FEATURE HEALTH & SAFETY INCREASING THE FOCUS ON
rcelorMittal is a steel and mining company with an annual production capacity of 119 million tonnes. It employs 232,000 people across 60 countries and has steelmaking operations in more than 20 countries on four continents. One of its corporate aims is to be seen as the world’s safest steel company. ArcelorMittal Distribution Solutions UK offers all steels at all grades for all applications. The company’s depots in Manchester, Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Scunthorpe and Birkenhead are responsible for the final processing of steel before it is distributed to end users. Customers include car manufacturers such as Land Rover and boiler manufacturers such as Worcester Bosch. ArcelorMittal also supplied the Orbit for the 2012 Olympic Park - at 114.5 metres tall it is the UK’s tallest sculpture.
THE REQUIREMENT Given the weight and size of the steel being processed by ArcelorMittal it has to be moved around with overhead gantry cranes. These need to be in operation continuously so that the company can meet its strict delivery schedules. Regular maintenance and daily inspections are needed to check the limit switches, hydraulics and structural condition of the cranes. This requires ArcelorMittal’s mechanical and electrical engineers, as well as specialist third party crane service agents, to work at height. In the event of a breakdown, the crane could be stranded down a bay with steel stock and processing
machinery obstructing access for a Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP). This situation means that work at height from the crane girder is necessary to get the crane up and running again. Working at height is also necessary for the checks and repairs on building utilities that are vital for the day-to-day running of the UK sites. Inspections are carried out in many ways, including the use of cherry pickers. If the machinery was to go over uneven ground or the hydraulics were to fail in the cherry picker’s arm, workers could be thrown out of the basket. Previously, ArcelorMittal had relied on rope rescue kits in the event of a fall from height. These were
not ideal for a number of reasons: • They required two days of annual training, along with a refresher course once every six months; • They needed a second person on continuous standby whenever work was carried out at height. The standby team member could be put in danger when helping a stranded worker; • Workers could be left suspended in their harness, which could lead to suspension intolerance; • Servicing of the rescue kits is expensive as it has to be sent away. This also leads to downtime
whilst waiting for the kit to be returned. As one of the key players in the steel industry, ArcelorMittal wanted to lead by example and ensure that the most advanced safety technology was in place for their workers. The company approached MSA to gain a further understanding of the Latchways Personal Rescue
Device (PRD) and its compatibility to its operations. MSA followed this with a trial at its own premises and at several ArcelorMittal centres internationally where the solution was filmed in action.
working safely at height A
THE MSA SOLUTION ArcelorMittal identified the Latchways PRD as a suitable solution to enhance its rescue plans because of the simple but intelligent design of the equipment. MSA’s Latchways PRD is a comfortable harness that contains a personal descent device. If there is a fall, the worker can activate the descent with a parachute style release cord. They are then lowered gently down to the ground from a distance of up to 20 metres. Even if the worker has fallen unconscious and is suspended, another worker can use a pole to activate the release mechanism remotely, without the need for additional equipment. This brings the endangered worker to the ground in less than 30 seconds. Aside from the benefit of increased safety at height, the Latchways PRD offers other advantages; it takes away the complications, administration and expense of difficult training courses; it reduces the need for constant supervision of the worker at height; and it reduces risk by not endangering a second person to carry out a rescue in the event of a fall. ArcelorMittal has now recommended
MSA’s Latchways PRD for all of its workers engaged in working at height around the world. The PRD has also been mandated for use at its five UK depots. Carl Becket, head of health and safety at ArcelorMittal, comments: “MSA’s Latchways PRD system adds value to our business and gives enormous peace of mind through knowing colleagues are safe. I can’t fault the quality and workmanship of the Latchways PRD, nor the service that the MSA Latchways team provides. They have always gone the extra mile, for instance delivering training and even taking part in our health and safety day.”
MSA Safety 24 JULY/AUGUST 2017 | FACTORY EQUIPMENT
www.msasafety.com / FACTORYEQUIPMENT
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