Edge protection is one of the technologies helping to ensure the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games reach their finale without any major health and safety incidents.
The Health & Safety Executive has been working with the organisers of the Games from the very beginning, supervising and advising on the construction of the venues and facilities, including temporary demountable structures, or TDS.
Broadly speaking, TDS relates to anything built for the Games that can be dismantled again relatively easily once they are over, ranging from the huge video wall that featured in the opening ceremony, to the temporary grandstands constructed to accommodate extra spectators.
With around a million people expected to attend Glasgow 2014, there’s a considerable burden of responsibility to protect those individuals against any harm.
Significantly, falls from height – particularly of workers during the construction and dismantling of TDS – was one of six key risks identified by HSE during the construction phase, along with crowd safety at venues.
In both cases, edge protection has a key protective role to play, and protection against falling from grandstands is also given consideration in guidance on TDS from the Institution of Structural Engineers, and endorsed by the HSE.
As with London 2012, the HSE has worked to ensure the lessons learned by construction workers are carried forwards into their future activities – meaning Glasgow 2014 should have its own safety legacy, which will hopefully include good awareness and understanding of the value of edge protection.