3 minute read
Innovating is essential
Technology and Innovation — sponsored by Point of Rental
The Global Access Meeting kicked off HIRE21 week with a view to the future, focussing on emerging technology and innovation. The meeting provided participants with insight to what the future holds with an in depth look at technology’s projected impact on safety and regulations.
A key theme was the innovative nature of the industry; specifically, the use of technology to control risk and raise efficiency on worksites. As we know, nothing remains in place for too long, well-illustrated through the significant advances on crawler booms, novel applications for a straight stick boom, and pedestrian identification systems for use on MEWPs.
Andrew Delahunt, Director of Resources at the EWPA, said the day was a terrific opportunity to showcase the advances in safety using technology. “As MEWPs and Telehandlers become increasingly sophisticated and dynamic, their utility and versatility take them into ever new applications. “ Speaking to how a major construction company will plan for and utilise telehandlers on site, Nathan Kiepe, Group Manager of Safety and Health at CPB Contractors; a major user of telehandlers, said the efficiency of telehandlers on construction sites is well known. “However, many sites have variable and sloping terrain which can lead to unstable machines. Managing the use and operation in these environments has been the responsibility of the operator, and now with advances in LMS technology, it paves the way for control systems that adapt to load and the worksite.”
For example, the Italian designed Alma Crawler Billenium spider boom featuring safety devices which enable an adaptive working system, which contributes to the versatility and safety of the MEWP. Josh Coulson of Alma Pacific said the boom possesses an incredible ability to travel and lift over steep terrain using an extending crawler system and multiple stabilizer configurations. Central to the meeting was how MEWPs and telehandlers are used in high-risk environments and the potential for incidents. Worksafe regulator, Stuart Davis from the engineering services unit from
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ), detailed what employers need to do to demonstrate EWP safety on work sites. He shared the example of a serious incident, where a work platform on a telescopic boom lift became caught on a rail beam. The opposing wheels lifted from the ground, then when the boom released the resulting movement catapulted the work platform into the overhead roof frame. This vividly described how the work environment can contribute to incidents and the need to identify obstructions and other hazards.
Safety Focussed
Frequently innovation is driven by customer need to improve the safety of their workers. Stuart Walker, MD at Manitou Australia and TSHA President, introduced a new device on boom lifts which can identify if bystanders are below the boom lift basket, and if they are, respond by limiting movement. Existing technology such as reverse cameras and position sensors are prevalent in some applications such as aircraft maintenance, however monitoring people moving under a raised platform present a technical challenge. Using a local Australian supplier, a system has been developed and is in field trials with the end-user.
The safety of operators is always the highest priority for the EWPA. Delahunt again provided some caution: “Not all these systems will become widespread and use, as some are targeted for specific work environments and risks. There is now a focus on ground conditions and slopes, with the EWPA supporting the discussions and research.
“We can’t forget that there is also new technology to reduce falls and electrocutions. It is exciting to see the progress and work together as an industry to shape the next steps.” Other speakers on the day included Brett Jones, an auditor for the Office of Federal Safety Commissioner, James Nightingale from Skyreach, and Mark Whitbourn of Boom Logistics. Those in attendance were very appreciative of everyone who spoke and shared their knowledge for the benefit of the industry. There was great value at this year’s Global Access Meeting, where the EWPA brings together industry specialists and experts to address high risk concerns, and the technology driving safety improvements.
