Latest news

Facelift provides Rail Access Solutions

Facelift Access Platforms are looking to work closer with Network Rail, London Underground and their main contractors and subcontractors. 

To this end we are joining the Rail Link-up scheme and getting fully audited for our core certification.

Facelift Access Hire has the skills and equipment to provide access for all types of rail environment. We can work within a station environment and also have the capability of solving more complex situations, where our clients need to access a structure or bridge that is more difficult to reach.

Our Bronto 34m machine (as shown in the picture) can be setup in a station car park and is able to reach over for full access to the structure. This does not physically come into the rail infrastructure and can then be carried out in a T2 possession. Which can work out more cost effective than getting a road railer or having to take a full T3 possession.

Facelift Access, with its experience and expertise is helping clients all over the country and is now looking to expand this division of its business to help more rail clients solve their access needs.

For further information please do not hesitate to contact your local Facelift depot or call Bruce Lever our Business Development Manager (who has 20 years experience with LUL and Mainline rail) on 07515 051 012.

‘DON’T BE A LADDER LIGHTWEIGHT’

 ‘DON’T BE A LADDER LIGHTWEIGHT’ is a new campaign from the Ladder Association, complete with its own logo, which sets out to combat the over-confident and often dangerous mentality of ladder users who rely solely on learning on the job. According to the association, which launches its new Code of Practice today, ladder safety training is the key to improving safety and best practice in the workplace.

It is also a significant factor in helping to ensure that ladder users and their managers and supervisors are competent as required by the Work at Height Regulations.

Despite the many myths surrounding ladders, and the stories regularly appearing in the popular press, the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has not banned ladders says the association, and they remain - with some two million estimated to be in daily use - an invaluable and flexible piece of workplace equipment.

The campaign is aimed particularly at those in the manual trades who take ladders, and the risks associated with them, for granted. “Sadly, familiarity breeds contempt,” says Ladder Association chairman, Chris Ball.

 “Our aim is simply to promote an informed and professional approach to ladder use, just like any other piece of access equipment. Falls can be avoided by sensible and proportionate management of the risks - knowledge and skills best acquired through training. We’ve actively supported HSE’s Ladder Exchange initiative for the last three years to help highlight the importance of safe ladder use.” 

An integral part of the campaign, the association’s new Code of Practice can be used as a stand alone reference, but is also intended to complement the association’s one-day standard training course available from its approved training centres. With a foreword from HSE, the code covers employers’ and users’ responsibilities, the Work at Height Regulations (WAHR), risk avoidance, best practice and the importance of planning, inspection and maintenance.”

 “Everyone thinks they can use a ladder”, says Chris Ball, “But it’s surprising the number of people who go on our courses, including the hardened 20-year user, who come away having admitted to learning something new. We firmly believe you can teach an old dog new tricks.”

HSE supports the launch of the Code of Practice. “It’s essential that people use ladders safely and make sure they are right for the planned work. The Code of Practice contains useful guidance for ladder users which will help them to avoid falls from height,” says Peter Brown, Head of HSE’s Work, Environment, Radiation and Gas Division.

Best Practice Guidance for MEWPs Avoiding Trapping / Crushing Injuries to People in the Platform

Every year, the construction industry is responsible for causing deaths and serious injury. The industry has done much to improve its performance which I welcome, but there is still room for improvement. Our  industry is innovative and equipment is constantly evolving and developing so that construction  processes can become increasingly efficient. This has consequences for site management who must  ensure that operators are competent, capable of operating equipment safely and are following safe  working procedures.    

A mobile elevating work platform (often referred to as a MEWP) saves time and makes work at height  efficient, effective and safer than using traditional methods of access. When used safely, MEWPs  significantly reduce the risk of injuries through falling from height.    

Unfortunately over the past few years a significant number of accidents involving the use of MEWPs  have occurred, including tragically fatalities.  Some of these incidents have involved the operator or other  person being crushed against fixtures or other obstacles while accessing their work area, or while  working at height. The incidents could have been prevented by correct planning and preparation,  selection of appropriate machinery and proper use.

In addition to the terrible cost in human suffering, accidents have a financial cost. There is a very strong  business case for improving safety performance. This guidance has been prepared by the industry to  provide clarity about the safe use of MEWPs including planning, equipment selection, and training,  provision of information, familiarization, safe use, supervision and rehearsal of rescue procedures,  together with monitoring of the whole process.

The guidance is straightforward, comprehensive and easy to adopt. It represents best practice. I would  particularly like to thank those involved in its preparation and commend the guidance to anyone who  owns, supplies or controls the operation of MEWPs. Please read the publication and turn the advice into  action.    

Please go to our Health and Safety page to download the guide

25 Year Open Day Celebration - Great success

Facelift Access Hire's celebration open day on Saturday was a great success. The open day was held to mark 25 years in the access hire industry. Gordon Leicester, the owner, began the business back in 1985 with the purchase of a Simon truck mounted platform.

In the 25 years that followed, the business has grown steadily and is now the largest privately owned powered access supplier in the UK. Facelift has six depots around the UK with over 60 different types of cherry picker and scissor lift platforms available for hire. Facelift offers a full powered access service providing; platform hire, platform sales and IPAF operator training.

The Open Day was held at the Hickstead Show ground in West Sussex, the huge site was able to host hundreds of visitors, and offered a range of attractions and events through out the day. The main attraction was the It's a Knock Out Competition - this had 18 teams - that were split into a morning and afternoon sessions, there was also a fleet of Facelift's newest equipment on show, the Bronto truck mounted platforms being the star of the show. Vehicle demonstrations were available on the truck mounts, scissor lifts and boom lifts. See more pictures here.

Other attractions of the day included an exhibition polo match, children's bouncy castles and playground, merry go rounds and train rides. There were hot dog and burger stands, free ice creams and candy floss, for the children there was also face painting and a supervised cherry picker obstacle course.

The fun began early with an It's a Knock Out competition hosted by Graham Fisher, this started at 10:00 am and proved immenesley popular, and highly competitive. The teams, made up of customers and suppliers battled for two hours over a bouncy, foam filled course. Friends and family watched on as the competitors fought it out on the wacky set of games.

In all this was an extremely successful event, enjoyed by employees, customers, suppliers and their families.  See more pictures here.

Celebration Invitation - Open Day 17th July Hickstead Showground

FACELIFT, the UK’s leading independent supplier of powered access equipment, would like to invite you to celebrate their 25th year of being in the access hire industry this July.

The celebrations will consist of an open day which will provide the opportunity to take a closer look at extensive range of powered access platforms that Facelift have available. On show will be the latest equipment from some of the leading manufactures including the Bronto and Ascendant Truck Mounted Platforms, Skyjack Scissor Lifts and Niftylift’s all wheel drive HR21, fitted with SIOPS, an advanced safety system to protect the platform operator.

Managing Director, Gordon Leicester says: “We are holding a free day of entertainment for all our customers, suppliers and staff, including their immediate families. Throughout the day there will be free burgers and soft drinks but please feel free to bring a picnic.

“There will also be entertainment including a Polo Match and the Graham Fisher’s International ‘It’s a Knock-Out Competition’ which will take place in special arenas. In addition to this there will be a cherry picker obstacle course, face painting and much more for the kids.”

Facelift are expecting a great turnout for this event, exceeding 1,500 people including some of their most prestigious clients at one of Britains premier show jumping ground -  Hickstead Showground in Sussex.

“It would be great for you to be part of our celebrations, so if you wish to attend this event, please confirm as soon as possible on out website at www.facelift.co.uk/knockout 

F22 Winner passes IPAF Training for truck mounted platforms

 The winner of our F22 photography competition, James Whitaker, has successfully completed his IPAF Training in the 1b (static boom) category for truck mounted platforms. The training was held at our Hickstead Depot in Sussex with perfect weather. IPAF course began at 8 in the morning with a theory test followed by practical course in the afternoon. James passed easily and now holds an IPAF PAL card, so he is now qualified to operate truck mounted platforms to 27 metres.

For the practical training, an Ascendant 17 - 12 was used, this is an excellent truck mounted platform to begin training on. The simple, reliable design and sturdy build make this a great cherry picker for the self drive market, at only 3.5 ton this can be driven on a standard driving license, training can be completed in a day so you are fully qualified and confident to operate.

Facelift Access Hire to adopt the new ZT Safety Harness

Last weeks Vertikal Days at Haydock Park, saw the official launch of the new ZT safety harness. The ZT harness is marketed as a fall arrest and fall restraint harness, and employs a unique design that eliminates the use of groin straps and importantly the damage they cause.

The fall arrest harness was met with a great deal of interest as users of existing fall harnesses saw the excellent benefits that this new type of harness would bring. Taking away the use of groin straps would make the harness more comfortable to wear in every day use, and as the harness is already 'built into' a durable pair of work wear trousers it can be worn effortlessly throughout a working day.

As well as being more comfortable to wear for workers at height, if the user were to experience a fall, the harness reduces the fall arrest forces by up to 40%, and once the user comes to a resting position they are held in a 'close to' horizontal seating position. Once in this position there is no restriction to major arteries and to blood flow, thereby reducing the risk of suspension trauma and the critical consequences.

Different 'work at height' users of fall safety harnesses saw the variety of benefits the harness would bring to their profession. For example; street lighting engineers, who are continually getting in and out of vehicles, found the short adjustable lanyard and front point attachment, (that can be velcro'd and stored in a side pocket), would prevent them from getting caught up with obstacles whilst carrying out their work, a problem they face with existing harnesses. The ZT harness can be worn all day, even whilst driving, which would mean that time and effort would be saved in not having to constantly 'put on and take off' a harness.

It looks as if this simple and elegant solution to fall safety harnesses will make a great difference to workers at height, and as the inertia seat belt was a great safety evolution for vehicle drivers, so this will be an evolution in safety for workers at height.

www.ztsafetysystems.com

F22 Photography Competition Winner Announced

The winner of the f22 photography competition is James Whitaker of South London for his entry which will explore the idea of workers.

We will be working with James during the coming months to undertake IPAF Operator training for the Truck Mounted Ascendant, and planning for the different shots that he proposed.

We had an excellent response to the brief, with many great ideas submitted, selecting the final winner was a challenge. We'd like to thank all those that took the time and energy to submit their ideas, with an extra special mention to the following: Thomas Butler, Ed Thompson, Gareth Smy, Clive Leach, Hayley Kay Hosell, Kurt Skeels, Paul Cook, Guy Standen, Tim Riches, Richard Bence, Sarah Wilkinson, Stewart Smith, Graham Parry, Rosie Barnett, Simon Walsh, Darren Lehane, Andy Talbot and last but not least Paul Silver.

For those that entered the competition, as well as those that didn't, and would still like the opportunity to experience and take some pictures from an Ascendant 22, you are welcome to join us at our Open Day this year on the 17th July, more details here:  http://www.facelift.co.uk/knockout/

Scissor lift at Brighton Festival

Facelift Access Hire are a proud supporter of the Brighton Festival, this year we supplied a Skyjack Scissor Lift for use by Wet Paint Productions. Wet Paint Productions had organised a street art festival, with Graffiti artists from all over the UK to paint 9 locations in central Brighton. 

The Scissor was used on one of the main locations in Regent Street, where access was needed to paint an entire wall 11 metres in height. The Skyjack scissor lift provided easy access to the space with four artists on board, and with the lifts extended platforms the artists were able to work on the entire width of the wall at one time.

Two of the artists had undergone an IPAF Training course at Facelift's Hickstead training centre to ensure they were competent in the use of the lift. The Scissor lift was used over a two day period and enabled the artists to work safely and efficiently on the project, completing the work in good time.

New MEWPs Operators Safety Guide

Facelift Access Hire has published a new pocket sized safety guide to Mobile Elevating Work Platforms. 

Facelift have been a long time champion of safety while working at height and this project was spurred on by the need for a high quality guide that was easily accessible and more attractive to users. The guides will be given away to all trainees on IPAF training courses and to all Self Drive Cherry Picker hire users.

The 48 page guide has plenty of high quality photographs and illustrations combined with well written copy, using plain english the guide has a friendly appeal making it more attractive to the majority of us who are not so fond of manuals.

The MEWPs Operators Safety guide is available to download, whilst hard copies can be purchased at a price of £1 per copy with a minimum order of 10 copies, www.facelift.co.uk/mewpsguide