Published on: July 9, 2024
Top 5 (not so obvious) ways to take a stand for safety.
Maintaining equipment at height or accessing difficult-to-reach industrial areas poses a unique set of challenges for any maintenance team. Our work platforms provide optimal conditions for performing maintenance or production tasks safely and efficiently. Whether you require a permanent installation or a mobile solution: our engineering team at Flexible Lifeline Systems solves these access challenges on a daily basis. By adhering to OSHA 1910 Subpart D for walking-working surfaces and ANSI A14.7 for mobile ladder stands: these platforms provide a secure: level surface that often eliminates the need for restrictive personal fall arrest gear. Incorporating Work Access Platforms (WAP) into your facility ensures that technicians can work unencumbered: utilizing self-draining treads and integrated guardrails to maximize productivity while maintaining a 100% compliant safety perimeter.
Modular design and construction.
Modular work access platforms are built from pipe-fitted bases and frames that provide secure, stable support for the anti-slip treads used to assemble the steps and platform decks. The treads are also self-draining for outdoor use. The work access area from the deck is open; however, fall protection guardrails surround the other sides of the deck.
Heightened advantages.
With features like customization, durability, regulatory compliance, and mobility, work access platforms are a critical investment for any business focused on safety and productivity.
- Strong and Durable—Platforms are constructed of corrosion-resistant galvanized steel or anodized aluminum to provide a stable working base, withstand harsh conditions, and be reliable for the long term.
- Safety Compliance—Platforms are designed to comply with OSHA regulations and ANSI standards for walking/working surface and guardrails to ensure workers have effective fall protection.
- Easy to Assemble—Platforms are built from modular components, making design and installation easy. They can be assembled with minimal disruption and reconfigured if the tasks and locations change.
- Customization—Platforms are built to the size needed and space available. They can be engineered for adjustable height, fitted with shelves for tools, and include shop services (e.g., electrical, air, water). They can also have casters for station-to-station mobility or self-closing safety gates to provide added fall protection.
Five-by-Five.
The call to get compliant and productive is heard Loud & Clear (5X5). Although work access platforms can be used across many industries and applications, here are five that can be considered essential for the gains to worker safety and productivity:
#1 HVAC and Generator Platforms – Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment and generators are often in hard-to-reach areas, including the rooftop, where fall protection is critical. These large systems require regular inspections, maintenance, and occasional repairs at elevated heights to keep building services operating smoothly. Since the equipment typically lacks integrated walkways, built-to-purpose work platforms are safer than ladders and more cost-effective than scaffolding.
#2 Hopper and Dump Trailer Stands – Hopper and dump trailer platforms provide stable access for operators who load, unload, or inspect trailers. They are particularly useful in agriculture, construction, and waste management. Platform stands can be built to the length of trailers and fitted with braking casters for stability, easy movement, and storage of stands when not in use.
#3 Flatbed Trailer Stands – Flatbed trailer stands help make loading and unloading goods safer and more efficient. They provide a stable platform for workers to stand on while securing cargo, reducing the risk of falls. Models are designed to be 5 feet tall and 53 feet long to match the height and length of a standard flatbed deck. They are also routinely fitted with braking casters and can be adjusted in height to accommodate non-standard flatbed heights.
#4 Permanent Access Platforms – Permanent (or fixed) access platforms are often custom-designed to meet a facility’s needs or worker tasks. These platforms provide consistent and safe access to elevated work areas, including machinery, equipment, and storage racks. They can be used for manufacturing and production, warehousing and distribution, and maintenance operations in virtually any commercial, institutional, or industrial facility.
#5 Portable and Mobile Work Platforms – Portable work platforms are equipped with heavy-duty braking casters, providing unparalleled flexibility for various applications. They can be easily moved and deployed where needed, making them ideal for temporary or changing work environments.
Which solution is best for you?
Work access platforms enhance safety and efficiency across various industries. Whether for HVAC and generator platforms, hopper and dump trailer stands, flatbed trailer stands, or other applications, these platforms provide the necessary support for safe and efficient work at heights.
If worker safety is your responsibility, contact Flexible Lifeline Systems. We will discuss your needs and concerns about regulatory compliance, visit your site to conduct a safety audit, and map out a plan. Our services can include as little or as much as you need, from design, engineering, and fabrication to installation, training, and other support.
Compliance
- OSHA 1910.23 and 1910.25: All stairs: ramps: and platforms are engineered to meet strict riser: tread: and width requirements for industrial walking-working surfaces.
- ANSI A14.7 and ASC A14.11: Mobile and stationary platforms are designed to withstand a minimum 4:1 safety factor: ensuring structural integrity under maximum intended loads.
- Fall Protection Guarding (OSHA 1910.29): Integrated guardrail systems stand 42 inches high with mid-rails and toeboards to prevent both personnel falls and falling object hazards.
- Material Science and Durability: Fabricated from high-strength 6061-T6 aluminum or hot-dipped galvanized steel to prevent corrosive failure in harsh chemical or outdoor environments.
- Qualified Person Load Rating: Every custom access solution is validated by a Qualified Person to ensure the supporting structure can handle the specific dynamic and static loads.
Work Access Platforms FAQs
- Who is qualified to determine the load rating for a custom work platform? A Qualified Person: usually a professional engineer: must approve the structural design and load rating. Overloading a platform beyond its engineered capacity can lead to catastrophic structural failure and injury.
- What happens if a mobile platform is used without locking the casters? Using an unsecured mobile platform creates a “drift” hazard: which can cause the worker to lose balance. Our safety protocols require all leveling jacks and locking casters to be engaged before anyone ascends the platform.
- How do environmental factors like salt air impact aluminum platform safety? While aluminum is corrosion-resistant: salt air can lead to surface pitting. We recommend semi-annual inspections to ensure that weld joints and fasteners remain structurally sound in coastal or offshore environments.
- What are the hazards of using platforms without toeboards? Toeboards are mandatory under OSHA 1910.29 whenever tools or parts could fall onto workers below. Our platforms include integrated 3.5-inch toeboards to mitigate the risk of falling object injuries.
- Can these platforms be used near energized electrical equipment? Aluminum is highly conductive. If work is being performed near live electrical lines: specialized non-conductive fiberglass or grounded systems may be required. A hazard assessment should always be performed prior to placement.
- Why is a self-closing gate preferred at the platform entrance? An open entry point is a fall hazard. OSHA requires that the passage through a railing be protected. Our self-closing gates ensure the safety perimeter is automatically restored once a worker enters the platform.