Access training - Sky High Access Ltd

Access platforms are aerial work platform (AWP) or mobile elevated work platforms (MEWP). They come in various types like cherry pickers and scissor lifts and are used to work at heights.  They can lift a certain amount of weight and carry a certain number of people depending on their type and weight bearing capacities.

The training which is provided for using and handling these access platforms is known as access training. Sky High Access Limited conducts various types of training courses covering wide range of platforms. In these courses, they train according to the guidelines provided by International Powered Access Federation (IPAF). In Sky High Access Limited, they are carried on by qualified professionals. The training here is usually a day long which covers theory, practical and test sessions. The practical sessions are taught and are supposed to be practised on the access machines provided by the association which is offering the training. Generally, the trainees who pass through the test successfully, are provided with a certificate and an IPAF licence which is known as a Powered Access License (PAL) card, valid for some defined number of years, normally five years.

Sky High Access Limited provides access training for various platforms like:

• GENIE GS 19/30 and GENIE GS 26/32, both of which are electric scissor lifts with narrow internal use and non-marking tyres.

• GENIE GS 26/46 and GENIE GS 32/46, both of which are electric scissor lifts with internal use and non-marking tyres.

• SKYJACK 6826RT, SKYJACK 6832RT, SKYJACK 9250 and SKYJACK 8841, which are all 4WD scissor lifts with jacks and are powered with diesel. Also, the last one holds a large platform too.

• NIFTYLIFT 170 which is a trailer mount boom using bi-energy.

• GENIE 30/10N which is an electric narrow self-propelled.

• HEIGHTRIDER 12N and HEIGHTRIDER 15N, both of which are bi-energy narrow self-propelled booms.

• GENIE BOOM Z45/25 which is a self-propelled boom powered with diesel or bi-energy.

• GENIE BOOM Z60/34 and GENIE BOOM Z80/60, both of which are self-propelled booms and are powered with diesel.

• HINOWA GOLD LIFT 14.70 and HINOWA LIGHT LIFT 23.12, both of which are bi-energy narrow tracked boom.

Along with all these access trainings, Sky High Access Limited also provides training courses like harness course and harness train the trainer course. Harness course aims at training people at correct and safe use of harness, while harness train the trainer course aims at training people at inspection and maintenance of harness.

Ladder hoist - Sky High Access Ltd

Hoist is a devise that is used for vertically moving, i.e. lifting up or lowering down, the heavy loads. They are either manually or electrically operated. Generally, chain, wire, fibre or rope is used as lifting mediums, while the load is connected to the hook. These hoists come in various different categories and ladder hoists are one of them. In Sky High Access Limited, they are available in two types, namely inclined and vertical.

These hoists are often used where heavy load is needed to be carried to heights. They are simple and efficient in their operation and building. Generally, the things to be lifted are connected to or put on the hoist which is in fact attached to a ladder.

Inclined ladder hoists are installed as vertical hoists in inclined ladder mode and can be used in low level areas or areas above or in the slope of a roof. They are good for areas with restricted access. These hoists can carry a wheelbarrow with its cage and can use a universal bed, which is good for bulky materials, or a sheet carrier, which is good for boards or panels, as lifting attachments. Devices like general purpose platform, tile holder, tipping skip and sheet carrier are available for carrying load. In the hoist that Sky High Access Limited provides for hire, a wheel barrow in its 1.15 x 0.73 can be lifted. Sky High Access Limited provides GEDA hoists that can lift load up to 200kg at speed of around 25m per minute. Also, generally they are operated using one landing gate and can attain maximum height of 18m vertically and 13m horizontally. They operate under 110v power supply. Sky High Access Limited delivers this hoist to the site in the form of components which can be carried easily and then easily assembled together to build the hoist.

Vertical ladder hoists are vertical hoists with wire rope. Sky High Access Limited provides GEDA hoists that can lift load up to 200kg. They operate under 110v power supply. They can be used on a platform of wheel barrow. This structure usually comes under one of those methods of hoisting which is economical.

Powered Access and the need for training

Cherry pickers, MEWPs, elevated access platforms, basket cranes—these are all terms you come across quite commonly in the construction and maintenance fields. Powered access is crucial in enabling workers reach hard-to-reach spots like high windows and points on structural glass facades.

MEWPs, or Mobile Elevated Work Platforms, include devices like Cherry Pickers, Scissor Lifts, Access Platforms or Aerial Platforms.

The one thing all these have in common, apart from their being incredible aids in the construction industry, is the risk of injury associated with them.

The Risks Involved

Operators working in a high basket run the risk of entrapment, which is the danger of getting stuck between the elevated platform and the fixed structure. When a worker gets pinned against his controls, steering the boom to safety may be out of the question.

Some heavy booms, especially the tall ones carrying heavy loads, run the risk of simply toppling over, or teetering on the verge of toppling. In both these cases, the operator is prone to getting thrown right out of his platform.

Other risks associated with powered devices include collision with bystanders (danger to the bystander) or with nearby buildings (danger to the MEWP).

The only way such risks can be eliminated, or at least reduced to a tolerable level, is by offering training to operators. This is done in an efficient manner by an organisation called the Internal Powered Access Federation, or IPAF.

An Organisation for training

The IPAF is a non-profit establishment that exists for the purpose of providing access training for operators, and for imparting crucial knowledge that can help reduce operational risks. This organisation, run by manufacturers, contractors, rental companies, and users, offers a training programme called the ‘IPAF Operation Course for Scissor Lift and Cherry Picker.’

By making use of this convenient 2-day program, operators can be informed about the various hazards involved with powered access devices and trained on ways to avoid them.

The IPAF licenses are available for the following categories:

Static Vertical - Not many devices in use today, replaced as they are by the PAV (Push Around Vertical Category)

Static Boom - Covers van-, truck-, and trailer-mounted devices which are indeed stationary when the boom is operational.

Mobile Vertical - Machines that can be driven around, and move straight up or down. Includes scissor and telescopic lifts.

Mobile Boom - Covers ‘cherry pickers’ that can be driven around, and can rotate all around when stationary (by means of boom).

This organisation has gone a long way in ensuring safety standards in powered access devices around the world, and it’s great for construction managers to ensure that operators are suitably licensed.

Overhead Hoist configuration explained

As their name suggests, overhead hoists are the machines used to lift/lower loads. These devices are powered by electricity, manual power, or air pressure, and primarily consist of a rope or chain arrangement wound around a lift wheel that acts as the fulcrum.

If you’re planning on using one of these at your construction site or for renovation/remodelling purposes, it is extremely helpful to understand how these popular machines work.

When classifying overhead hoists, the primary factors include the lifting medium, the source of lifting power, and the means of suspension of the load.

Lifting Mediums

This refers to the material that is used to lift/lower loads. Depending on the application, the common lifting mediums include welded link chains, roller chains, and wire ropes.

Welded Link Chains

These are made of a series of interwoven links that are formed and welded. Chains of this type are made according to product-specific dimensions and material strength. This means that they are not interchangeable between hoists made by various manufacturers.

Rolled Chains

Rolled chains are a series of alternating-arranged roller links and pin links, where the pins articulate within the bushings while rollers are free to turn on the bushings. Roller chains made for hoists cannot be exchanged with those made for power transmissions. Also, only those roller chains whose specifications match the manufacturer’s recommendations can be used on a particular hoist.

Wire Ropes

These are made using wire strands wrapped around a suitable core. The wire rope fits into grooves on the hoist drum, and the latter transmits the lifting/lowering motion.

Lifting Power Sources

Manual Power

This consists of manually grasping and pulling a continuous hand chain suspended from the hoist. The hand chain is usually a welded link chain or a roller chain. For higher loads, multiple personnel pull on multiple chains.

Electric Power

Hoists powered this way are the easiest to operate; the operator simply raises or lowers the load by pressing the respective button on an electric switch. Radio controls are used sometimes.

Pneumatic Power

Air power devices are operated using switches that control, through a series of valves and other air devices, an air motor. The motor transmits power through hoist gearing.

Suspension Types

Hook mounted hoists have a hook at the top of the hoist frame or body; this hook suspends the load from the suspension pin of the trolley, or a suspension device fixed onto the main structure.

Lug mounted devices have a lug mounting attached to the top of the hoist frame.

Trolleys enable horizontal motion of the hoist unit as well as the load being handled.

The Basics Of Material Hoisting Solutions

In today’s fast-paced construction industry, speed is vital to any company that aspires to succeed. This is where innovation comes in and takes over, giving rise to a number of engineered solutions that can help speed up the construction process.

What Is Material Hoisting?

“Material hoisting” simply means lifting up of various construction materials like sand, cement, and tiles to a certain height. There are many devices that perform this function; these differ according to the height they need to lift the material.

Certain manufacturers tailor their hoists according to requirements at the site. For instance, there are solar hoists that are solely used to move and place solar panels in their correct position. They come in handy more often than not, as the installation can be a cumbersome task without these devices.

Types Of Material Hoists

Broadly speaking, there are two kinds of material hoists based on their makeup— integral package units and built-up custom units.

The package units are relatively cheaper, and generally one dimensional in usage, serving only a single purpose. They come as completely built integral units and cannot be customised.

The custom hoists are rather expensive, especially when compared to their integral counterparts. However, they can be taken apart and put together in different configurations, each serving a different purpose. While they are the more expensive option, repairing them is a relatively simpler task.

Package options used to be the go-to choice in the past, but due to modern custom units being sturdier and more reliable, they are the commonly preferred type now.

Areas Where Material Hoists Find Their Use

The “platform lift” type of hoist serves a number of purposes, such as in scaffolding, in emergency situations, and as their name suggests, to transport various materials across vertical distances. However, the range of services that a hoist provides depends on its type.

Consider one of the popular types of hoists, the ladder hoist. This device, which is easy to install at any type of construction site, is generally used to transport roofing materials like tiles, panels, and cement. Coupled with suitable accessories, it can be customised to easily assist in the lifting process, which is otherwise a tedious and strenuous one.

The Advantages Of Using Material Hoists

As you’ve probably read already, time is of the essence in construction. These devices help save time, and subsequently also save manual labour and money. Using a suitable material hoist can make all the difference to your company’s project completion time.