Handling at height
With the growing popularity of insulated panels in modern construction, UK specialist ISD Solutions, which recently completed a high bay energy-efficient cold storage warehouse extension for Turners (Soham), warns that poor awareness of product and installation standards, combined with stringent health & safety requirements, risk the safety of site personnel and projects.
Composite panel construction, fast replacing traditional masonry and concrete, means panels extending to over 15 metres in length, making handling at height challenging even in light winds. With structural properties that are quite different from traditional materials, especially with roofing and ceiling, fully qualified installation staff plus H&S guidelines to follow for trades are crucial.
“Panel installation invariably involves working at height, a high-risk activity in itself,” Steve Baker, health and safety manager at ISD Solutions, said. “With the use of mobile work platforms, cranes, other contractors working in close proximity and changing weather, you have a complex situation to plan for and manage."
“H&S training for all is a priority, especially when you have ISO 18001 accreditation. Pre-start meetings, site visits to identify hazards and regular monitoring are essential. Situations can change within minutes and we have to be ready to recognise these and respond appropriately so that those involved remain safe.”
