Nationwide Platforms takes safety to a new level

Nationwide Platforms’ new SkySentry is being used on 140 platforms at one of the UK’s largest construction projects: the £153 million (€160 million) expansion of the St Bartholemew’s (Barts) Hospital in central London.

Nationwide Platforms has provided powered access equipment, training, and safety solutions to support Skanska, the main contractor, at the site since January 2012.

Key to this support has been SkySentry. Developed by BlueSky Solutions, the working at height safety specialists who were acquired by Nationwide Platforms’ parent company, Lavendon Group plc, in 2011, SkySentry prevents the unauthorised use of powered access.

SkySentry can be retro-fitted to the vast majority of scissors, booms and low-level access platforms. When fitted to a mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) the system requires the entry of unique four digit PINs before machine users can activate the platform. Up to 100 individual PINs can be allocated per machine.

Additionally, telematic features enable SkySentry to track information on machine usage, placement and its functions. This can be accessed through an online portal, which enables user to review both live and historical information tracked by the technology.

Skanska, which was the first contractor to mandate anti-entrapment protection following the launch of the Lavendon Group's SkySiren, worked closely with Nationwide Platforms to enhance MEWP best practice through SkySentry at Barts.

Upon completion in 2016, the nine storey Barts building will boast a 60,000 square metres floor area and 6,650 squate metres of refurbished space.

Following the successful introduction of the SkySentry to Barts and other major UK project sites (including Heathrow, the Hydro, and Crossrail) Nationwide Platforms will be conducting a full product launch of the SkySentry later in 2013.