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Market Report: Health & Safety pt1: Work at height & Manual handling Highly innovative The Youngman Group has just launched a significant number of new access products targeted at the hire industry. The Work at Height Regulations (WAHR) came into effect two years ago next month. Since then, many products have been introduced to enhance workplace safety, and manufacturers continue to look at new and better ways of providing appropriate solutions that are efficient and rugged enough for hire industry use. Typifying this is the Youngman Group, which chose the Executive Hire Show as the launching pad for its latest equipment and initiatives. The new P1000 podium unit folds in an upright, stable position and can be wheeled through standard doorways. It offers 710mm and 940mm platform heights and is made of rectangular box section for strength. The integral splayed base maximises stability and a self-latching gate provides added security. Also unveiled was Blox, designed as a safer alternative to ad hoc combinations of scaffold planks, milk crates or bricks to create a low-level platform. The basic set comprises four polyethylene components: a step unit, two hop-ups and an interlocking bridge section. Working height is 2.5m and handrails can be fitted. Components feature a honeycombed moulding that allows paint drips to fall through, and more units can be added to create larger platform areas. The Odd Job 600 is a larger 600mm by 600mm version of the company’s existing Odd Job low-level platform. Designed for frequent professional use, the aluminium platform is 510mm high and ribbed surfaces provide slip resistance. Maximum static load is 175kg. A version with glassfibre legs is available for use at locations near electrical supplies. The versatile new Work Platform System can be configured as a double height aluminium work platform, two single height platforms, a pair of extension ladders and two step ladders. Sections are connected by integral latches made of tough plastic, so there are no small components to misplace. Diagonals are integral with the horizontal sections, and the platform offers various heights up to 3.15m. Integral trapdoors provide easy entry. The entire system can be placed inside a typical van. In another development, Youngman’s Boards and Superboard frame stagings, designed respectively to provide lightweight uninterrupted work platforms and a wider heavier-duty option, now feature stiles in their sections for greater sturdiness and longer life. Youngman has also introduced a repair service for its market leading Boss aluminium tower range, to guarantee that hirers’ fleets remain compliant with BS EN 1004. The service features delivery and collection, menu pricing, estimates before repair and a maximum turnaround of ten working days. The company has also enhanced its Combi 100 three-section combination ladder that can now be used as a stairway ladder in addition to its step ladder, extension ladder and extending step ladder modes. At the Executive Hire Show, Youngman demonstrated its ability to provide customised solutions by displaying the Railmaster, originally developed for London Underground maintenance and available with a 1370mm platform height for work on the sides of tunnels or in 1770mm for ceiling tasks. It folds into two main sections, each weighing less than 20kg, for portability. The product can be locked on to a railway line and moved when required on integral plastic rollers. Youngman is making it available for hirers targeting railway contractors. “This shows our ability to detect market needs and fulfil specific requirements,” contends Business Development Director John Bungay. “All our new launches have been developed in response to demand from hirers and their customers, and are designed to enable work to be undertaken safely and efficiently.” Given the on-going impact of the WAHR, interest in them is likely to be strong. • T
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130360 Executive Hire News › Archives › March 2007 › Market Report › Highly innovative
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