Delivering Safer, Faster and More Efficient Access Solutions on One of the UK’s Largest Infrastructure Projects.
Project Overview:
Old Oak Common Station is one of the most significant and technically demanding infrastructure projects currently under construction in the UK. As a key part of the HS2 network, the underground station box measures approximately 850 metres long, 70 metres wide and 20 metres deep, involving extensive reinforced concrete works throughout the excavation and structural phases.
Operating within a live and continuously evolving construction environment, the project required safe and reliable access solutions that would not only protect operatives working across reinforcement and shuttering systems, but also help maintain site productivity and programme efficiency across multiple active work zones.
SafeSmart was selected to supply modular access systems capable of improving site safety while enabling faster movement, rapid deployment and greater operational flexibility throughout the build.
The Challenge:
The scale and complexity of the Old Oak Common station build created major access challenges during the reinforced concrete works packages.
Large areas of exposed reinforcement steel and shuttering systems required operatives to move safely between work areas while multiple trades operated simultaneously within the excavation. Traditional access methods often created inefficiencies around movement onsite, restricted safe crossing points and slowed productivity as work fronts changed throughout construction.
The contractor required an access solution that could:
- Improve safe movement across reinforcement and formwork
- Reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls
- Eliminate improvised access methods
- Increase efficiency when moving between work zones
- Adapt quickly to changing site conditions
- Be lightweight and rapidly deployable without heavy lifting equipment
- Support continuous operations within a busy live construction environment
With ongoing structural works progressing, maintaining both safety and operational efficiency was critical to keeping works moving on schedule.
The Solution:
SafeSmart supplied its modular 45-degree and 70-degree StepOvers to provide safe, adaptable crossing points throughout the reinforced concrete works programme.
The modular systems created secure pedestrian access routes over reinforcement steel and shuttering systems, helping operatives move safely and efficiently throughout the station box while reducing disruption to ongoing works below.
Designed specifically for dynamic construction environments, the StepOvers could be rapidly repositioned as site layouts evolved, allowing contractors to maintain safe access exactly where it was needed without delaying operations.
Key Features of the Solution:
Improved Site Safety
Anti-slip surfaces, integrated handrails and stable working platforms provided operatives with safe and secure crossing points throughout the excavation and structural build phases, helping reduce the risk of slips, trips, falls and unsafe improvised access methods.
Faster Deployment and Repositioning
The lightweight aluminium construction allowed units to be quickly moved and reconfigured without cranes or heavy lifting equipment, helping teams respond rapidly to changing work fronts and maintain momentum onsite.
Increased Workforce Efficiency
By improving movement between work zones and creating dedicated pedestrian access routes, the Stepovers helped operatives navigate the site more efficiently while reducing delays and congestion within active work areas.
SafeSmart Modular StepOvers helped deliver safer and more efficient site access across one of the UK’s largest infrastructure projects.
The modular systems improved workforce mobility throughout the station box, allowing operatives to move quickly and safely across reinforcement and formwork while maintaining productivity within a demanding live construction environment.
By replacing temporary and improvised crossing methods with purpose-built modular access systems, the project team improved overall site safety standards while also supporting programme efficiency across multiple active work fronts.
The ability to rapidly deploy and reposition access routes as construction progressed helped minimise downtime, reduce disruption and support continuous concrete operations throughout the build.
At SafeSmart, we believe safer access solutions should also improve how construction sites operate.
The Old Oak Common project demonstrates how modular access systems can provide A Better Way for major infrastructure projects to improve workforce safety while simultaneously increasing efficiency, flexibility and productivity onsite.
In today’s construction environment, where deadlines continuously stretch and project costs continue to grow, smarter access solutions play a critical role in helping contractors deliver with safer, faster and more efficient access.
Explore all our Height Access Solutions:
www.safesmartaccess.co.uk
See real-world applications:
www.safesmartaccess.co.uk/resources
Speak to our team:
https://www.safesmartaccess.co.uk/contact/
Safer sites aren’t built by reacting to risk.
They’re built by choosing A Better Way from the start.
