Dropsafe says it is expanding its Barrier modular system range to meet industry demand for robust dropped object incident prevention solutions across all environments.
As the company says, industries in all regions share similar dropped object risk factors, such as dynamic environments, moving equipment, vibration, corrosion and volatile materials and many personnel working across multiple levels. However, operating environments can vary considerably, placing differing demands on the safety and dropped object prevention systems deployed.
“Dropsafe has responded to industry needs by broadening its Barrier range to provide the most robust and cost-effective solutions for any operating environment,” it said.
The Dropsafe Barrier XE (Extreme Environment) is rated for harsh offshore conditions, very high levels of UV radiation exposure and extreme cold weather, according to the company. The Barrier XE is already used extensively on North Sea oil rigs and other facilities where temperatures reach far below freezing, and is ideally suited to mining and industrial sites in northern latitudes like Russia, Alaska or Canada, the company said.
The Dropsafe Barrier ME (Moderate Environment) can withstand the same impacts and wind loading as the XE, but is tailored for temperate offshore and onshore environments where high levels of UV and temperatures below -5°C are not a factor. This includes power stations, refineries, mines, and offshore rigs outside of extreme cold regions, the company said.
The two Barrier variants both provide superior standards of dropped object prevention, with extra flexibility to withstand Category 3 or Category 5 wind speeds depending on the option chosen during the installation process, Dropsafe said.
Dropsafe Barrier consists of impact and heat-resistant panels, with small a honeycomb aperture. The solution attaches along the inside of the guardrailing of elevated walkways, stairways and access ways of permanent or temporary structures, using a universal attaching system. In doing so, the Dropsafe Barrier is a safe barrier solution that prevents loose items slipping through cracks and falling from height, according to the company.
“The expertise which has led to Dropsafe becoming an established HSE partner across multiple industries has been applied to both Barrier models, with ease and cost-effectiveness of installation a decisive factor for many customers who have already adopted the system,” the company said.
Major energy players, both on and offshore, are already using the ME and XE variants of the Dropsafe Barrier, according to the company. With personnel operating at height, it is vital that stairs, walkways and raised working platforms are fitted with robust dropped object prevention solutions to stop tools and equipment from being dropped or knocked over the edge, it said. Companies operating in the Gulf have benefited from significant cost savings using the ME product because the solution required does not need extreme cold weather engineering – enabling high-quality dropped object prevention at a reduced cost, according to Dropsafe.
Mike Rice, Dropsafe Commercial Director, said: “After stringent rounds of internal and third-party testing, our Moderate Environment Barrier is already being used to support safe operations both on- and offshore. We knew from our conversations with customers that there was a gap in the market for a versatile drops (dropped object) prevention system optimised for temperate environments. Therefore, we have expanded our range to bring significant cost savings to markets with milder climates and temperature-controlled operations.”
He added: “Safety is a core concern for businesses operating across a whole range of high-risk sectors. The ease of installation and low maintenance costs of the Dropsafe Barrier help to ensure HSE budgets are used effectively – as does the five-year service life.”