Dropsafe has launched a new upgraded version of its steel wire mesh Net, adding an enhanced layer of security and traceability to this piece of safety equipment, it says.
The new range of Nets is a game changer for operators in industries such as oil and gas, power generation and mining, enabling them to further reduce the risk of human error, according to the company.
“Safety securing” is a vital aspect of dropped object prevention programs on industrial facilities globally, Dropsafe says.
“At these sites, fixtures such as lights and cameras may loosen due to corrosion or impacts, then fall and strike personnel or equipment,” the company said.
Drops prevention nets enclose and tether objects at height to a secure attachment point, mitigating these drops risks and the threats they pose to personnel, equipment, finances and reputation.
Dropsafe Nets have been supplied to over 300 leading energy businesses worldwide and, the company says, have now become the accepted best practice method for secondary securing in diverse industrial sectors. Feedback from these users directly informed the new Net design. This retains all the core features – including stainless-steel construction, a wide range of sizes and tool-free installation – while building in an extra level of security.
A particular focus of the R&D program was the carabiner, a standard component accepted as a matter of course in many industries. Dropsafe found room for improvement, however, particularly as standard carabiners may not be specifically designed for the unique technical and usability requirements of drops prevention or use in harsh operational environments.
This critical approach resulted in the design of the Trisafe™ Carabiner, a reimagined carabiner that, Dropsafe says, provides extra security with its “triple action” mechanism to prevent accidental opening.
Restricted dexterity is another key challenge Dropsafe confronted with the update. 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.
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.
Mike Rice, Dropsafe Commercial Director, said: “At Dropsafe, our culture is to look critically at accepted best practice, as this can lead to game-changing innovations with wide-ranging applications. At the same time, we recognised the need to retain the quality and long-term cost-effectiveness which made the Dropsafe Net an industry leading solution.
“By reimagining the carabiner for harsh industrial environments, we were able to build in extra safety and useability at no additional cost to the customer. With the RFID tag, we are giving users the means to make significant efficiency gains in the deployment and maintenance of their essential safety assets.”