06.10.2015

Nationwide Working at Height Forum

UK-based Nationwide Platforms held its Working At Height Best Practice Safety Forum last week at the Belfry in the West Midlands.

This is the seventh annual forum and best attended to date with more than 220 delegates, which included many representatives from the UK’s largest contractors and platform equipment manufacturers.

Introduced by Nationwide Platforms managing director Jeremy Fish, the day concentrated on the various aspects of working at height using aerial work platforms. The morning session featured presentations by Matt Fearon, president of Terex AWP/Genie, Brad Boehler president of Skyjack and Neil Brown, Crossrail civils health & safety manager.
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Jeremy Fish, managing director Nationwide Platforms introducing the event

Breakout sessions after lunch included the launch of the new SkySiren PCS ‘Intelligent Secondary Guarding’ system by BlueSky Solutions' business unit director Paul Marks, as well as a talk from Nationwide’s Peter Douglas and Road Traffic Solutions' John Brady on the practical aspects of operating platforms in a public area.

'The Big Debate’ - which dealt with a variety of topics including operator familiarisation and rescue - was led by Keith Prince of Balfour Beatty and Build UK along with Mark Keily and Simon Beckett of Nationwide, while Nationwide's operations and sales directors John Weights and Dan Smith concluded with a talk on specialist vehicles discussing the company's truck and van mounted platforms.

A drinks reception and evening networking dinner followed the event, with Nationwide Platforms' Golf Challenge taking place the following morning.

Here is a selection of photos from the day.
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The launch of the new SkySiren PCS secondary guarding system

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Nationwide Platforms has developed a new secondary guarding system

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Three sensor units, two at the back of the basket and one over the control panel which incorporate eight ultrasonic sensors, generate high frequency sound waves to scan the work environment behind and above the operator

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John Brady of Road Traffic Solutions outlining the requirements when using a platform on the road

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Genie had several machines on show including the ZX-135

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Nationwide Platforms managing director Jeremy Fish discussing the new SkySiren PCS system with customers at the launch demonstration

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Inside the event there were several companies exhibiting products including Power Towers.

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MEC showed several scissors including this 6092RT with double deck extension

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One of five new two axle, 48 metre Palfinger P480 truck mounted platforms recently purchased by Nationwide Platforms

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Outside the event there were several different products on show

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This telecoms antennae handling device attracted interest

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One of two Genie booms totally refurbished by Nationwide Platforms apprentices as part of the Savannah charity project in conjunction with the Zoological Society of London