Page 25 - Occupational Health & Safety, April 2017

FALL PROTECTION
Safe Access to Any Space
A variety of low-level access machines and aeri- al work platforms safely put jobs within reach. BY PAUL KREUTZWISER
familiar with the trips, slips, and falls associated with ladders. That’s why he was immediately attracted to a picture and accompanying description of a personal portable lift as he reviewed the fall protection pages of his safety vendor’s website.
Hudson is like many in his position who are taking a closer look at low-level access lifts and other aerial work platforms as a safer alternative to ladders, scaf- folding, and other forms of access. After talking to his rep about the product, he purchased two. Happy at the time, Hudson is even more pleased with his purchases almost five years later.
He said it “addresses many of the issues associated with ladder safety, and that’s huge,” he said. “And it’s so much more convenient than a traditional ladder.” Workers who are using ladders must tie off when they do any work above 4 feet and must work one-handed, but with the portable lift they are tied to the machine and have a platform to work from with both hands free, he explained. Hudson said the personal lift de- vice is used throughout the St. Gabriel facility with the exception of manufacturing areas, where the compa- ny produces chlorine, caustic soda, and hydrogen, the ingredients for a wide array of products—from life- saving pharmaceuticals to water purification, plastics, household cleaning products, and clothing, to name a few. The company’s instrument and electrical techni- cians use the personal lift devices more than anyone else, changing fluorescent lightbulbs and lamps, run- ning electric cable, installing and maintaining speak- ers for the public-address system, stocking shelving, conducting inventory, and cleaning, working with a 360-degree range of motion thanks to an enclosed work platform. In addition to its versatility, the lift is easy to move from one location to another. It assem- bles in seconds, allowing operators to enjoy increased productivity and versatility.
Eco-Friendly Access
Other non-powered low-level access lifts feature a patented stored power lift system that requires no bat- teries, hydraulics, oil, or controls. Because there are no hydraulics or motors involved, these eco-friendly lifts operate quietly, making them a preferred piece of equipment for finish work in schools, hospitals, of- fices, and other institutions. In the interest of reduced environmental influence, these units also include non-marking wheels that minimize their impact on sensitive flooring.
Hudson appreciates the fact that using a personal portable lift does not require two operators. Instead, one worker can climb in the platform and get straight to work. “When you have large projects that may re- quire a 40-hour week to complete, the savings associ-
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APRIL 2017 | Occupational Health & Safety 19
As the environmental health and safety tech- nician at the St. Gabriel, La., plant of Olin Chlor Alkali Products, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of chlorine, caustic soda, and related chemicals, Mark Hudson is all too
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