Brum project gets a lift

Hefferman, senior site manager for Scaffold Erection Services (SES), is a stickler for safety, sitting as he does on the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation’s (NASC) health and safety committee. He’s a fan of the Lock’n Load system because it prevents manual handling injuries and reduces the risk of falling scaffold tubes.

On this project, there were further benefits to be gained from using Lock’n Load. The 14-month build requires high productivity levels. ‘Using a Lock’n Load system attached to a 300kg capacity hoist, on this job we were able to complete the scaffolding in just four months, that’s 20-25% faster than manual handling, mainly due to the height of the structure,’ says Hefferman. And he used fewer men than he would have done using conventional means of lifting the scaffolding equipment.

SES is working for John Sisk & Sons, which has the contract to build 123 canal-side apartments for client Crosby Lend Lease on a 0.5-acre parcel of land formerly known as Honduras Wharf. Designed by Birmingham-based Glenn Howells Architects, the structure’s facade will feature punched aluminium, intersected by balconies overlooking the canal.

It’s the first new open market residential scheme in the area for almost a decade and signals the next phase in the regeneration of the city’s historic Gun Quarter. Work began on site in November 2006 and should be completed in early 2008.

The Lock’n Load system, which is attached to a Geda hoist, enables the safe transportation of scaffolding equipment – and workers in a larger hoist configuration – during erection and dismantling. The hoist’s modular sections are built progressively from the bottom of the building up, in line with the completion of each level of the concrete superstructure, so that the next level of scaffolding can then go in.

What makes Lock’n Load unique are its locking mechanisms (see photo, above), and pipe holders on the base of the platform, which ensure that scaffolding materials are securely held in place during transport to each level. When it reaches the required level, the cage pivots from the hoist so that workers can move materials safely onto the scaffolding deck.

Hefferman says that Lock’n Load allows SES to conform with the NASC’s guidance on scaffolding and hoists (SG26:05). ‘With scaffolding boards and pipes securely locked into the hoist for transport up and down the building, operatives don’t have to lug around the heavy scaffolding gear themselves, leaving their time free to get on with what they’re good at – erecting it,’ he says.

Apart from reducing manual handling injuries associated with lifting pipes and boards, Haki says Lock’n Load offers a safer alternative to the traditional gin wheel and rope set up, or its electric alternative. Secure inside the protective cage, pipes and boards are unlikely to come loose and fall on workers below.

SES has now bought four Lock n’ Load systems. ‘You can’t put a price on safety,’ says Hefferman. ‘My men love it for the improvements to productivity and reduced materials handling and John Sisk has asked to keep the hoist on site for use as a back-up should their larger materials handling hoist fail.

‘Ultimately I’d like to see systems like this used more widely as manual handling issues and safety compliance become more high profile among major contractor groups,’ he concludes.