Safety redefined with professional access equipment - mobile scaffolds, ladders & work platforms.

Do you know that falls are the 2nd leading cause of all injuries? Do you know that 11 per cent of these result in deaths? Any fall can be potentially serious and a fall from the height of even a low ladder can mean a painful and incapacitating injury. Protecting employees and businesses by observing a few basic precautions and selecting the right access equipment for a given application could save a lot of trouble, besides precious lives.

Take a sensible approach when considering precautions for working at heights. Factors to look into include the height of the job, the duration, the frequency of use and the condition of the surface being worked on. Before working at heights, one must follow these simple steps:

• Where working at heights cannot be avoided, prevent falls using the right type of equipment
• Ensure workers can get safely to and from where they work at height
• Ensure access equipment is suitable, stable and strong enough for the job
• Ensure that the ground on which the access equipment is placed is even and smooth
• Ensure that the access equipment is maintained and checked regularly
• Check the load bearing capacity of the access equipment before material is taken up
• Ensure that the access equipment complies with the relevant safety standards - BIS, DIN, ANSI, CSA, OSHA CE, etc

Choosing the Right Access Equipment

When selecting the right access equipment for specific application, please ask yourself the following questions:

Once you know the answers to these questions, then it will be easier to select the safest and right access equipment to use.

Freiheit Skytech, a globally recognised aluminium access equipment company based in Bremen - Germany, and their Business Partners in India, Sagar Asia Pvt Ltd present a brief overview in the following paragraphs to help you assess which equipment would best suit a given requirement.

Step Stools

As a rule, step stools feature up to four treads and the top tread or platform is safe to stand on. The maximum platform height is 1.00 m. Step stools are suitable for short jobs and are used for heights up to 3.00 m.

Steps stools comply with the standard DIN EN 141.

Ladders

Ladders can be quickly deployed and are very light and compact in terms of their dimensions. One must differentiate between single ladders, stepladders and multi-purpose ladders. Ladders are primarily suited to short-duration jobs involving low levels of risk.

Ladders comply with the standard DIN EN 131.

Mobile Scaffolds

Mobile scaffolds feature a very large working platform with minimum dimensions of 0.75 x 1.80 m and are easy to move about on swivel castors. They are comfortable and safe to work at high levels (up to 12.00 m platform height) and can be used by several persons at the same time. Guardrails and knee rails together with toeboards offer all round protection.

Mobile Scaffolds comply with the standard DIN EN 1004.

Mobile Work Platforms

Mobile work platforms feature a large platform and castor wheels for easy movement. Guard rails, knee rails and toeboards offer additional safety. Some mobile work platforms can be folded down for easy transportation and storage.

Mobile work platforms comply with the standard DIN EN 131 as well as the stability and guardrail protection levels specified in BGI 63.

Aerial Work Platforms

Aerial work platforms and/or mobile elevated work platforms make it possible to carry out activities at high levels (approx 14.00 m); they are suitable for work that requires both hands and are particularly safe thanks to the use of bars and railings. They offer infinitely variable and flexible height adjustment at the push of a button and can either be operated manually or be automotive. Due to this, aerial work platforms are also regarded as the most convenient and comfortable solution for "high level work".

Aerial work platforms are CE tested and comply with the European functional and safety standards to DIN EN 280.

Bridging and Steps

Bridging may serve either as a stationary or a mobile walkway over in-plant obstacles. Deep treads and a roomy platform ensure ease of ascent and descent. Additional safety features include guardrails, kneerails and toeboards.

Bridging and steps comply with the standard DIN EN ISO 14 122 for stationary use and BGI 637 in case of mobile applications.

Customised Solutions

Whatever the access solution required, tailor made solutions to specific requirements of customers can be designed and developed - the range includes industrial equipment, ladders, step stools, platforms, bridging, steps in modular construction, etc.

Freiheit Skytech GmbH, a globally recognised aluminium access equipment company based in Bremen - Germany, has made a foray into the Indian market partnering with Sagar Asia Pvt Ltd. Sagar Asia is India's largest manufacturer and producer of aluminium access equipment with over 3 decades experience in aluminium technology. The Freiheit range of professional aluminium and fibreglass access technology equipment is built using structural high grade aluminium alloy and comprises of a comprehensive range of ladders, scaffolds and platforms which are suitable for various types of applications for all types of verticals - domestic, commercial, industrial, wind and aviation. At Freiheit Skytech & Sagar Asia, safety for the customer in his working environment, is of primary concern and given due importance. High safety standards require high quality standards. This is the reason why there is never a compromise on quality and this is something that is firmly enshrined within the corporate strategy. All Freiheit products conform to European Standards and meets the requirements of DIN EN ISO 9001:2008 and CE marking.

Sagar Asia Pvt Ltd, Secunderabad (Telangana). Tel: 040-27728500. Mobile: 088863-33000. Fax: 91-40-27728529. Email: india@freiheitskytech.com