Electric power generation plants encompass many facilities, from coal-burning plants and hydroelectric dams to wind farms and nuclear power plants. Each of these facilities presents unique safety challenges when it comes to designing and installing the right safe metal stairs access solutions. First, plants often have unique layouts that limit potential platform configurations. Second, workers typically need to perform continuous maintenance to ensure that equipment works properly. This can require a range of modular stair and platform configurations to permit access and improve efficiency. Third, access solutions must be installed quickly to avoid any extended downtime.
Fourth, power plant workers are subject to hazards that are not present in other industries. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the most significant hazards associated with the electric power industry are:
- Electrocution
- Falls
- Confined spaces
- Fires and explosions
- Sprains, strains, and fractures
- Environmental stress
Falls are among the most common causes of serious work-related injuries and deaths. Many are attributable to the use of scaffolding. As Dr. Robert Peltier, Consulting Editor for Power Mag, notes, the risk of falls is “particularly high when installing, working on, or disassembling scaffolding…Additionally, working in tight proximity around boilers, piping, electrical cables, and other power plant equipment presents an occupational hazard.”
Not surprisingly, inadequate fall protection and the improper use of scaffolding consistently top OSHA’s 10 most frequently cited safety and health violations list yearly. Electric power generation plants and even generator maintenance access solutions can overcome these challenges with the right OSHA-compliant industrial work platform system.
ErectaStep Industrial Work Platforms for Power Plants
ErectaStep is an industry-leading provider of industrial work platforms for power plants. The prefabricated modular stairs parts and industrial work platforms are made of lightweight metal components that are easy and quick to install, requiring no welding or special tools. ErectaStep’s OSHA-compliant industrial work platforms are a cost-effective and safe alternative to power plant scaffolding. There are limitless configurations available, allowing power plants to provide workers with safe and efficient access to equipment and to maneuver around pipes and other obstacles easily. Platforms can also be equipped with safety swing gates for an added layer of safety.
The ErectaStep engineering team recently designed and installed an industrial work platform system in a Nevada-based power plant. Like many power plants, tight spaces and obstacles made it difficult to erect scaffolding and for workers to access equipment. The ErectaStep team designed and installed a series of fixed industrial work platforms throughout the power plant. Space was so limited in some plant locations that platforms were limited to just 16” wide. Workers can now safely and efficiently move throughout the plant, while the plant has eliminated the costs associated with renting, installing, and inspecting scaffolding. Contact a member of the ErectaStep team today to discuss how we can help improve the safety and productivity of your power plant while also saving you money.
