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The Unique Complexity of Cofferdam Construction Projects Cofferdam construction is among the most demanding civil engineering tasks, requiring temporary watertight enclosures to allow construction work in dry conditions below the water line. Access solutions for these projects are critically complex due to several factors: Dynamic Environments: The internal environment of a cofferdam construction is often subject to changing water levels, muddy conditions, and limited space, demanding robust, non-slip, and quick-to-install equipment. Significant Height Differences: Access often requires spanning large, steep vertical drops or rises, necessitating stair systems that are compliant, stable, and capable of handling substantial load and traffic. Logistical Constraints: Equipment must be easily manoeuvrable within a constrained space, and any solution must allow for quick adaptation or relocation as the project progresses. When BAM Nuttall Ltd approached SafeSmart Access with a requirement for secure access into a newly installed cofferdam, they presented a diagram detailing a critical and complex height requirement. The Challenge : Secure Multi-Level Access The specific challenge involved establishing compliant access from the full ground level down into the cofferdam construction. The required access path had two distinct phases: Phase 1: A significant height drop from the main ground level to an intermediate working platform inside the cofferdam. (Implied height range of 1.4m to 2.0m) Phase 2: A further, steeper descent from this intermediate level down to the lowest accessible working area within the cofferdam base. (Implied height range of 2.7m to 4.1m) Directional Change: Crucially, the access path needed to change direction at the intermediate level, running down perpendicularly to the first flight. The Better Way : Double Width AdjustaStairs and Modular Landings AdjustaStairs Aluminium 1200mm wide (available from 3 – 21 steps)* The proposed system components were: Component Specification Function in Project Mid Landing AdjustaStairs 4mH Mid Landing Placed securely inside the cofferdam

The Benson Weir footway closure on the River Thames is more than just an inconvenience for Thames Path walkers; it signals a major, necessary infrastructure renovation by the Environment Agency. When a critical structure like this needs serious repair—driven by corrosion and impact damage—the priority shifts entirely to safety, efficiency, and project continuity. At SafeSmart Access, we’re proud to have supported this vital UK project by providing the high-level, adaptable access equipment required to get the job done safely. The Access Challenge Repairing a weir is a complex operation. It involves working over water, on uneven banks, with constantly changing water levels, and around heavy construction plant. This environment demands access solutions that are quick to deploy, highly stable, and versatile enough to handle every stage of the renovation. To meet the site’s needs, SafeSmart delivered a suite of robust, UK-compliant systems: AdjustaStairs:  The riverbanks and excavations created constantly changing vertical access needs. Our self-levelling, AdjustaStairs provided instant, safe, 45-degree stairway access to and from different levels on the site. This eliminated the use of less-safe ladders, ensuring workers could carry tools and equipment with both hands securely. Safeloaders:  Heavy vehicles are essential for delivering materials and removing debris. Our SafeLoaders were deployed to provide secure, mobile access to the flatbeds of trucks. This eliminated the dangerous practice of climbing onto vehicles, protecting workers from falls during loading, unloading and inspection processes. Podium Platforms:  For lower-level, stationary work—from detailed inspections to light maintenance tasks—our Super Maintenance Podium Platforms provided a fully guarded. This collective protection ensures workers are safe, stable, and productive without needing to rely on time-consuming personal fall arrest systems for simple tasks. Pedestrian Bridges:  Crossing small excavations or gaps in temporary works can pose a major trip and fall hazard. Our Pedestrian Bridge solutions ensured a clearly