Safety securing is a vital aspect of dropped object prevention programmes on industrial facilities. At these sites, fixtures such as lights and cameras may loosen due to corrosion or impacts, then fall and strike personnel or equipment.
In an incident highlighted by IMCA earlier this year, a 6kg floodlight dropped 4.5 metres due to corrosion. The deterioration had been hidden by paintwork, and there was no secondary retention solution.
Drops prevention nets enclose and tether objects at height to a secure attachment point, mitigating these risks and the threats they pose to personnel, equipment, finances, and reputation.
Leading Drops Prevention innovator Dropsafe has unveiled an enhanced version of its steel wire mesh net, adding an enhanced layer of security and traceability to this invaluable piece of safety equipment.
The new range of Nets is a game-changer for operators, especially those in the oil and gas, power generation and mining industries, enabling them to minimise the risk of human error.
Dropsafe Nets have been supplied to more than 300 businesses globally and have become the accepted best practice method for secondary securing in diverse industrial sectors.
Feedback from these users directly informed the new design. This retains all the core features – including high-quality, stainless steel construction, a wide range of sizes, and tool-free installation – while adding an extra level of security.
Triple action, auto locking carabiner
A particular focus of the R&D programme was the carabiner. While carabiners are standard components in many industries, Dropsafe found room for improvement, particularly as standard carabiners may not be designed for the unique requirements of Drops prevention or use in harsh operational environments such as offshore energy facilities.
The result was the Trisafe™ Carabiner – a reimagined carabiner that provides extra security with its innovative ‘triple action’ mechanism to prevent accidental opening.
Restricted dexterity is another challenge faced by personnel in offshore environments, due to cold weather and bulky protective gloves. To support personnel in the installation of secondary securing solutions, the Trisafe™ Carabiner incorporates an auto locking spring to enable easy, one-handed use and significantly reduce human error, even in cold, wet and windy conditions.
Embedded RFID chip
Best practice Drops prevention increasingly makes extensive use of data-based safety management systems to track and authenticate solutions. To future proof operators’ investments, the new Dropsafe Net includes an updated Choke Plate with an embedded RFID chip. This digital integration provides safety teams with increased visibility of their Nets, enabling installations and inspections to be logged and verified digitally.
Dropsafe continues to innovate and improve its products technically while improving Drops program management with better inspection / monitoring tools (RFID).
Joe Hischar, managing director, Teksal Safety (Australian distributor for Dropsafe) said, “Dropsafe’s product quality – including its testing and documentation – is second to none. It is a market leader, yet continues to innovate. As a partner, we’ve found its professionalism to be exceptional, and its drive and determination to spread the Drops message to the market clearly communicated.”
Mike Rice, commercial director, Dropsafe, concluded: “At Dropsafe, we look critically at accepted best practice, as this can lead to game-changing innovations with wide-ranging applications. At the same time, we recognise the need to retain quality and long-term cost-effectiveness, which made the Dropsafe Net an industry-leading solution.
“By reimagining the carabiner for harsh industrial environments, we could build in extra safety and useability at no additional cost to the customer. With the RFID tag, we are enabling users to make significant efficiency gains in the deployment and maintenance of their essential safety assets.”
The new and improved nets are part of Dropsafe’s suite of dropped object prevention products.
Teksal Safety sources and supplies Dropsafe’s complete dropped object prevention solutions, including:
- Dropsafe Barrier – Barrier system for guardrailing and stairways for permanent and temporary installations
- Dropsafe Nets – Safety nets that enclose and tether overhead fixtures
- Dropsafe Pouches – Safety nets attached to the user, which securely enclose and tether handheld items used at height
- Dropsafe Barricades – An access prevention system allowing good signage display and housekeeping measures
For more information about any of these dropped objects solutions, email sales@teksal.com.au.
