28.09.2007

Mandatory Harnesses at TPC

UK based The Platform Company has promoted the use of a harness and lanyard for all operators using boom type elevating work platforms for a considerable time.

As part of its ongoing commitment to safety it is now insisting that all engineers and delivery drivers wear the safety equipment at all times when delivering or picking up a machine from a site, manoeuvring machines at depots, and also when carrying out regular maintenance checks.
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The Platform Company now insists that all employees wear harnesses in booms at all times.

The Platform Company’s operations manager Andy Gilbert says: “Making sure that a harness and lanyard is used correctly is part of The Platform Company’s ongoing extensive training and safety programme which is designed to fulfil our commitment to customers to provide the safest most professional service in the industry. We have now implemented this safety procedure across all 10 of The Platform Company’s depots”.

“When a platform is being loaded onto or taken off of a delivery vehicle or being taken into a workshop, although not being used for work at height, the risk from the catapult effect still exits if not handled correctly. There have been incidences of operatives being catapulted or bounced out of a basket, especially when travelling or offloading.”

“An unexpected curb or unseen recess can cause the boom to jolt or drop on one side possibly throwing the person out. A boom being clipped by another passing vehicle can also be a problem, especially when working alongside roads or on construction sites with traffic passing through. The wearing of a full body harness and lanyard greatly reduces the risk of harm in all these situations.”