Heights

Even though there it will be the responsibility of certified peoples on your team to look for and eliminate any hazards, it’s prudent to have a work culture where everyone keeps their eyes open. If everyone is encouraged to be wary of hazards like loose wires, slippery surfaces, tools that are not secured and malfunctioning equipment, you’re more like to identify risks and introduce measures or change work practices to ensure that all employees leave at the end of the day the way they arrived at work – healthy and injury free. For more information relating to fall prevention, there is a great guide by Worksafe Victoria that we suggest you look at.