Edge protection is an important part of protecting those employed in the European roofing products sector – the biggest regional market for that category of goods in the world. A new Research and Markets report ranks Europe as the world’s biggest region for roofing products, with a 35.5% share of all sales. Environmentally friendly roofing […]
In our articles about roof rails, we talk a lot about certain groups of individuals – from the construction workers who build a structure in the first place, to maintenance workers who need access to its heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, or to solar panels fitted to its roof. However, one discipline we rarely […]
Guardrail recommendations have once again been issued by the Health & Safety Executive to firms in the north-west and south-west alike, and for both internal and external work. In the north-west, the HSE has stressed the need for edge protection even on temporary structures, after a Merseyside worker fell from a scaffold tower that was […]
Construction decision makers who are facing sleepless nights because of health and safety red tape might want to invest in some edge protection to remove one of the main focuses of the HSE. Falls from height have long been a common area of HSE action, and that trend shows no sign of slowing as time […]
Aluminium ladders could be needed in greater numbers to allow work to proceed on more public construction than at this time last year, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. Compared with the first quarter of 2012, the second quarter saw a 31.5% rise in ‘public other’ new construction work, which includes all […]
Further progress towards affordable solar-generating roof tiles hints at a future in which walkovers may be a feature of normal domestic properties’ roofs. Dr Harry A Atwater of the California Institute of Technology has been working with Dr James C Stevens, a chemist at the Dow Chemical Company, on ways to make solar roof tiles […]
We’ve all seen rubbish chutes hanging from the sides of construction projects, carrying rubble and debris down to ground level in a safe and controlled manner. However, many people might not realise that rubbish chutes can be accessed not only from the top, but also at intervals along their length. To allow this, all you […]
Roof rails can be a sensible first consideration when attempting to protect workers who need to access roofs and work on them at substantial heights above the ground. In the fourth edition of its Health and Safety in Roof Work industry guidance, published in July, the Health & Safety Executive provides an outline of the […]
New Health & Safety Executive work throws fresh light on the importance of edge protection for construction workers, while a recent incident also demonstrates why sturdy walkovers can be better than temporary platforms built out of unsuitable materials. Edge protection is likely to be one area HSE inspectors focus on in the coming weeks, as […]
Walkovers can help to prevent falls from height – not necessarily from the edges of roofs, but through skylights and weaker parts of the roof surface itself. By fitting walkovers, you can specify a safe route across the roof, leading around skylights rather than over them. Health and Safety Executive inspector Russell Beckett says: “”Falls […]
A safety failure at a Manchester school offers a valuable reminder that guardrails not only need to be present to provide edge protection; they also need to be strong enough to take any reasonable amount of force exerted on them. In September 2011, two men were working on the roof of Barlow Moor High School […]
When a building is coming down, you might think installing new features like edge protection is a waste of time. But guidance for demolition workers from the Health and Safety Executive reminds them that employee safety is a must in all instances, regardless of the work being carried out. Falls from height are ranked first […]
Aluminium ladders could help ensure safety in a profession we don’t often mention in our news articles – window cleaning. While many of our reports focus on construction, renovation and maintenance, updated HSE guidance for window cleaners highlights the importance of man anchors and safety ladders for those in the job. For instance, aluminium ladders […]
AKM Fabrications are delighted to have been granted CHAS accreditation, recognising our quality service when installing safety barriers and other forms of edge protection. Granted under the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme, the recognition means we comply with all of the core elements of health and safety law required. This in turn means that […]
Walkovers are already an important way to provide safe passage over uneven rooftops, with a clear, high-grip route over cables and pipework, or around any weak parts of the roof. However, as nanotechnology progresses in the years to come, unusual new materials could help to make walkovers even safer in high humidity and low temperatures. […]
Edge protection should not be thought of as an end-of-project installation, but should be provided throughout construction work, according to the HSE. Health and Safety Executive inspector Tony Mitchell warns that a failure to monitor and control building site work can be the underlying cause that leads to a lack of fall protection. He adds […]
Construction contractors working across the south of England had fresh reasons to invest in man anchors over the weekend, as the Met Office issued amber alerts of strong winds and heavy rain. While some projects are halted completely in severe weather conditions, others are on a fixed deadline – with work on the Olympic Park […]
Walkovers and safety ladders could become particularly important in the years to come, if an origami-inspired method for creating retractable rooftops enters common usage. Called Kaleidogami, the method is currently being researched at Purdue University in the US, where engineers have tweaked the rules of origami and applied them to flat building materials. “”Whereas traditional […]
With plenty of sunshine seen across the UK this week, many venues will be considering how to make the most of their outdoor space – and this is where roof rails can become important safety barriers. If you are a cafe, restaurant or bar with roof access, you might want to consider creating a roof […]
Safety ladders and roof rails can help landlords to comply with the necessary health and safety regulations when allowing workmen on to their properties in order to carry out repairs. The Health and Safety Executive has issued fresh guidance for landlords who are intending to use self-employed builders in repair work, stressing that simple precautions […]
EVO Safety Solutions isdelighted to have been accredited by SAFEcontractor as a provider of roof edge protection and guard rails that allow premises to operate in accordance with the appropriate health and safety measures. Safecontractor was born in 1999 as SupplyLine, and rebranded to its current, web-accessible state in 2003, since which time it has […]
Edge protection is an important element of many solar hot water installations, where roof rails help to safeguard maintenance workers if they need to clean or repair the panels’ heat-collecting surfaces. So, with the Renewable Heat Premium Payment scheme coming into effect from May 1st, it’s likely that some householders will be investing in guard […]
Edge protection not only ensures your employees have a line of defence should they stumble near a roof edge; it can also prevent untethered equipment from falling on to passers-by below. In a recent case reported by the Health and Safety Executive, a woman waiting for a bus on York Road, London, was severely injured […]
Cable trays have plenty of advantages if you are working in an area that has exposed wiring – whether that means electrical wires or, for example, computer networking cables. The obvious benefit of cable trays is that they prevent trip hazards – the loose wiring is collected together and secured in a container that keeps […]
We often talk about edge protection and walkovers as ways to prevent trips and falls, but there are other ways in which they can keep your employees safe. Recent research carried out in the US shows one important application, as scientists at NASA compared the temperature of dark roofs in New York with one covered […]