After the Fall is a two-act, autobiographical play by Arthur Miller that delves into his marriage with Marilyn Monroe and other notable aspects of his public and private life. It was produced on stage and in film for television. “Fall” represents a person’s tumble through consciousness into choice.

In theaters, studios, and other entertainment or recreational venues—as well as within the supporting hospitality industry—a fall can be a person’s tumble that results in an injury. Fortunately, business owners, building managers, and other responsible parties can consciously choose to provide safe public access and fall protection for their staff and patrons.

Introducing access.

Ensuring accessibility for all individuals—including those in a wheelchair —is critical to safety and compliance with the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Highly visible public places like hotels, restaurants, and sports facilities are easily scrutinized.

ADA-compliant wheelchair ramps are essential for providing safe and easy access to various areas within these establishments. Ramps must be designed with the correct slope, handrails, and surface materials to prevent slips and falls. Properly installed and maintained wheelchair ramps comply with legal requirements and demonstrate a commitment to inclusivity and customer care.

A modular wheelchair access ramp is an ideal way to retrofit a building without costly redesign and construction. Easy to customize for various entrances and pathways, the system features lightweight aluminum floor frames, anti-slip fiberglass mesh, adjustable, powder-coated steel balustrades, and “warm-to-touch” PVC handrail tubes.

Straight-run ramps can be installed using only a bolt driver in a few hours. No expensive welding or specialized labor is required. Even complicated “switchback” designs can be built in less than a day. The lightweight, high-strength aluminum and durable, powder-coated steel components are corrosion-resistant and withstand extreme weather conditions and heavy use. All-weather treads prevent ice and snow accumulation.

Modular ramps meet or exceed ADA standards for slope (1:12), minimum width (36 inches), rest intervals for every 30 feet of vertical rise, landings, handrails, and edge protection along the sides of the ramp. They not only provide compliant wheelchair access but are also indispensable for people using a walker, cane, crutches, or scooter—even pushing a stroller. Accessibility means inclusiveness for all.

Set the stage for platforms.

Elevated work platforms provide stable and secure access for stage set-up, performances, inventory storage, machinery maintenance, and other activities. Their modular construction features aluminum or galvanized steel frames to support anti-slip treads for steps and platform decks. Pipe-fitted guardrails provide necessary and compliant work-at-height fall protection. Self-closing safety gates can be added to prevent workers from falling back through an opening or down the steps.

Work platforms provide outstanding versatility to fit the venue and tasks:

• Fixed Access Work Platforms are ideal for permanent installations and frequent work.
• Mobile Work Platforms are fitted with heavy-duty locking casters, allowing station-to-station portability without the safety risks and productivity hindrances of ladders.
• Adjustable Work Platforms are fabricated workstations raised and lowered to access different areas and heights.
• Custom Work Platforms are designed and built for specialized or complex tasks and can include electrical, air, and water connections.

An added step for safety.

“Crossovers” allow safe passage over obstacles such as pipes or cables and are essential in areas with high foot traffic or where maintenance work is regularly performed. By “crossing over” obstacles, these fall protection devices prevent trips and falls, ensuring people can move safely through the facility.

Crossover platforms feature modular construction like elevated work platforms: strong, durable, corrosion-resistant frames and guardrails with anti-slip, non-bounce, self-draining treads for stairs and walkway decks. They can even be used on the rooftop for maintenance workers performing inspections, maintenance, and repairs to the roof or building services equipment (e.g., climate control and exhaust systems).

How can we help you?

Safety in the hotel/hospitality and recreation/entertainment industries requires attention to accessibility and the use of effective fall-protection equipment. Businesses that choose to create safe environments for their guests and employees will not only comply with regulations but also foster a positive reputation.

If you are responsible for safety, accessibility, or events management, FlexDecks can help. Our comprehensive services include hazard assessments, design and consultation, engineering, manufacturing, installation, and follow-up inspections and maintenance. Contact us for an evaluation of your facility’s safety needs.

It is fun to look at old photographs from more than 50 or 60 years ago. We notice—and may laugh at—the hairstyles and clothing, admire the car designs, and lament that a beautiful building was torn down.

What we may not perceive or think about is that there are probably no curb cuts at sidewalk corners or access ramps for wheelchairs.

As advocacy groups became more vocal and visible, public awareness of the need and responsibility to provide access for all individuals increased. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504, was the first federal civil rights protection for people with disabilities from discrimination for programs receiving federal funding. In 1990, the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law.

Providing accessibility for individuals with disabilities is a legal requirement and a moral obligation for businesses and public facilities. Wheelchair access ramps are essential for creating inclusive environments that allow everyone to participate fully in society as employees, visitors, and customers. However, does a building owner or facility manager always need to invest in expensive construction to provide compliant access?

The flexibility of modular design.

A modular wheelchair access ramp allows easy customization to fit various entrances and pathways. The RightWay Pro system includes components like lightweight aluminum floor frames, anti-slip fiberglass mesh, adjustable leveling feet, powder-coated steel balustrades, and “warm-to-touch” PVC handrail tubes. Available design configurations include:

• Straight ramp
• L-ramp
• T-ramp
• Return ramp
• Ramp with steps
• Steps
• Double steps
• Platform

This flexibility ensures seamless integration into virtually any facility, enhancing accessibility and the user experience. The ramp can be reconfigured without extensive modifications if the building undergoes expansion or extensive renovation.

Cost-conscious installation.

Compared to traditional welded and concrete ramp systems, modular ramps like RightWay Pro offer significant savings without compromising quality or durability. No expensive groundwork is required. The prefabricated components and efficient designs reduce labor costs and installation time. Using only a bolt driver, ramps can be constructed in less than a day—only a few hours for more straightforward ramps.

Never sacrifice safety or durability.

Safety must be considered with any access ramp. Engineered by experts in safe access solutions, RightWay undergo rigorous testing to meet the highest safety standards. The lightweight, high-strength aluminum and durable, powder-coated steel are made to withstand extreme weather conditions and heavy use, limiting the potential for unseen damage. All-weather treads prevent ice and snow so people can walk confidently without dangerous slips and trips.

The ramp materials used are corrosion-resistant, ensuring longevity with minimal maintenance. These features ensure the ramps provide safe and reliable access in all conditions, making them suitable for various environments.

The ABCs of ADA and IBC compliance.

RightWay Pro access ramps are meticulously designed to meet the standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the International Building Code (IBC). These standards ensure that ramps are accessible, safe, and user-friendly for everyone. Key requirements include:

• A maximum slope of 1:12. (12 inches of ramp for every 1 inch rise.)
• A minimum width of 36 inches between handrails in most states (Greater widths can be acceptable).
• Platforms at regular intervals for rest – for every 30 inches of vertical rise.
• Top and bottom landings at least 60” x the width of the ramp.
• Protection along the edges to keep wheelchair casters and crutch tips on the surface

How can we help you?

Wheelchair access ramps are crucial in creating accessible and inclusive spaces—and complying with necessary regulations. If you are responsible for wheelchair access at your facility, FlexDecks can help. Our comprehensive services are at your disposal, including hazard assessments, design and consultation, engineering, manufacturing, installation, and follow-up inspections and maintenance.  Contact us for an evaluation of your facility’s safety needs.

A typical household has a slew of services—plumbing, electrical, water, heating, cooling, ventilation—that speak to a fundamental standard of living. Equipment needed to provide these essential services (e.g., water heater, furnace, sump pump, compressor) is usually in the basement, a ground-floor utility room, or an outside enclosure.

If handy, the typical homeowner can change filters, switch out fuses, replace pipes, and the like without so much as using a step stool to reach panels, vents, and other areas for service. Fall protection is hardly an issue.

The average U.S. household has only 2.5 occupants (not counting pets). However, a commercial, institutional, or industrial building may host dozens, scores, hundreds, or even thousands of employees. Building services equipment is often located on the rooftop for the greatest efficiency of operations. Regardless of how handy the maintenance worker is, the unique challenges of working on a roof make fall protection necessary.

Go-to guardrails.

It cannot be understated how hazardous an unprotected roof edge is to workers. For flat or low-slope roofs, installing a perimeter guardrail system is the preferred remedy because it is “collective” fall protection that safeguards multiple workers without special equipment or training.

A modular guardrail system is adaptable to various rooftop configurations and is installed without welding, drilling, or penetrating the roof membrane. Rails and fittings are constructed of galvanized steel or lightweight aluminum for strength, durability, and corrosion resistance.

To comply with Occupational Safety & Health (OSHA) standards, the railings need to:

• Have a top-edge rails height of 42 inches (plus or minus 3 inches) above the walking-working surface.
• Include mid-rails, screens, mesh, intermediate vertical members, solid panels, or equivalent intermediate members between the walking-working surface and the top edge of the guardrail system when there is no wall or parapet at least 21 inches high.
• Install mid-rails at a height midway between the top edge of the guardrail system and the walking-working surface.
• Be capable of withstanding, without failure, a force of at least 200 pounds (890 N) applied in a downward or outward direction within 2 inches of the top edge at any point along the top rail.

Get to the safety gate.

As evident a hazard that the roof edge presents, entering and leaving the roof—via a ladder, hatch, or stairs—can spell double trouble. A self-closing safety gate offers an OSHA-compliant protective measure. It features a spring-loaded mechanism that closes the gate automatically once the worker passes through. Gates adjust to standard width openings from 30 to 39 inches and can be mounted to any flat, square, or tubular post from 1 to 1 1/2 inch diameter. They integrate seamlessly into guardrail systems

Walk on the safe side.

Once on the roof, workers can be directed toward equipment and other service areas with a roof walkway system. To build pathways and stairs, anti-slip, non-bounce, self-draining treads are set on sturdy steel frames. This not only protects workers but also protects the roof from direct foot traffic. Walkways can be fitted with guardrails for added fall protection.

Take another step toward safety.

Roofs with building services equipment may have ductwork, conduits, cables, piping, and other obstacles that present trip hazards. A roof crossover is an “up-and-over” roof walkway with stairs, a platform, and OSHA-compliant guardrails. Crossover platforms can be easily customized to eliminate specific hazards, including a change in roof level.

Get a lift from platforms.

Although already on the roof, workers may have to reach greater heights to inspect, maintain, and repair large building services equipment. Work platforms are safer and more efficient than ladders, especially for frequent tasks. Like walkways and crossovers, they feature sturdy steel frames, anti-slip treads for steps and platform decks, and OSHA-compliant guardrails. They also offer unmatched versatility depending on what is needed at the workstation.

• Fixed access platforms are designed for permanent installation
• Mobile work platforms are fitted with heavy-duty locking casters for station-to-station portability.
• Adjustable height platforms enable workers to access various heights.
• Custom work platforms can be designed for almost any special work requirement, including electricity, water, and shop air connections.

How can we help you?

If you are responsible for rooftop fall protection in your facility, FlexDecks can help. Our comprehensive services are at your disposal, including hazard assessments, design and consultation, engineering, manufacturing, installation, and follow-up inspections and maintenance.  Contact us for an evaluation of your facility’s safety needs.

Doctors who smoke cigarettes. Barbers who don’t get haircuts. Auto mechanics who don’t change the oil in their cars. Landscapers who don’t mow their lawns. Dentists who chomp down on hard candy. Countless examples of professionals fall under the category of “Do what I say, not what I do.”

Do governments follow their own advice about fall protection work platforms? On the federal level, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has several regulations regarding fall protection standards for “Walking/Working Surfaces.” These are often echoed in state and local laws.

From servicing military aircraft to inspecting building services equipment on school roofs, government officials on all levels must ensure that their workers are appropriately protected with fall protection platforms. What standards must they follow? What goes into a compliant platform? Where should these platforms be installed?

Where does OSHA stand on platforms?

OSHA has specific regulations regarding scaffolding and ladders; however, the standards that apply to work platforms—elevated walking and working surfaces by OSHA’s definition—are derived from various regulations about stairs, gates, and guardrails that apply to work at height:

1. Standard Stairs – OSHA1910.25(c)
   Standard stairs are installed at angles from 30 to 50 degrees. The stair treads should be at least 22 inches wide, with uniform step intervals of no more than 9-1/2 inches. The tread depth should be at least 9-1/2 inches.
2. Safety Gates – OSHA 1910.29(b)(13)
   The regulation calls for a self-closing gate in a guardrail system that slides or swings away from a hole. A gate (with a top rail and mid-rail) can be installed at the top of stairs or other platform access points for added fall protection measures on an elevated work platform.
3. Guardrails – OSHA 1910.29(b)(1) & 1910.29(b)(3)
   A walking/working surface (platform) of at least four (4) feet high must have guardrails on all sides that are at least 42 inches tall (+3 inches). The guardrails must withstand a force of at least 200 pounds (890 N) applied downward or outward within two (2) inches of the top edge at any point along the top rail.

What goes into a compliant work platform?

A pipe-fitted modular work platform constructed of corrosion-resistant aluminum or galvanized steel offers several advantages in strength, durability, and regulatory compliance. Designed and engineered to meet or exceed load ratings, they install quickly and easily on-site with components that assemble without welding or drilling.

Steps and platform decks have anti-slip treads that are anti-bounce and self-draining to prevent slippery surfaces. Guardrail systems can be fitted with toe boards to keep tools and materials from falling from the platform. Modular systems offer unmatched versatility:

1. Fixed Access Work Platforms are ideal for frequent or hard-to-access work-at-height areas.
2. Mobile Work Platforms are equipped with heavy-duty locking casters for station-to-station portability and are considered safer and more efficient than ladders.
3. Adjustable-height Work Platforms – feature military-grade construction to provide access to different heights at the workstation.
4. Custom Work Platforms — can be designed and engineered to meet a facility’s unique needs and work requirements. They can include ramps, catwalks, shop services (e.g., air, water, electrical), or other special features.

Examples of where the government and military use work platforms.

1. Federal Government and the Military:

• The General Services Administration (GSA) manages federal buildings where work-at-height platforms are used for building maintenance.
• The Department of Defense (DoD) needs fall protection platforms at aircraft bases for maintenance and repair, as well as shipyards and other military bases.
• Laboratories in the Department of Energy (DOE) and NASA have many work-at-height needs.

2. State Governments:

• Departments of transportation facilities need work platforms for maintenance on vehicles and the buildings.
• Public colleges and universities use work platforms for rooftop maintenance on dormitories, classrooms, and other structures.
• Parks and recreation departments need work platforms to maintain historical structures and operating facilities.

3. Municipalities:

• Public works departments and utilities, including garages, sports and recreational facilities, and water and wastewater plants.
• Fire departments where platforms are to be used for training exercises and fire station maintenance.
• Public schools for maintenance of school buildings, especially work-at-height situations on the rooftop.

How can we help you?

If you are responsible for work-at-height fall protection in your facility, FlexDecks can help. As noted, our services include a hazard assessment, design and consultation, engineering, manufacturing, installation, and follow-up inspections and maintenance. Contact us for an evaluation of your facility’s safety needs.

A political platform means you stand for something to help your constituents.

A work-at-height platform means you stand on something to help you do your job.

The figurative-to-literal comparison does not end there. Constituents and companies care about safety, the economy, the environment in which they operate, and hometown sports.

companies, an elevated work platform on which they stand involves several steps: a hazard assessment; design and consultation; engineering, manufacturing, installation, and follow-up inspections and maintenance.

Politicians: you’re on your own.

Take measure with a hazard assessment.

Although modular work platforms can be purchased “off the shelf,” the first step should be a thorough hazard assessment to identify the tasks to perform and associated risks.

• Where will the platform be situated?
• What are the working heights?
• What are the load capacities needed?
• How large does the working surface need to be?
• Will the platform be outside on uneven terrain or in extreme weather conditions?
• Are there special needs or modifications, such as adjustable height or services (e.g., electricity, water, shop air)?

A hazard assessment also considers applicable safety regulations and industry standards to minimize liability. For example, OSHA Part 1910, Subpart D, Title 29—amended in April 2024—provides a comprehensive definition of terms for walking/working surfaces. Not all regulations will necessarily apply to your work platform, but you must know your compliance guidelines.

Talk it out with design and consultation.

After the hazards and the applicable regulations are identified, the design and consultation phase commences to develop a working concept that meets operational needs and prioritizes safety. This cooperative effort refines the hazard assessment concerning specific needs and challenges.

For example, what are the platform dimensions? Access points? Guardrail configurations? What are the best construction materials? To illustrate, both galvanized steel and aluminum are strong, durable, and corrosion-resistant; however, aluminum is better in corrosive working environments, such as petrochemical plants, wastewater treatment facilities, metal foundries, mining operations, and marine environments.

Figure it out with engineering.

Once the design is determined, engineering helps turn concepts into reality to ensure that work platforms meet safety standards and functional needs. “Off-the-shelf” work platform solutions are one thing. The more sophisticated the design, the more advanced the modeling and simulation techniques needed to gauge load distributions, stress concentrations, and dynamic responses under various scenarios.

OSHA’s key standards for manufacturing the work platform.

The manufacturing process ensures that the work platform is built to the standards brought through the hazard assessment, design and consultation, and engineering phases.

OSHA 1910.29(b)(1) & 1910.29(b)(3) – Guardrails

Platforms four (4) feet or higher must have guardrails on all sides at least 42 inches tall (plus or minus 3 inches) and withstand a force of at least 200 pounds (890 N) applied downward or outward within two (2) inches of the top edge at any point along the top rail.

OSHA 1910.23(e)(1) – Stairs and Ladder Stands

Stairs should have uniform step intervals of no more than 9-1/2 inches, a tread depth of at least 9-1/2 inches, and a width of at least 22 inches.

The design and engineering phases should specify an anti-slip tread for steps and platform floors.

OSHA 1910.29(b)(13) – Safety Gates

When guardrail systems are used at access points, the guardrail system should have a self-closing gate to prevent an employee from walking or falling from height.

Installation puts it all together.

Installing a work platform reaches back to the hazard assessment and other phases to understand the situation and any challenges of where the platform will be used. It may take full turnkey assembly by qualified technicians. However, a pipe-fitted modular work platform installs easily on-site without welding or drilling.

Follow-up with inspections and maintenance.

Regular inspections and maintenance will help ensure the work platform’s structural integrity, functionality, and continued worker safety after it is installed and presumably in heavy use. Are there signs of wear, corrosion, or other concerns that should be addressed?

A pipe-fitted modular work platform has another advantage. If the work requirements or conditions change, the platform can be reconfigured.

How can we help you?

If you are responsible for work-at-height fall protection in your facility, FlexDecks can help. As noted, our services include a hazard assessment, design and consultation, engineering, manufacturing, installation, and follow-up inspections and maintenance. Contact us for an evaluation of your facility’s safety needs.

Home maintenance and repairs. They get put on a list. Some of them even get done, though the job may be stretched out if friends, relatives, or neighbors help. If it’s serious, someone calls a professional.

Industrial maintenance and repairs. No such luxury. They are critical to operations, and efficiency is paramount. Professionals are already on the payroll.

A major chemical processing and fluid engineering company with 180 manufacturing plants worldwide provides pumping, agitation, mixing, separation, purification, crystallization, and polymerization technologies for a wide range of fluids. Rotors and turbines are regularly maintained and repaired at a service center in the U.S. This requires frequent work at height and concomitant fall protection for the workers.

The company articulated to FlexDecks what they needed and wanted, which put in motion a series of problem-solving steps that surprised the customer at how much could be accomplished at such a modest cost.

Step #1 – Hazard Assessment

In October 2022, FlexDecks visited the service center, which has 277,000 sq. ft. in the repair facility and 90,000 sq. ft. of office space. The hazard assessment included collaboration with personnel to identify and understand the requirements, challenges, and objectives. Considerations included the layout and dimensions of the work areas, types of equipment serviced, and safety regulations. Factors such as mobility requirements, weight capacity, and ergonomic design were also evaluated.

Step #2 – The Hierarchy of Fall Protection

Photos, measurements, and field notes were reviewed at FlexDecks. It was determined that the best option to protect the workers would be to follow the first rule of the Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s “Hierarchy of Controls” for fall protection and safety concerns: eliminate the hazard.

FlexDecks recommended that the center should remove the risk to workers by reorienting the repair process from the ground instead of performing it over the top. This approach proved to be a no-cost solution for all but one of the tasks.

Step #3 – Engineering the Solution

In February 2023, the service center reported that work at height access and fall protection would be needed for workers to attach shackles to heavy discs ranging in diameter from 70 to 120 inches. This would enable the discs to be lifted by crane and placed on lathes for the manufacturing process.

Based on the customer’s conceptual drawings and knowledge from the hazard assessment, FlexDecks submitted a proposal for an engineered work platform by the end of February and followed up with another site visit in early March to confirm measurements. The proposal was accepted later in March.

Step #4 – Putting it Together

The two-part solution first involved having the center reorganize the discs by size, from smallest to largest. The second part was to manufacture a customized mobile access platform to handle all but the three largest discs.

Supported by pipe-fitted tubular rails, an anti-slip platform features a 10-ft. long by a 3-ft. wide deck with guardrails, toe boards, a self-closing safety gate, toe boards, and a weighted base to provide stability at the required clearance height to straddle the small and medium-size discs. Heavy-duty locking casters provide a work platform with station-to-station mobility so workers can move the platform to conduct each part of their work at height quickly and safely.

The delivered cost of the custom mobile work platform came in under the company’s budget.

How can we help you?

The journey from inquiry and hazard assessment to both a no-cost solution and a custom mobile access work platform enabled a service center for a major chemical processor to enhance productivity and worker safety.

If you are responsible for work-at-height fall protection in your facility, FlexDecks can help. Our services include consultation, design, engineering, installation, and more. Contact us for an evaluation of your facility’s safety needs.

Education and healthcare were once joined at the federal cabinet level as the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. In 1979, education graduated to become the Department of Education, and the other siblings became the Department of Health and Human Services.

However, for institutional classification, education and healthcare remain united. They have unprecedented responsibilities for the safety and well-being of the students and patients they serve. Due to this public trust, they are scrutinized on all levels for regulatory compliance.

Rooftop fall protection is a significant aspect of such regulation and scrutiny. Educational and healthcare buildings often have large roof footprints with a considerable amount of heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), and other equipment that need regular inspection and maintenance. Unless effective fall protection measures are in place, they face a significant risk of falls that can lead to injuries or fatalities.

Unfortunately, rooftops can be tempting targets for college students to gather. Since this has resulted in many tragedies, college officials have been examining their policies and security measures to eliminate unauthorized access to roofs.

Whether the people on the roof are legitimate workers or adventurous trespassers, OSHA-compliant fall protection will help reduce the risk of injuries and save lives.

These roofs are made for walkways.

Rooftop surfaces can be unsafe from rain or snow or have slopes and odd shapes that make it challenging to traverse. A roof walkway system with sturdy steel frames and anti-slip treads helps provide safe passage for workers to reach designated areas. Walkways can be fitted with guardrails for added fall protection.

Roof walkways also protect roof surfaces from repeated foot traffic and integrate easily with work and crossover platforms. They can also be fitted with OSHA-compliant guardrails for added fall protection at roof edges and other hazards. Constructed of aluminum or galvanized steel, the guardrails are strong, durable, and corrosion-resistant.

Cross over to the safe side.

Maintenance workers also confront many obstacles on a rooftop, such as ductwork, cables, conduits, piping, and chemical lines. Instead of trying to walk, climb, or hop over obstructions, rooftop crossover platforms should be used. Crossovers can also be designed for workers to navigate a change in roof levels.

Crossovers have a modular design that makes them easy to customize and overcome virtually any obstruction on the roof. They are composed of solid and stable bases and frames, the same anti-slip steps and platforms used for roof walkways, and OSHA-compliant guardrails. Crossovers are installed quickly on-site without welding or drilling.

Take a stance for your platforms.

Rooftop inspections, maintenance, and repairs are, by definition, working at height. Yet, the equipment that needs attention may require workers to be elevated to reach ducts, controls, filters, and the like. Work platforms are versatile structures with safety features such as sturdy frames, guardrails, and anti-slip steps and surfaces. In this respect, they are all similar; however, there are distinct types of work platforms.

• Fixed Access Platforms – for regular access to a specific work area or equipment.
• Mobile Work Platforms – equipped with heavy-duty locking casters to move from station to station and provide greater safety and productivity than ladders.
• Adjustable Work Platforms – to meet more complex maintenance needs, access and workstation requirements.

How can we help you?

Educational and healthcare facilities take pride in being on the edge of learning and technology. When they also prioritize the safety of their workers, they show a deeper commitment to advancement.

If you are responsible for rooftop fall protection, FlexDecks can help. Our services include consultation, design, engineering, installation, and more. Contact us for an evaluation of your rooftop safety needs.

In pharmaceutical production facilities, accessing elevated or confined areas such as storage rooms, tanks, and large pressure vessels can create hazardous conditions. If the risk of falling cannot be eliminated, OSHA recommends installing platforms and guardrails as the most effective solution to protect workers who are working at heights.

Depending on the size of the operation, some types of processing and packing equipment will require work at height or for tasks to be conducted within confined spaces. For example, it is common to find safe access platforms, work stands, and railing systems providing fall protection and safety barriers to workers loading, unloading, cleaning, repairing, and maintaining large agitators, boilers, chillers, ovens, heat exchanges, and cooling towers.

This article examines how elevated work platforms and safe access enables safe and productive work in these specialized facilities where a heightened sense of caution and strict control measures are commonplace.

Stand Up for Safety

Pharmaceutical manufacturers often deal with delicate equipment, intricate machinery, and sensitive substances that require meticulous handling. Any compromise in safety at work at height can lead to severe consequences, including contamination, compromised product quality, and potential harm to workers. Prioritizing work at height safety is a proactive measure to safeguard the integrity of pharmaceutical processes and the workforce’s well-being.

Be Aware…Take Care

Working at height is defined as work in any place where, if no precautions were taken, a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury. The safe ceiling set for general industry is four feet, and in construction, any work over six feet requires personal fall protection systems. The performance of work at an elevated height is one of the biggest causes of preventable work injuries and fatalities.

If it’s Predictable it’s Preventable

Employers must set up the workplace to prevent employees from falling off overhead platforms, elevated workstations, or into holes in the floor and walls. OSHA requires that fall protection be provided at elevations of four feet in general industry workplaces. In addition, OSHA requires that fall protection be provided when working over dangerous equipment and machinery, regardless of the fall distance.

Measures should be taken to avoid exposure to the risk of a fall hazard, such as eliminating the work task, substituting a safer alternative to performing the task or using safe access/fall protection systems to minimize or eliminate the risk of falling.

Types of Elevated Platforms

Maintenance platforms increase productivity and safety at every stage of work within a pharmaceutical operation, from production to distribution. Whether crossover platforms are required inside the plant or access at height is needed for bulk loading on the dock, stable, purpose-built elevated platforms are desired over ladders and scaffolding. There are generally two main types of platforms engineered fixed and modular mobile platforms.

1.   Engineered Fixed Work Platforms

Fixed Work Platforms are more stable than traditional or portable access platforms when regular acces to elevated tasks is required. Plus, they are designed with guardrails, toe-boards, and other safety features that reduce the risk of accidents and injuries for workers at elevated heights. These engineered platforms are meticulously crafted to fit the unique requirements of manufacturing equipment.

2.   Modular Mobile Platforms

Modular Mobile Platforms offer a flexible and scalable approach to work-at-height safety. When manufacturing environments undergo changes and adaptations in response to evolving industry demands, modular platforms adapt seamlessly to these changes, providing a versatile solution that can be easily reconfigured or expanded.

Take Safety to New Heights

Ensuring work at height safety in any industry, including pharmaceutical manufacturing, yields a spectrum of invaluable benefits that extend beyond mere compliance. Here are key advantages that underscore the critical importance of prioritizing safety at elevated workspaces:

• Protecting Workforce Integrity: By implementing robust safety measures, businesses safeguard their workforce’s physical well-being and health, fostering a positive and resilient work environment.
• Minimizing Operational Disruptions: Work at height safety measures, such as Engineered Platforms and Modular Platforms, significantly reduce the risk of accidents, ensuring uninterrupted operations and minimizing downtime.
• Enhancing Product Quality: A safe working environment promotes meticulous attention to detail, reduces the likelihood of errors and contamination, and ultimately preserves the integrity and quality of pharmaceutical products.
• Compliance Assurance: Adhering to safety standards protects workers and ensures compliance with industry regulations, preventing legal repercussions and maintaining a positive reputation.
• Boosting Efficiency: Work-at-height safety solutions are designed for precision and efficiency, allowing workers to focus on tasks without concerns about personal safety, thereby enhancing overall operational efficiency.

Safety Begins with Teamwork

FlexDecks is a trusted partner for those in need of advanced solutions for work-at-height safety. Since its establishment in 1989, FlexDecks has been guided by the philosophy that “Know Safety No Pain.” The company has built a strong reputation for safety, quality, and cost-effective approaches, ensuring that the job is done right the first time, regardless of complexity. FlexDecks specialists, engineers, and assemblers have the professional experience, tools, and equipment to guarantee that maintenance stands are assembled efficiently and on time with minimal disruption to your operations. With an elevated work platform from FlexDecks, you can maintain the highest levels of precision, quality, and safety standards. Contact a platform engineer today.