18.05.2017
Wind sailing
Spotted by a reader in Ireland, two narrow aisle slab scissor lifts at a show with a large banner suspended between them.
In the words of our correspondent: "This is a photo taken at Northern Ireland's Royal Ulster Agricultural Society show which is the main construction machinery show in the province. Surely this could be considered a 'death wish' especially considering these are indoor slab scissors outside with a spanning banner, at a show which has circa 100,000 visitors over four days?"
Having direct experience of this a few years ago we would agree that using banners in this way is risky, especially if the lifts are rated for indoor use only. It looks like a very still day and one assumes that they would have been lowered at the first sign of the wind rising. We do know of course that the event passed off without incident.
Sleator Plant has said that it took great care to ensure that the risks were mitigated. In addition to an audit by the organisers, the company said: "We conducted our own risk assessment that included detailed analysis of the wind factor. The banner is a perforated extensively throughout to counter any wind that may have kicked up during the show."
The use of banners on narrow scissor lifts does carry higher risks and IPAF guidelines for exhibitions recommends it be avoided. These were put together after a single narrow aisle slab scissor lift overturned at one of the early Vertikal Days, when wind levels rapidly picked up and caught a huge banner wrapped around and hanging down from the platform. Thankfully a telehandler prevented the lift completely overturning that time and no one was hurt. It could though have so easily been much worse.
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This banner was perforated to reduce wind drag but still not a recommended practice
In this case Sleator Plant considered the risks in advance and has taken a number of steps to mitigate them. In the meantime it does serve as a useful reminder for those showing such equipment at public events over the summer months to ensure that all stand staff are fully briefed on how to handle banners on platforms.
Have a safe weekend.
Red
I too am outraged. In fact. I am so outraged, that I am outraged at my outragement ! But all kidding aside, I agree with Aussie David. I think the risk assesment and mitigation consisted of one or two minutes of looking at the platforms and saying "Eh, it looks allright".
Emperors new clothes
Where is Barry, he must be outraged?
Emperors new clothes
Thanks Aussie Dave, for reminding me to get outraged.
I am outraged, you should see my face, it's proper outraged.
If only I could find the right emoji �� to express my outragement.
I have just enlarged the photo, the right hand scissor has a sail/sign/ banner on the opposite side. So it can also have wind load from the other side. ( I would not be surprised if the left hand scissor also has a banner on the reverse side. ) so it's banners up, to be sure, to be sure.
What a load of crock! What risk mitigation was taken ? The readers need to get outraged at creating hazards that are known to cause overturning, and the risk is extremely high. Where are the other comments on this? There are IPAF documents, EWPA documents and recent article in Crane Tech magazine. Where is HSE in this. Who will end up in court, the manufacturer as the other individuals will not have the expertise or resources to defend, or even the resources and expertise to stop this behaviour in the first place. This is not a death wish for a lone individual working without a plan or safe process, this is is a death wish for the families and individuals that visit the site with expectations that their attendance has not added addition risks to their lives. The company should be ashamed of themselves and get universal condemnation. Too harsh ? What do you say when someone is injured or killed ?