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Latest news from heightec

 

NEW SYNCRO - Interchangeable connection system for MatriX & Zero-G harnesses
Syncro systemNew SYNCRO Interchangeable Connection system for heightec MatriX & Zero-G harnesses This range of new modular connectors has been designed to be used with the heightec MatriX or Zero-G harnesses. This system is highly adaptable offering options for any work situation including rope access, fixed fall arrest and standard fall arrest.

Conncetors are available:

• With integral ascender - Syncro Twist (H63)
• Without integral ascender - Syncro D (H60)
• With independent sacrificial rescue loop - Syncro 2D (H61)
• Standard front fall arrest attachment D ring - Syncro Delta (H62)

Tailored for MatriX and Zero-G full body harnesses this system is ideally suited for Rope access, Telecoms and Stage rigging.

For more details please call 01539 728866 or visit our products pages. Back to top
BWEA Offshore - 4th June, London
BWEA Offshore EventBWEA Offshore Conference & Exhibition The National Access and Rescue Centre, training division of The heighec Group, will be exhibiting at the forthcoming BWEA Offshore event in Westminster, London on 4th June.

To register for the conference and exhibition please visit the BWEA Events page. www.bwea.com\events Back to top
BWEA Company Member
heightec become BWEA Membersheightec joins BWEA heightec recently joined British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) as a company member.

Since being accredited by Opito on behalf of BWEA, heightecs' training division The National Access and Rescue Centre has received a surge of enquiries for their approved WTG climber course and rescue training.

Membership of BWEA will bring greater awareness of the specialist equipment, training and support services heightec offers the wind industry in particular.

Any queries regarding wind turbine work kits, WTG rescue systems or WTG training courses should be directed to admin@heightec.com or call 01539 728866 for more details. Back to top
New Aberdeen Training Centre
Work at Height Safety CentreAberdeen Dedicated Work at Height Centre Construction of the new National Access and Rescue Centre height safety centre in Aberdeen is well underway, ith the delivery of its inaugaral Rope Access course at the end of April.

Accessible from road, rail, airport, the centre is within reach of Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, Montrose, Inverness and Glasgow.

The dedicate work at height training centre will house under one roof a range of environments for work at height inc. several indoor lattice towers, confined space gallery, walkways, platforms, indoor scaffolds, suspended beeams, relecoms rigging, dishes and antennae, aswell as vertical ladders with a variety of fixed protection systems. The combination of facilities gives our clients access to a range work task and rescue scenarios.

Key courses:

- Industrial climbing
- Rescue
- Rope Access
- WTG Climber/Evacuation
- Rescue after a fall
- Industrial Rescue
- PPE Inspection
- Work at Height Emergency First Aid
- Use of Fall Protection

Key industries:

- Offshore
- Construction
- Fire & rescue
- Telecoms
- Rope access
- Scaffolding
- Police
- Military/Government
- Energy transmission/distribution
- Wind energy

In addition to practical areas, the new training centre will have fully equipped lecture facilities and classrooms.

For more details please contact Mary French on 0845 6432211 or visit www.narc.co.uk

The National Access and Rescue Centre is the training division of The heightec Group. Back to top
Micron - Micro Personal Evacuation Descender
Micron - Personal Evacuation Descender Kita personal evacuation descent system allowing a person to make a controlled descent from a high level. Potentially of use to anyone working at height but particularly people who work in small groups or in isolated locations where help would be slow to arrive.

Weighing only 1.1Kg for a 30m descent kit the micron can easily be carried on the harness of the user.

The key feature of the micron is its small size whilst still offering the functionality of a ‘full size’ system – hands free and ‘panic’ locking (the Micron will automatically stop if the user lets go or pulls the release handle too hard) and 125 Kg (20 stone) rated load.

Other descent kits have achieved a similar size but at the expense of significant safety features such as auto locking.

The simple operation and small size of the Micron give increased user acceptance over current equipment that is often left behind as it is deemed too bulky and heavy.

The patented braking system allows the Micron to use an Aramid (kevlar) descent cord. The system allows controlled slippage in the event of a fall preventing the build up of dangerously high forces normally associated with Aramid cords.

The Micron is a finalist in this years BSIF Innovation Awards. Back to top
Safety & Health Expo 2008 - latest developments for work at height and rescue
SHE 2008heightec are showcasing new developments in height safety and personal rescue at the Safety & Health Expo in Birmingham in May. There are no less than three innovations in the premium range of technical work harnesses:

• interchangeable modular front connection systems to allow changes from one work method to another
• new thermoformed plastic lumbar and leg padding, having an outer layer that is soft when unloaded, but stiffens under load
• a radical new connection system at the harness chest position to simplify donning and to provide a perfect fit on different sized persons.

The Micron is a new personal micro-descender for evacuation using high strength, heat resistant aramid cord. This tiny descender employs a unique, patented braking system to allow a finely controlled descent. The compact size with “full size” functionality will appeal to many industries, particularly renewables, electricity distribution, offshore oil platforms, tower crane drivers and police tactical units. The Micron has been entered into this year’s BSIF Innovation Awards.

Also on show will the new Integra range of energy absorbing lanyards, containing suspension trauma footloops that deploy automatically in the event of a fall.

For more details contact:

Bob Murdoch
01539 728866
admin@heightec.com Back to top
BWEA Health & Safety Seminar
BWEA H&S 08 Seminar, 29th Jan, Manchester The National Access and Rescue Centre, the training division of The heightec Group, will be exhibiting at the forthcoming British Wind Energy Association Seminar on Tuesday 29th January 2008 at Bridgewater Hall, Manchester. BWEA members have free entry.

For more details please see www.bwea.com Back to top
ALERT - HACA fixed rail vertical fall arrest system type 0529.7102
Safety warning: HACA fixed rail vertical fall arrest system type 0529.7102

Manufactured by HACA Leitern, Lorenz Hazenbach GmbH, Bad Camberg, Germany

BS EN 353-1:2002 Fall Arrest Equipment
Warning

1. The fixed rail vertical fall arrest system type 0529.7102 manufactured by the German company HACA Leitern has failed tests under BS EN 353-1:2002, the appropriate standard for such equipment, and a further important test advised by HSE in 2004. HSE advises users to cease use of this particular device as a matter of urgency and consult with your safety adviser and supplier about a safe alternative.( See paragraph 2 for a description of this type of equipment).

DETAIL

2. This warning concerns tests conducted by HSE on a fixed rail vertical fall arrest system, type 0529.7102, manufactured by HACA Leitern. This sort of device, covered by BS EN 353-1:2002, is used when climbing fixed ladders or rungs attached to fixed structures. Typically, a ladder will be fitted with a rigid anchor line - fixed rail or cable - running up it to which the device is attached. The user is attached to the device via their harness. As the user climbs or descends the ladder the device travels with them along the rail or cable. If the user falls, the device should lock onto the rail or cable thereby safely arresting the fall.

3. HSE carried out tests in accordance with the requirements of BS EN 353-1:2002 on the HACA Leitern Type 0529.7102 fixed rail vertical arrest system. Tests were also carried out using an anthropomorphic dummy to determine whether the fall arrest device would operate in the simulation of a backwards fall. The significance and desirability of such a test (a fall back test) is explained in an HSE Safety Warning issued after some earlier research on this type of device in 2004 hse.gov.uk/press/2004/e04074.htm which may be downloaded. This issue is also discussed in the (UK) National Annex (Informative) to BS EN 353-1:2002

4. The device failed to meet the test requirements stipulated in BS EN 353-1:2002. The device also failed to operate successfully during the additional ‘fall back test’. The table of results attached at Annex 1 details the tests carried out. Tests T1 and E1 show the results of the BS EN 353-1:2002 tests. Annex 2 shows photographs of some of the tests.

ACTION ON USERS

5. All those using or having responsibility for this type of HACA Leitern 0529.7102 fixed rail fall arrest system should immediately cease using them.

6. Users of this HACA Leitern 0529.7102 equipment and users of other fall arrest equipment of the Vertical Rigid Rail type or Vertical Guided Type covered by BS EN 353-1:2002 are advised to consider the safety of their systems of work and the application of hierarchy of precautions in the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and, in particular, to ensure that the important information contained in the 2004 HSE Safety Warning is heeded. HSE tests have shown that the use of an anthropomorphic dummy can provide a useful contribution towards determining a safe system of work.

ACTION BY HSE

7. Inspectors will be made aware of the information contained within this safety warning and it will contribute towards the enforcement decisions being made by them.

SUPPLIERS

8. The supply of this device is covered by the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 2002, which are administered by BERR. HSE has provided information to BERR who are taking action to deal with supplier and EU issues.




ANNEX 1

Table of test results

Tests on 26/7/07 Description Serial Number

Results/Comments

T1 BS EN 353-1:2002
(100 kg steel weight) 700821H
Runner arrested after 2mm
Peak load = 9.23 kN
Weight drop distance = 0.35m

T2 Fall Back (70 kg dummy)
Similar to BS 5062:1:1985 700821H
Runner arrested after 2.43m
Dummy dropped 3.3m

T3 Sit Back ( 70 kg dummy) 700821H
Runner failed to arrest fall
Dummy landed on head

Tests on 29/8/07

E1 BS EN 353-1;2002
(100 kg steel weight) 700830H
Runner arrested after 3 mm
Peak load = 6.3 kN
Weight drop distance = 0.14m

E2 Fall Back (70 kg dummy)
Similar to BS 5062:1:1985 700824H
Runner failed to arrest fall
Dummy landed on feet/knees

E3 Sit Back (70 kg dummy) 700831H
Runner failed to arrest fall
Dummy landed on head

E4 Sit Back (70 kg dummy) 700831H
Runner failed to arrest fall
Dummy landed on head Back to top
NEW heightec fall protection Brochure
heightec's new equipment brochure now available. Anyone who would like a copy of the new heightec specialist work at height kit and rescue system brochure please email us or call 01539 728866. Back to top
WTG Height Safety Training approved by BWEA
The heightec Group now BWEA approved training provider for wind turbine generators. The heightec Group have been successfully audited by OPITO (Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organisation) for WTG height safety training and are now a BWEA approved training providers via their training division The National Access and Rescue Centre (NARC).

For details of our 2 day Wind Turbine Generator Climber course which incorporates rescue methods, please contact us on 01539 728866. Back to top
New Suspension Trauma Lanyard
Suspension Trauma Lanyardheightec Received a British Safety Indsutry Federation Award for its New Suspension Trauma Lanyard The heightec Group received a Highly Commended Award for their new Suspension Trauma LanyardTM by British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) at the recent Safety & Health Expo.

The suspension trauma lanyard features the only integral, automatically deploying footloop available on the market. Able to provide immediate relief to a suspended person to prevent the onset of suspension trauma. The product is small, light and totally unobtrusive. Being integral to the energy absorbing lanyard, it cannot be lost, forgotten or incorrectly fitted. In the event of a fall the user can simply place one or both feet into the loop. Adjustment, if necessary, is a single handed, single action operation.

“Suspension trauma is a current issue in the work at height industry. Virtually anyone who wears a harness at work may be at risk of suspension trauma (Harness Induced Pathology). The new Suspension Trauma LanyardTM is a big leap forward in reducing the risks associated with becoming suspended after a fall or even during a normal work related task.“ said Bob Murdoch, Sales Manager. “We are extremely pleased to receive recognition for this latest innovation which has a World Patent currently pending”.

The HSE commissioned a research report on suspension trauma which runs over 100 pages. With the advent of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, companies are reviewing their procedures and taking measures to limit the risk of suspension trauma. Many have issued footloops to staff which are separate additions to harnesses, which must be deployed by the user. This can at best difficult and at worst impossible, particularly when the user would already be in some discomfort and have possible injury.

To rescue a person suspended on a lanyard, heightec offers ScaffPackTM. This is a compact, self contained rescue system which allows a casualty to be recovered by a single rescuer, by controlled lowering or raising.

The Innovation Award is given where a product or service gives evidence of a unique concept, design or performance or the innovative use of existing technology which is newly applied to occupational safety and health.

For more information call Bob Murdoch on 01539 728866. Back to top
30% Discount available on equipment for Work at Height
heightec Group offers 30% discount on first equipment order
Rope Access candidates who train with us can receive a massive 30% discount on their first equipment purchase from us.

For more details telephone: 01539 728866 Back to top
A+A World Trade Fair - Dusseldorf September 2007
heightec exhibit at A+A, the world's major trade fair for Safety, Security and Health at Work show 18-21 September 2007. Visit us on Stand 6B24, Hall 6


www.AplusA.com Back to top
Safety & Health Expo 2007
heightec exhibit at Safety & Health Expo, NEC May 2007The heightec Group Exhibit at the Safety & Health Expo in 22-24 May 2007
At this years Safety & Health Expo at the NEC, Birmingham, heightec
will be launching our NEW Suspension Trauma Lanyards (TM).

Virtually anyone who wears a harness at work, may be at risk of Suspension Trauma
(Harness Induced Pathology). The new Suspension Trauma Lanyard (TM) is a big leap forward in reducing the risks associated with becoming suspended after a fall or even during a normal work related task.

This new product has been shortlisted in this year's BSIF Product Innovation Awards. We will be giving away free samples every day of the show. Numbers will be limited so please come early to avoid disappointment. Your free sample can be collected from our stand N30 in Hall 10.

Also at the show we will be launching new comfort pad technology, never before used in the industrial harness sector. With improved comfort and load distribution this represents a major advancement in the design of personal fall protection equipment.

Following lat years launch of a new range of rope access hardware last year we will be holding live demos and try before you buy sessions throughout the three days.

We'll also be giving Equipment Discount Vouchers to everyone who visits our stand which can be used against purchases of our kits.

We look forward to seeing you at the show STAND N30, Hall 10. Back to top
2007 Fire Industry Open Days
Fire Industry Open Days at the National Access and Rescue Centre in Kendal & London 2007 Following the overwhelming response to our official open day in November, where we launched our second dedicted in-door training centre for work at height, two additional open dates have been set.

Aimed at the fire industry, the two dates are 30th January (London) or 2nd February (Kendal).

Anyone from Fire Brigades or Rescue Services who are interested in attending either date please let us know. Places are free, but will be limited.

Further details will be available shortly. Back to top
New London Training Centre Official Opening - 1st & 2nd November
The National Access and Rescue CentreNARC open WaH training centre in North London Work at height specialists The National Access and Rescue Centre (NARC) are pleased to announce the opening of their new dedicated training centre in North London. The training centre is already up and running, with clients coming from London and across southern UK making use of the new facilities.

Clients will have the opportunity during one of the Official Open Days to:

- view the new facility,
- see live rescue demonstrations,
- discuss technical work at height issues relating to their industry and
- receive practical use of the products.

Open days will be held on 1st & 2nd November. If you would like to receive an invitation to one of the open days, please email us at admin@heightec.com Back to top
Utility Live - 26-28th September 06, Coventry
Utility Live Exhibition, 26-28th September, Coventryheightec exhibits at Utility Live 2006 heightec are exhibiting at this years Utility Live Show, Stand B19. We will be displaying our range of specialist equipment for work at height including our award winning Bee harness and Prism descender. The Prism has a double action safety mechanism allowing immediate changeover from descent to ascent - the most user friendly descender available.

You can obtain a Free visitors ticket to see us at the show by contacting us on 01539 728866. Back to top
London Training Centre opening August 2006
Crane Rescuenew London training centre for work at height and rescue. Work at height specialists The National Access and Rescue Centre (NARC) are opening a new dedicated training centre in North London. This new facility has been developed in response to increasing client demand and includes elevated platforms, scaffolding, ladders, climbing tower and suspended steelwork.

There is an increasing demand for quality training for work at height. The new NARC training centre will offer a wide range of courses specifically designed for facilities management, construction, scaffolding, cleaning, telecoms and emergency rescue sectors. No other facility exists in the south of the UK which offers such specialist training environments for work at height.

The new London training centre offers the following courses:
• Rope Access - IRATA and ISO
• Roof Safety
• PPE Inspection
• Industrial rescue (RescuePack)
• Tower climbing
• Rescue after a fall (ScaffPack)
• Eyebolt Installation

NARC London is located within easy access of the M1 on the A406 north circular, reducing costs and travel time for customers based in London and the south.

NARC offers the most diverse and comprehensive training facilities in the world for work at height and rescue, via its main venue in Kendal and the new London venue. Clients include government departments, military agencies, multinational corporations, fire and rescue services, police, county councils, small businesses and individuals. Back to top
Work at Height Safety Association
Work at Height Safety AssociationNew trade body provides focus for height safety industry heightec is proud to be a founder member of The Work at Height Safety Association - a new trade association for UK manufacturers of height safety equipment.

WAHSA will act as the UK lead body representing the interests of manufacturers, assemblers, installers, training providers, distributors and users of equipment used for work at height and rescue. To qualify for membership, companies must be manufacturers of fall protection equipment and must control the production process from raw material through to testing and certification.

WAHSA will provide a benchmark in high standards for the manufacture and subsequent use of members’ products and will take a lead role in the setting of standards and codes of practice for the use of such equipment.

Further information is available from WAHSA Chairman Keith Jones, MD of heightec, on 01539 728866 Back to top
New British Standard for Height Safety and Fall Protection
New British Standard for Height Safety and Fall ProtectionBS 8437:2005
Code of practice for selection, use and maintenance of personal fall protection systems and equipment for use in the workplace. This new standard should assist those seeking to comply with the Regulations. It brings together personal fall protection best practice from a range of sources including HSE representatives, manufacturers, research studies and training organizations.

BS 8437 was written with expert input from HSE representatives and gives recommendations and guidance with illustrative examples on the following key areas of working at height:

Competent working, planning and organization
Selection, use and maintenance of personal fall protection systems
Systems and equipment suitable for use in rescue
Control of risks from fragile surfaces
Rescue of persons in the event of an accident
Risk assessment
The training of users of the equipment.

Who should use BS 8437?

The Code of Practice is intended for:

Users of personal fall protection systems and equipment, including
employers, employees and the self-employed.
Designers of safe access routes on buildings and structures, including
architects and structural engineers.
Commissioners of work at a height, e.g. building owners and contractors.
Trainers and site managers involved in training persons for work at a
height. Back to top
Work at Height Regulations come into force
Work at Height RegulationsWork at Height Regulations implemented on 6th April New regulations on work at height came into force on 6 April 2005.

The Regulations apply to all work at height where there is a risk of a fall liable to cause personal injury. They place duties on employers, the self-employed, and any person that controls the work of others to the extent of their control (for example facilities managers or building owners who may contract others to work at height).

The Regulations require duty holders to ensure:
 all work at height is properly planned and organised;
 those involved in work at height are competent;
 the risks from work at height are assessed and appropriate work equipment is selected and used;
 the risks from fragile surfaces are properly controlled; and
 equipment for work at height is properly inspected and maintained. Back to top
Twin Lanyard failure - User fatality in Australia
Twin Lanyard failure - Advice from heightec Following a recent incident of a twin lanyard failure in Australia, which resulted in a fatality, we wish to inform customers of the following advice given by the Australian investigators, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland.

They state that twin tail fall arrest lanyards should only be used if users have gained assurance from the manufacturer that their product will not fail when one lanyard is attached to an anchorage point and the other tail is back-hooked to the harness.

We advise the following;

 When using twin lanyards it is important to note that the spare arm should not be connected back to the harness in any configuration.

 When using the heightec Tensor twin lanyard the spare arm can be clipped back to the specifically enlarged loop on the absorber.

 heightec have tested the Tensor twin lanyard in accordance with EN355 using a mass of 125kg with one arm of the lanyard connected to the side D of the heightec Zero-G rigger harness, the lanyard energy absorber deployed correctly. The lanyard and harness did not fail. A copy of the test results are available if requested.

 Users should note that training in the use of twin lanyards is essential. All persons who have received such training at The National Access and Rescue Centre (NARC) have been instructed verbally and in written form the correct method of use.

The heightec Tensor lanyard is designed to withstand possible misuse of the type described. Back to top
Warnings on fixed fall protection systems
Fatalities lead to concern over effectiveness SAFETY WARNING - VERTICAL RIGID RAIL FALL-ARREST SYSTEMS

Four areas of concern have been identified, whioch have resulted in the following warnings:

1. Where it is possible to fall from the bottom of a rigid rail, the manufacturer should be consulted and an end stop designed and fitted to prevent, whether under load or not unde load, the guided type fall arrester from running off the rigid anchor line unintended, or the us of other fall protection measures considered.

2. A vertical rigid rail fall-arrest system should not be used for work positioning unless the manufacturer, in the advice given within their user instructions, permits this. The connection between user and rail should not be extended in length, e.g. with an additional connector or lanyard. The manufacturer and/or supplier should indicate the requirements for the attachment to a full body harness, e.g. high or low relative to the sternum, and the user should adhere to this advice.

3. The dynamic testing that underpins BS EN 353-1: 2002 was prepared on the assumption that if a worker falls they will fall wholly downwards, with no interference with the fixed ladder or other structure to which the vertical rail is attached. In a real fall situation, if a worker falls backwards before falling wholly downwards they may fall further than the 1.0 m fall distance limit imposed in the dynamic test in BS EN 353-1: 2002. Where it is possible to fall backwards from the ladder, the manufacturer should be consulted as to the performance of the fall
arrester in such a situation and, if necessary, testing should be carried out to establish that performance.

4. Engaging a fall arrester's release function, or handling it during ascent/descent, can hinder the safe operation of the braking mechanism. Back to top
Investigation into hooped ladders
HSE publish research on ladder hoop effectiveness The UK's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published recently a research report entitled:

"Preliminary investigation into the fall arresting effectiveness of ladder safety hoops".

This is available (free), as a pdf download, from: http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr258.htm

The report questions the effectiveness of ladder hoops, which have often been taken for granted as providing a degree of protection to ladder climbers.

Tests were carried out during the research which demonstrate that hooped ladders can potentially be a source of serious injury. Back to top
heightec innovation recognised
New rescue product wins award heightec have been given a Product Innovation Award for the new Quadra rescue device.

The Award is given by the BSIF in recognition of excellence in the safety industry and was presented by the Federation President Sir John Cullen at the 2004 Safety and Health Expo.

The portable Quadra device can lift or lower a hanging casualty and will allow users to satisfy the emergency requirements of the imminent Work at Height Regulations. The Regulations specify that rescue arrangements shall be provided during all work at height. Back to top