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Fall protection

Access 360 launches Toolbox Talks Series

Building Products Index Ltd access solutions, Fall protection, riser doors Leave a Comment

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Access 360, one of the UK’s leading access solutions manufacturers, is delivering Toolbox Talk sessions to support contractors in achieving the highest level of safety and compliance on site.

As a building products manufacturer positioned at the forefront of industry advancements, the Toolbox Talks form part of Access 360’s ongoing commitment to providing industry professionals with the latest guidance on regulations and best practices when installing access products.

The Toolbox Talks will comprise two separate sessions, delivered by Access 360’s Specification Sales Manager, Jake Slade, and will cover Access 360’s Profab Access and Bilco UK brands.

The Profab Access session will outline current practices regarding the successful installation of riser doors and maintaining compliance with fire regulations for commercial and residential buildings, whilst the Bilco UK talk will address roof safety considerations when working from height.

Jake Slade, Sales Specification Manager at Access 360, said: “As one of the industry’s leading access solutions manufacturers, we recognise the responsibility we have to ensure we are supporting professionals in ensuring the highest standards of safey and compliance when on site.

“We are consistently seeking new ways to share our industry expertise on such topics, so I’m delighted to be offering these Toolbox Talks. I looking forward to meeting with Health & Safety managers and contractors on site and delivering advice and guidance to industry professionals.”

The Toolbox Talks form an extension of Access 360’s extensive offering of RIBA-accredited CPD seminars, which are hosted virtually and in person to architects and specifiers on a monthly basis.

Individuals interested in receiving a Toolbox Talk can contact Jake Slade directly at Jake.Slade@access-360.co.uk.

Access 360 comprises of Bilco UK, Profab Access and Howe Green, which together provide access and safety solutions for roofs, ceilings, walls and floors.

For further information on Access 360 visit www.access-360.co.uk.

Safesite Scores with Wolverhampton Wanderers FC

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Safesite has provided Wolverhampton Wanderers FC with a bespoke rooftop safety solution to allow the Club to video training sessions safely at height.

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ training premises at the Sir Jack Hayward Training Ground, has recently undergone significant redevelopment to enhance the players’ facilities and to create a ‘Category 1’ Academy.  In order to learn as much as possible from training sessions, the Club wanted to be able to video the sessions from multiple angles, including from a flat roof area that is accessed via an office.

bespoke step-over and walkwayFollowing a site survey, Safesite proposed a comprehensive solution which included the installation of a  bespoke step-over to allow safe passage from the facility’s office balcony onto a Kee Walk walkway which offers a demarcated route to the flat roof area where the filming takes place.  KeeGuard  guardrail systems have been installed to provide edge protection to the exposed edges of the roof.

 

Bespoke access platform for filmingThe installation has been completed with the construction of a fully guarded bespoke access platform to provide clear visibility of the pitches so that filming can be carried out in complete safety, giving the Club an invaluable overall perspective of the training sessions.

 

 

 

 

 

Kee Walk walkwayThe Kee Walk walkway provides an anti-slip walkway for staff to access the video platform safely, even in wet weather, while the fully guarded platform provides collective height safety, overcoming the need for restrictive protection such as harnesses and lanyards while filming.

 

PROVIDING SAFE ACCESS OVER ANY ROOFTOP OBSTACLE

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Navigating a roof across pipework, low level walls, changes in levels and installed equipment can present a problem. Entire areas of the roof space can become inaccessible making maintenance difficult or even impossible. Ben Rutter from Kee Safety discusses why step-over platforms provide the perfect solution.

According to the Health & Safety executive (HSE), working at height remains one of the biggest causes of fatalities and major injuries. At the same time, slips and trips are the most common cause of major injuries at work and can happen almost anywhere. 95% of major slips result in broken bones and they can also be the initial cause for a range of other types of accident such as a fall from height.

In February this year, following a 12-month enquiry, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Working at Height published a report entitled, ‘Staying Alive: Preventing Serious Injury and Fatalities while Working at Height’. This new report sees the APPG call upon the Government and industry to review the working at height culture, with the aim of cutting down the number of deaths and accidents caused by falls.

Contractors are under pressure to ensure the safety systems are in place to prevent slips, trips and falls from height. This is apparent on flat roofing projects. Many flat roof tops feature pipework, HVAC systems, conduits, skylights and other obstacles, and with maintenance teams regularly accessing these types of roofs to carry out work on the building services equipment, it’s easy to see why accidents can easily happen. If a safety system isn’t in place, getting around these obstacles often ends up with workers climbing, hopping, and jumping over these objects.

Step-Over_for_pipeworkFor these type of obstacles, step-overs are the best solution. They provide a safe and secure access platform, and, since roof structures tend to not change, these systems can be left in place indefinitely so that there is no need to fix the problem every time someone has to access the roof.

Most of these structures can be installed in minutes and can be fully customised to what is required.  From a small ramp that crosses a run of conduit, to a platform with stairs that bridges two roof sections, to the walkways needed to get to and from access points, pre-fabricated, modular access platforms are available to solve all of these issues.

With adjustable step sections, and non-penetrative fixing options, step-overs have the inherent flexibility to not only protect those accessing the roof, but to also protect the roof sheet from unnecessary foot traffic and potential damage by providing a clearly defined access path. There is the ability to meet virtually any design requirement, with the end result always being a safe, secure and compliant access platform.

Constructed using tubular fittings, each fitting incorporates an internal set screw to lock the respective fitting safely and securely onto the tube to create a strong, stable and safe structure. This method eliminates the need for time-consuming welding or specialist skills or tools, saving contractors both time and money on site.

When selecting this type of solution, contractors should make sure that it complies with EN 14122-2/3:2016. This standard defines the requirement for non-powered fixed means of access in and around buildings where access to machinery and plant or where access and egress is required. It deals specifically with guardrail details such as materials, loading and deflection, alongside tread placement with regards to depth, rise, going and pitch with requirements for dimensional, positional and operational considerations for the work platform.

For more information, visit www.keesafety.co.uk

KEE SAFETY PROVIDES ROOF PROTECTION WITH THE KEEGUARD ® SYSTEM

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KeeGuard® product details

Kee Safety, a leading global supplier of safety railing systems, offers the KeeGuard®, a free-standing roof edge protection system that can keep workers on the roof safe without damaging the roof itself.

Screenshot 2019-10-11 at 09.08.05The UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommends the use of effective rooftop safety equipment to reduce the many risks that can arise for people working at height. Designed to keep workers safe when carrying out essential building or maintenance, KeeGuard® makes a major contribution in minimising the dangers faced when working at height.

Screenshot 2019-10-11 at 09.07.53Suitable for use on concrete, asphalt, PVC membrane and felt roof surfaces, the flexible system can be used on almost any flat roof up to 10 degrees. The guardrail system is compatible with a range of rooftop configurations and is available for many different roof types, whether it is used where a restraining wall such as a parapet is in place or where the rooftop is completely open around the perimeter. Offering the ultimate range, it can also be used for retrofitting to older buildings as well as for new constructions.

Screenshot 2019-10-11 at 09.07.35The system works on a proven counterweight system. The recycled PVC weights provide a highly visible and non-slip secure base that is free-standing and does not penetrate the roof membrane, making it the ideal solution without damaging the existing structure. It also has galvanised fittings and tubes collective protection arranged in a modular configuration, allowing for reconfiguration on-site if needed and ensures a safe work environment for anyone on the roof.

KeeGuard® is also the ultimate installer-friendly system. It involves no welding, threading or bolting on site and requires minimum components for the easiest installation. Additionally, the system has a quick installation time for the horizontal rails thanks to its unique open style fitting.

KeeGuard® rooftop is fully tested and meets or exceeds current rooftop safety requirements. It is also available in a lightweight aluminium version. To watch our KeeGuard® video, visit https://keesafety.co.uk/knowledge-centre/videos/keeguard-free-standing-roof-edge-protection. For more information, visit www.keesafety.co.uk

PROVIDING SAFE ACCESS ON ROOFTOPS

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Kee Safety Step over platformKee Walk® Step-overs from Kee Safety, a leading global supplier of fall protection solutions, are a range of modular, off the shelf step-overs that provide a safe means of access where obstructions exist on a roof, such as pipework, plant equipment and conduits. Suitable for use on a variety of roof types and surfaces including concrete, membrane, metallic and composite, Kee Walk® Step-overs accommodate changes in roof levels to offer a safe, anti-slip, level walking surface onto and across roofs.

Standard Kee Walk® Step-overs are available in kit form to accommodate different height requirements and are delivered pre-assembled for easy installation. Each kit includes a double handrail and toe-boards for added safety, a choice of nylon or aluminium treads and base feet options to suit different roof types.

“Many of today’s roofs contain a variety of trip hazards and changes in roof level, making safe access difficult, if not impossible” comments Ben Rutter, Product Manager at Kee Safety Group. “Step-overs easily accommodate changes in level or direction and can fit over pipework or equipment. There is the ability to meet virtually any design requirement, with the end result always being a safe, secure and compliant access platform.”

With adjustable step sections, and non-penetrative fixing options, the step-overs have the inherent flexibility to not only protect those accessing the roof, but to also protect the roof sheet from unnecessary foot traffic and potential damage by providing a clearly defined access path.

Kee Walk® Step-overs are constructed using Kee Klamp® tubular fittings. Each fitting incorporates an internal set screw to lock the respective fitting safely and securely onto the tube to create a strong, stable and safe structure. This method eliminates the need for time-consuming welding or specialist skills or tools, saving contractors both time and money on site.

Step-over standard kits:

  • 5 clearance heights: 600mm, 800mm, 1000mm, 1200mm and 1400mm
  • 1m landing
  • Delivered pre-assembled
  • Includes double handrail
  • Freestanding base.

Kee Safety also offer mini step modular kits, which available in:

  • Two height options: 200mm and 400mm
  • Three lengths: 3, 4 and 5 tread
  • Two fixing options: freestanding and fixed.

Bespoke step-over platforms are also available on request via the Kee Safety sales team. Custom designed by the technical team to suit any layouts or requirements, these bespoke systems are suitable for any type of roof or surface, from metal to concrete.

The Kee Walk® Step-overs are compatible with other products in the Kee Safety portfolio to provide a complete fall protection and safe access solution, including Kee Walk®, Kee Gate®, KeeGuard®, and KeeGuard® Topfix.For those installations where a bespoke option is required, Kee Safety can deliver a totally customisable solution.

The Kee Walk® Step-over range has been designed in accordance to EN 14122-2/3:2016 for assured safe operation with the Kee Walk® being compliant to EN 516 Class 1-C.

For more information, visit www.keesafety.co.uk

SEPARATING WAREHOUSE STAFF FROM HAZARDS

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workplace Hazards inside LRThere are several health and safety issues to be concerned about when working in a warehouse environment. Kee Safety, a leading global supplier of safety solutions, provides a full product range that means whether staff are working internally or externally, at height or on the warehouse floor, they will always have a system in place to separate them from hazards.

Boasting such a wide product range, Kee Safety has the ability to solve all a magnitude of challenges that employers and employees face when working in warehouses.

Challenge

  • Requiring a strong, durable and flexible solution for the construction of railings, guardrails and safety barriers

Solution

  • Kee Klamp® systems

The Kee Klamp® range of fittings comprises a comprehensive selection of simple to use, galvanised malleable cast iron fittings. These fittings allow pre-cut lengths of standard tubing to be connected together to form safety guardrails and other types of tubular framework structure.

All fittings within the Kee Klamp® range incorporate an integral socket screw which locks the fitting securely onto its tube to give an excellent slip load performance. The extensive range ensures that they can also cope easily with any changes in direction or gradient, and easily accommodate requirements for adapting or extending an existing structure.

Challenge

  • Finding a compliant, self-closing system that provides staff with a safety solution when working on ground level.

Solution

  • Spring loaded safety gates

Kee Gate®safety gates are particularly suited to provide safe access and egress around machinery and electrical equipment, on access platforms, step overs, stairways and ladders or as part of a demarcated route within a loading bay or warehouse. Kee Gate®ensures staff can fulfil their job, follow best practices and comply with current safety standards, without putting their safety at risk.

Kee Safety self closing safety gates are spring loaded so can automatically close behind the user, providing an added level of security and overcoming the potential for human error.

Challenge

  • Having the ability to move goods safely up or down from mezzanines or raised working surfaces.

Solution

  • Pallet gates

Pallet Gates from Kee Safety have been designed to allow workers to load and unload pallets on mezzanine floors, without the possibility of falling from height.

The Pallet Gates range features four different configurations to suit the type of operation required. Gates are available in range of sizes, from 1.4m to 1.9m pallet width and from 1.6m to 2.2m pallet height. They are constructed using Kee Klamp® galvanised or Kee Lite® aluminium fittings and tubes and can be linked to new and existing railing systems. Due to the nature of the system, in the event of the pallet gate being damaged from a forklift or general use, the individual fittings can be easily replaced. Gates are supplied part assembled for a quick installation.

Challenge

  • Requiring a bespoke platform to allow safe access to areas where off the shelf fabricated platforms or other systems such as ladders or towers are not appropriate.

Solution

  • Bespoke Access Platforms

Kee Safety Bespoke Access Platforms – which can be designed to suit virtually any requirement – are suitable for difficult to reach areas such as access to machinery, warehouse racking, maintenance of vehicles or trains, welding or plastering.

These access platforms are custom built and can be designed up to 3m in height. When higher access is required, the platform is constructed with the addition of an extra support arm. Bespoke Access Platforms are modular in design and utilise either Kee Lite® or Kee Klamp® fittings to provide an extremely secure, robust, corrosion resistant access platform. Using off the shelf fittings also allows the platforms to be delivered and constructed quickly and easily, with minimal disruption on-site.

Challenge

  • Avoiding machinery collisions into walls, corners, racking units, posts and pipes.

Solution

  • Upright protectors

Kee Safety’s Kwik Kit® range of upright protectors, which can be used both indoors and outdoors, are made of hot dipped galvanised steel for durability and are also powder coated in RAL 1021 for extra visibility.

The range of warehouse protectors has been designed and tested in accordance with the BS EN 15512:2009. The standard states that an upright protector should be positioned at the end of each run of racking between cross-aisles and at uprights, which are positioned at aisle and gangway intersections. The uprights are all a minimum of 400mm tall, and dynamic tests have been conducted to ensure that the minimum energy absorption of 400Nm is achieved. All Kwik Kit® barriers are manufactured from size 8 (48.300mm) Kee Klamp® fittings and tubing with a 3.2mm wall.

Challenge

  • Providing demarcation around plant, equipment and fragile materials.

Solution

  • Kee Mark®Demarcation systems

The high visibility, maintenance free Kee Mark®demarcation system from Kee Safety is compact, making it portable and easy to assemble. The unique post design with a heavy-duty PVC base weighing 25kg prevents the system from falling during severe weather conditions. Kee Safety’s demarcation system is further enhanced by a high visibility, two colour, polyurethane chain which links between the support posts.

Kee Safety strives to provide solutions to separate people from hazards, so its product portfolio extends wide enough to cover railings, guardrails, barriers, self-closing gates, pallet gates, access platforms and demarcation systems. As well as supporting customers with a large product range, Kee Safety also offers expert advice and technical support, to ensure compliance with all major standards and statutory requirements. Kee Safety products are available in the UK through a well-established network of distributors and fall protection partners spread across the country.

For more information, please visit www.keesafety.co.uk

 

Kee Systems Ensures Rooflight Safety for Porcelanosa

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Kee Systems has installed a total of 2,570 Kee Covers on the roofs at Porcelanosa’s retail sites across the country to protect the fragile skylights on the roofs and ensure that maintenance work can be carried out in complete safety.

Founded in Spain in 1973 as a specialist in ceramic tiles and flooring, Porcelanosa is synonymous with innovative design and unbeatable quality, and has a presence in over 150 countries worldwide.   As part of its commitment to safety, the company is undergoing a programme to ensure anyone requiring access to its roofs for maintenance purposes, can do so in complete safety.

Many of the roofs in the UK already included fall protection measures such as lifelines, but, as with many large retail & warehouse units, the roofs also featured fragile skylights which provide natural light for the buildings.

defaultAfter researching skylight safety, Héctor Pérez Ferrandis, Maintenance Manager, Porcelanosa contacted Kee Systems about Kee Cover skylight protection for their UK stores.  Following a site survey, Kee Systems installed Kee Covers on the roofs of Porcelanosa’s retail sites in Watford, Glasgow, Marston Green in the West Midlands, Bristol, Warrington and Doncaster over a 9-month period.

Commenting on the installation, Héctor Pérez Ferrandis, Departamento de Filiales,Porcelanosa,  said: “‘Working with Kee Systems was a pleasure. The sales and installation teams were a great help from our initial enquiry through to the completion of the work.  With their help, we were able to identify where anyone accessing our roofs might be put at risk, and the best system for our needs. I am confident now that people working on our roofs are protected and safe thanks to Kee Systems and Kee Cover. We wouldn’t hesitate to work with them again in future”

Effective Solution

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The Kee Covers sit onto metal frames constructed from Kee Klamp fittings which were then fixed virtually flat to the roof’s surfaces.  The system is ideal for trapezoidal and standing seam roofs.  All components and mesh panels are hot dip galvanised for enhanced durability.  The tube can be also colour coated if greater visibility is required.

Kee Cover is also available in a raised format where the mesh panel is mounted onto small legs and raised above the skylight, giving a greater distance between it and the mesh panel. In the event of a fall, this prevents the skylight from damage as the Kee Cover absorbs the impact.

With installation complete on the stores, Porcelanosa has ensured that all fall risks on its UK roofs are protected, and that maintenance work can be carried out in complete safety.

STAY ON GUARD WITH KEE WALK

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View the Kee Walk® with Guardrail

Kee Safety, a global supplier of fall protection equipment and safety railing systems, has expanded its range of safe access solutions for roof top walkways and stepovers with the introduction of Kee Walk® with Guardrail. A cost effective and modular approach to guardrail protection, this system provides roofers, contractors and maintenance teams with a clear demarcation route to eliminate potential fall hazards.

KeeWalk with Guard Rail 1Designed to provide a level, anti-slip walking surface on standing seam, composite panels and metal roofing, Kee Walk® with Guardrail can be easily adapted to a wide range of roof surfaces, slopes, steps, traverses and pitches up to 35⁰. Thanks to its modular design, the system can be quickly and easily set up and mounted to the roof, with no need for any on site assembly, bespoke brackets or fabrication. The guardrail – which is built from 48.3mm tubes and Kee Klamp® corrosion resistant fittings – is fixed directly to one or both sides of the walkway subframe, restricting the need for too many fixings into the roof, therefore reducing the possibility of roof leaks in the future. The walkway is available as standard in nylon or aluminium trends and supplied in pre-assembled 1.5m or 3m sections to suit the requirements of different roofs.

“A walkway with a guardrail is the preferred fall protection system as dictated in the hierarchy of control measures” comments Ben Rutter, Kee Safety Product Manager – Safe Access and NPD. “It provides the highest level of collective fall prevention for roof access and work at height. We have introduced this new walkway system to provide our customers with a collective solution that eliminates the need for personal protection equipment (PPE) or harnesses, allows multiple people at use the system at the same time, and is suited to retrofit and new build projects.”

Kee Walk® with Guardrail is CE approved and compliant with EN 516:2006 (Prefabricated Accessories for Roofing – Installations for roof access – Walkways, treads and steps). It exceeds the deflection criteria and slip resistance requirements of this standard and achieves almost double the friction requirement of BS 4592 in both wet and dry conditions, providing assurance that the treads are safe to walk on in all weather conditions. Thanks to reinforced nylon treads that are fire rated to Class HB of UL94, this roof top walkway system will have the same, if not better, fire rating than the roof itself. The guardrail complies to BS EN 14122-3, BS EN 13374 and OSHA requirements to provide customers staff and contractors with the best possible protection.

Kee Walk® with Guardrail can be used in conjunction with Kee Safety stepover platforms to provide safe access across roof mounted pipework, low level walls and other plant equipment.

Boasting almost 85 years in business, Kee Safety has the knowledge, technical excellence and awareness of regulation requirements to be able to market some of the best safety products in the industry. Despite having a large product offering already in place, Kee Safety continues to launch new solutions —Kee Walk® with Guardrail is Kee Safety’s 14th product launch in the last ten years.

For more information, visit www.keesafety.co.uk

Safe Fixing Solutions

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The BoxBolt® and BeamClamp® range of safe fixing solutions from Kee Systems are designed to enable steel to steel connections without the need for drilling or welding.

BeamClamp® – Steel to Steel Clamps
Kee Systems BeamClamp BoxBoltThe BeamClamp® range of high strength clamps are used for connecting steel to steel. The solutions can be used for both temporary or permanent connections and are typically used to connect secondary steel to existing structures.

The clamping system gives the specifier peace of mind that once the connection is made it has a guaranteed safe working load. The connections have the added benefits of providing flexibility for the user during installation and reducing the overall cost. The range is also ideal for areas where drilling or welding is not allowed, or access and power is restricted.

BoxBolt® – Blind Steel Fixings

CE Approved BoxBoltThe CE Approved BoxBolt® blind fixing range of solutions provide a flexible means of joining steel together without the need for on-site drilling, welding, through bolting, strapping or cutting access holes.  The fixings are suitable for connecting into rectangular, square and even circular hollow sections, or where access is restricted to one side only.

BoxBolt® fixings feature a hexagon head design on the body to allow easy installation with a standard spanner and provide a guaranteed connection without the need for on-site verification, as long as installation guidelines are correctly followed.

BeamClampBeamClamp® and BoxBolt® products can be used across all industries where joining steel together is a requirement including building services, infrastructure, steel construction, façade and curtain walling, oil & gas, materials handling and conveyors, transport, solar & wind energy and stadiums.

 

BOXBOLT® BLIND FIXINGS GIVEN CE MARK

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Highlighting its commitment to manufacturing high quality products, Kee Safety has received CE markings for its range of BoxBolt® blind fixing solutions. Engineers and specifiers can have confidence that BoxBolt® products will deliver mechanical resistance, dimensional stability and durability.

 
Kee Safety commissioned a Notified Body to carry out an independent assessment of its Factory Production Control System and product performance. A third party confirmed that BoxBolt® products fulfil the requirements described in the European Assessment Document (EAD) 330001-00-0602.

BoxBolt CE MarkedThe BoxBolt® range — which includes M6, M8, M10, M12, M16 and M20 — is a fully tested and approved blind fixing solution for secondary steel connections. Suitable for connecting into rectangular, square and even circular hollow sections, or where access is restricted to one side only, BoxBolt® fixings feature a hexagon head design on the body to allow easy installation with a standard spanner.

The fixings deliver solutions for joining steel together without the need for on-site drilling or welding, providing much more flexibility than traditional methods. The system provides a guaranteed connection every time, without the need for on-site verification, as long as the installation guidelines are correctly followed.

BoxBolt® is available in three finishes, including zinc plated, hot dip galvanised and stainless steel. These finishes, combined with three available lengths, make it extremely flexible to suit its environment and application.

For more information, visit www.keesafety.co.uk

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