31.08.2018
Scissor in the wind
Spotted last weekend at Silverstone a fully elevated scissor lift in strong winds at the MotoGP which was eventually called off due to adverse weather conditions.
A reader attending the event spotted the lift, a 50ft Skyjack 9250 rigged up with a host of what look to be mobile phone antenna with trailing cables which demonstrate the high wind speeds and rain experienced during Sunday afternoon.
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Fully elevated in strong winds and left unattended
The lift was set up in the car park with no mats under the outrigger legs, and yet the machine was raised free of its wheels, so not just being used to stabilise. Wind speeds were estimated at around 14 metres a second, although the average from midday to 18:00 was recorded as 7.2 metres a second – this makes no allowance for gusts or short term peaks. Most companies recommend bringing machines down when winds reach 12.5 metres a second.
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No attempt to spread the load
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The wheels were raised off the ground so that all of the weight was on the outrigger jacks
A Death Wish? Well certainly not for the operator, as there wasn’t one, but when it comes to putting members of the public at risk, then yes.
Have a safe weekend
o
Good Evening Mr Brookes
The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 was enrolled by Parliament 44 yrs ago and in the intervening period 8952 Men and Women were Killed at Work in the UK. In addition to which the HSE will also confirm that 137 Men and Women were Killed at work during 2017.
Moreover as I have researched and recorded 506 Crane and Lifting Related fatalities Worldwide since 070507, I can confirm that sixteen percent of these Fatal Incidents involved AWP Platforms and or Gusts of Wind.
So it is simplistic to assume that the Flags, Aerials and Holes on this AWP structure do not add to Wind Drag, because they all contribute towards producing a Low pressure area on the Leeward side of the AWP, as well as the high pressure area on the Windward side. To check this point, please refer to the Three AWP Machines Blown Over by Gusts of Wind on 230217 and reported on this excellent Vertikal website.
Please do not wait for the First AWP to be blown over by the Wind at Silverstone, because it may well result in a Fatality. Criminal Charges may well follow, with you and Peter Parker possibly both finding out the hard way, the real Definition of the word Negligence, as it has special meaning in English Law.
Why, because Worker Safety is important, very important and much too important to leave it to chance.
Kind Regards
Mike Ponsonby
AccessibL
I'd say this is a great example of how well made, tested and safe these machine are, even with a moderate venture from the recommended use.
Manufacturers obviously build in a safety margin. How many operators have their own anemometer, do you reckon? As a general rule, work has got to get done whatever the British weather throws at people. These things can take a beating. How many have you seen on their sides? 1 or 2 from forklifts, maybe. There was that Grove that used to fly a banner on the M4 or M40 years ago that tipped in an absolute tempest, but these things are safe, man! That's why we promote them!
Tarquin Brooks
Hello Mr Ponsonby
With regard to your points raised:
1 To use the overall length and height of a machine to calculate the sail area is just plain wrong. It is far too simplistic. Your assumption would suggest this machine would have the same wind load as one where the projected area of the side was completely covered with plywood - clearly not the case.
2 Outdoor rated machines are usually rated for 28mph (45km/hr, 12.5m/s) at full load, with maximum angle, and manual forces, so why would a forecast of 18mph be a red flag?
3 What does motorcyle racing in the wet have to do with the stability of an AWP?
I agree having the machine raised may not have been the best situation but I dont see it as necessary for you to call this an example of negligence.
Kind Regards
Tarquin
o
Good Afternoon Mr Editor,
Thank you for Publishing this incident above, as this is an Excellent Example of How Innocent People Get Killed by the negligent acts of others while ignoring the principles of Force, Mass and the Dangerous Effects of Wind on Raised Steel Structures.
So while I fully accept that this Skyjack 9250 AWP did not fall over, let us first of all examine the facts.
1. The Skyjack 9250 AWP is 4.47m Long and 17.7m High when raised to full elevation. So the SAIL AREA of this machine is approx 79 square metres. Less the holes in this AWP Structure, which worsens the Effects of Wind Drag.
2. The Met Office issued a severe weather warning on Sat 250818, forecasting a Storm, Heavy Rain and Wind speeds of 18 MPH and much more important significant Gusts of Wind. This was a RED FLAG.
3. Silverstone Riders made clear on Saturday they would not be prepared to race in wet conditions, due to a multi-rider incident at Stowe after heavy rain. This Resulted in Tito Rabat suffering a triple fracture of his right leg. This was another Red Flag. The Race itself was finally cancelled at 1600hrs on Sun 260818 due to the volume of water on the track. Yet another Red Flag.
So there we have three (3) Clear Red Flags indicating potential danger, with the 5mm dia cables depicted above blown so far to the right, that the Winds effect on the 79m2 SAIL AREA of this structure must have been enormous. Yes this indeed was an ACCIDENT waiting for a place and time to happen. ( Not a word I normally accept, as this potentially fatal incident was foreseeable).
Thus confirming that a suitable and sufficent risk Assessment should always be produced before any Lifting operation is undertaken. The HSE will confirm that 137 Men and Women were Killed at work in 2017, yet Mr Peter Parker sees nothing wrong in this dangerous scenario depicted above ?
So let us all get in the habit of asking WHAT IF before raising Jibs, Booms and Aerial Work Platforms off the ground as Worker Safety is important, very important and much too important to leave it to chance.
Kind Regards
Mike Ponsonby
Sherm
Common sense and practical realization tells me this could become a bad situation. If winds pick up there little or no chance to save a mess expensive at that. In my 18 years of WAH I?ve seen enough on Vertikal and in our region to. Know this is too risky. Better to save the scissor lift and try for a better day. Good old common sense always works.
Peter Parker
Failing to see what the issue is here. Good solid stable ground. Wind speed within safe working recommendation.