The Challenge
Zero Waste is a major joint project between the City of Edinburgh Council and Midlothian Council in Scotland that aims to reduce, well, a waste of waste. Through private sector partners, the initiative aims to put food and residual waste to its most economical and optimal use and reduce the amount that is sent to landfill.
To further this project, a Zero Waste Parc has been created in Millerhill—officially opened in March 2017—which will serve to enable several initiatives and research for improvements in waste management across the board, from better recycling practices to electricity generated by anaerobic digestion of organic materials.
Stopford Energy and Environment, based in Ellesmere Port near Liverpool, were commissioned in a consultative sense by the Millerhill facility, with the implementation of waste hoppers and other infrastructure.
The hoppers require frequent maintenance and cleaning for optimum efficiency—something that is critical to the amount of waste that the Millerhill facility needs to process every day—and Stopford were encountering some challenges with access to them that was safe and efficient. And the current methods of worker access did not comply with safety regulations, and risked serious injury or death should a fall occur.
The Solution
SafeSmart offer a range of high grade aluminium products off the shelf, and also specialise in creating customised products for access around and over obstacles in the workplace. With previous experience in solving similar issues at concrete suppliers and transport companies, SafeSmart already understood the challenges faced by Stopford. And it turns out that the solution was already developed as an off the shelf option – the Cantilever Platform, albeit with some modifications added especially for Stopford.
The cantilevered platform area sits over the hopper without the worker having to scale the hopper at all, and features 225kg SWL, and 200mm locking castors for easy manoeuvrability and stability whilst in use. Stopford chose the 8-step option with the addition of a locking gate to prevent unauthorised access. SafeSmart provided a Castell Locking System—fitted upon delivery—and side panels to prevent anyone clambering onto the stairs by bypassing the gate.
SafeSmart also added aftermarket anti-surf jacks to compensate for uneven ground and to provide added stability.
The Result
The result has been great for both Stopford’s and Millerhill’s worker safety and productivity.
Stefan Gould from SafeSmart Access has seen the benefits first-hand.
“The workers are happy,” says Stefan, “and now both parties in the joint venture can tick the HSE compliance boxes, too. For this type of thing, Stopford are now interested in working with us again, so we can again help them to help their clients. Everybody wins.”
