Facelift's dangerous dozen

Facelift have produced an interesting slide show called 'facelift's dirty dozen'. The 12 photographs depict people who've invented amazingly dangerous ideas on how to work at height. They put themselves and others at maximum risk of injury. A real eye opener, it's an instant reminder of how not do it and a valuable training tool for people working in this area.

To watch the slide show click here

Wolverhampton Wanderers gets a "boom"

Wolverhampton Wanderers recently hired Facelifts Haulotte H25TPX for 2 days to help them carry out routine maintenance on their sound system at their 28k seater Molineux Stadium.The machine was used to allow sound engineers from T G Baker Sound to gain access to the speakers many located some 80 feet up in the four surrounding stands. Steve Sutton Groundsman for Wolves said, ‘We used this machine to help us gain the height and outreach required to access the system. It wasn’t just a matter of going up vertically, it was the additional horizontal access we required. We also needed to ensure the machine was easy to manoeuvre, because the stadium’s a busy place and we have to be able to move around the pitch quickly without causing any obstructions. This machine has ticked all of those boxes’.David Jones Hire Controller at Facelifts Birmingham Depot said ‘This is one of our most popular machines, and as you can see from the pictures there’s a good colour match too!’

For further information relating to this machine click here

Up and Under!

Facelift recently hired out there 46m Bronto to Edmund Nuttalls allowing them to undertake concrete finishing works to the soffit of a new bridge being built over an old viaduct on the Old River Soar in Upperton Road Leicester.The five day hire was part of a 1.91 million pound scheme by Leicester City Council to replace the 100 year old Upperton Road Viaduct with a new low-level road, a bridge over the Old River Soar and new pedestrian cycle way acting as a catalyst for regeneration. The viaduct was on a major arterial route which carried some 20,000 vehicles per day, a busy and vital part of the city’s main transport network and previously had a 7.5 GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) restriction applied due to its condition. Jim O’Grady Manager at Facelift commented ‘The 46 metre platform is normally used for working at height, however, it does have the added advantage of being able to work with excellent manoeuvrability below ground level.’ Jim went on to say that “Using this type of machine ensures that there’s a minimal disturbance to city centre life not least its ability to set up and deploy without fuss’.

For further information on the 46m Bronto please click here

Sky high emergency roof repairs

Facelift were recently called upon to assist with emergency repair work to the roof of Shrewsbury’s famous landmark St Chad’s Church. Their brand new 61m Bronto was seen in action after they joined forces with Mark Bywater Leadwork Specialists and Conservation Architect Tim Ratcliffe to help with a major structural survey and repairs to the lead roof of the 200 year old church after fears were raised about its condition. Adrian Richards, Chairman of the Fabric Committee at St Chad’s said ‘On the tower of the church there are some large lead panels which weigh around 200 kilos each, it appears that these are partly torn away. It’s either because the copper nails that secure it or the timber underneath has rotted away and we have to make some emergency repairs because it’s dangerous. While we’re doing it we’re going to assess how much other work needs to be carried out as the church is due for its Quinquennial inspection which is carried out every five years. Mr Richards said ‘The committee have chosen to use a cherrypicker because it’s a third of the price of scaffolding’. David Bowman Manager from Facelift commented‘ The 61m was the most efficient way to carry out repairs to stabilise the roofs panels. Its generous 600kg working  load and its ability to manoeuvre safely around the building made it a clear cut choice, it didn’t disrupt from the churches day to day activities’.

Click here to view the video

New signs for the Echo Arena

Facelift recently hired a 46 metre Bronto to Sign Engineering Technology to assist with the installation of Liverpool’s Echo Arena signs. The installation, which included all the signs electronics on both sides of the building, took a total of two weeks to finish with the biggest letter measuring 4 metres in height. The venue, which hosted this years Capital of Culture opening ceremony is now a well known British landmark and houses a massive 10,000 plus seater arena. Liverpool Depot Manager Ian Galvin commented ‘This type of machine has wide ranging capabilities which allows this type of project to run with a minimum of disruption’.

Managing mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPS)

Keeping in line with their current ‘Shattered Lives Campaign’, campaign the Health and Safety Executive have released further information related to working at height . This is specifically designed for those people managing MEWPs.

Their latest guidelines  ‘The selection and management of mobile elevating work platforms’ is aimed at those responsible for selecting, specifying and managing mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs)’ and should be read alongside ‘Preventing falls from boom- type mobile elevating work platforms’. All types of MEWPs are covered by this guidance. 

To view these documents and further related articles click on the links below. 

The selection and management of mobile elevating work platforms. 

Preventing falls from boom-type mobile elevating work platforms. 

MEWPs for Managers training course.

Toppling tree

The past week has seen high winds sweep across the UK with Sussex holiday venue Littlehampton battling particularly strong gales. Various incidents were reported with one huge tree toppling over and narrowly missing a number of nearby homes. Thankfully no one was injured and it eventually came to rest in gardens.

Local tree surgeons used Facelift to help survey what remained of the unstable tree. The company used a British made Ascendant 17m to help make the remaining part completely safe.

Facelift commented ‘It’s very common for us to be called in to assist tree surgeons to make situations like this free from further risk. This type of machinery allows you easy access to all areas without having to put anyone in harms way’.

Ladder training - can you tick the box?

Anthony Gower Smith a 73 year old school caretaker has successfully claimed damages against his local authority employer by demonstrating their failure to train him to correctly use a stepladder. He claimed that this failure was a major contributory factor in the injuries he sustained in a fall from a 1.8m stepladder. Mr Gower-Smith is claiming £50,000 in damages after spending time in an intensive care unit with a fractured skull, fractured cheek bone and kidney damage.Following this incident Mr Don Aers, Chairman of the Ladder Association has issued a statement highlighting the link between training and safety. He is reiterating his previous call to employers to address the training requirements when using ladders and stepladders.

“Training is the most important tool to reduce falls from height. Users expect to receive formal training on other types of access equipment such as access towers and work platforms, so why not on ladders?"

“Although it seems straightforward, it’s essential to decide if a ladder is the right piece of equipment through risk assessment. Then to choose the right type of ladder and to know how to use it safely. It’s about taking an informed, common sense approach to working at height.”

“The Ladder Association has long advocated the need for formal training to combat the potentially dangerous mentality practiced and entertained by those who rely solely on learning on the job. There is no room for this sort of complacency.”

“For uncomplicated, short duration work, ladders and stepladders remain a good option, particularly when you consider the global risk of using other types of access equipment that take much longer to erect and dismantle.”

“With an estimated two million ladders in daily use, the need for professional training has never been more pressing, which is why the association actively supports the Health & Safety Executive’s ‘Shattered Lives’ campaign.”

Can you tick the box?

For more information on ladder training please click here.

Prototype hydro access platform

We recently received these pictures of what is believed to be a prototype hydro access platform under development in Spain with the assistance of the local fire brigade!!

To view this amazing industry advancement just click here    

If you’ve found anything interesting be it fact or fun and you’d like to share it with us please send it to marketing@facelift.co.uk

Facelift expands scissor fleet

Facelift has recently taken delivery of its first 10 Compact 12DX machines, bringing its scissor fleet to just over 300 units. Manufactured by French supplier Haulotte, the Compact 12DX is a brilliant piece of machinery and has few equals when it comes to rough terrain work. The Compact 12's most valuable asset is its extremely tight turning circle, having an outside turning radius of 3.73m, this, coupled with being a half metre smaller in width than many of its competitors makes it a strong proposition for the most difficult of site conditions. The machine can cope with gradients of up to 40%, provide a working height of 12.2 metres, with the differential controls allowing much simpler and safer operator handling. The big deck, 2.50m x 1.50m platform, with roll out 1.2m deck extension, provides a large and safe working area, and has a generous carrying capacity of 450kg.

Frank Page Operations Director commented "The Compact 12 is a great piece of kit and extremely popular with customers, so much so, we're looking forward to ordering further machines in near the future"