Tyco mandates SkySiren anti-entrapment solution

Nationwide Platforms' anti-entrapment solution, the SkySiren, is to be mandated on all applicable equipment used by Tyco Fire & Integrated Solutions from Monday 14th May.

The announcement means the UK fire protection and detection specialists, which is part of NYSE-listed global business Tyco, has become the second major contractor to mandate the use of this anti-entrapment solution since the launch of the SkySiren.

The first was construction firm Skanska UK, which has directed the use of additional entrapment protection on all boom-type (3b) Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs). This covers all relevant equipment used by both its subcontractors and its employees across the approximately £1.3 billion worth of work it completes each year.

Like Skanska, the mandate to be issued by Tyco will also be applicable to all boom-type MEWPs used by its supply chain.

Earlier this Spring, Nationwide Platforms provided Tyco with the SkySiren for the first time when the system was fitted to equipment involved in fire protection work on the ongoing construction of the Pembroke Power Station in Wales. Nationwide said, "This application demonstrated that the SkySiren can act as a key safety feature whilst using powered access equipment, especially outside of traditional construction sector projects."

Designed to react to any pressure applied on a "sensitive horizontal bar" located at approximately waist height, the SkySiren has been created to both stop the movement of the machine immediately in a crushing situation, whilst simultaneously alerting colleagues to the incident with an emergency alarm and flashing light.

The SkySiren has been designed so that it can be retro-fitted to all booms. Nationwide Platforms believes it should be utilised as an added safe-guard for work being completed in confined spaces, such as between racking, steel work or pipe systems just as would be commonplace with fire protection tasks.

Brian Whittle, project director and QEHS champion, and Steve Leigh, director - contracting, from Tyco, said, "Safe working is the most central tenet to any of our work, regardless of the nature or challenges posed by a project. Having worked with Nationwide Platforms to find safety solutions in the past, we've always been interested in finding the latest methods of working that truly represent best practice. Now, after seeing the product for ourselves, we are now pleased to take the opportunity to mandate the SkySiren and provide what could be a critical safeguard to access equipment users on our projects."

Nationwide Platforms' executive director - business development and key accounts, Mick Ledden, said, "The issue of entrapment is a pertinent one for all businesses working at height and as a market leader we place a great deal of emphasis on our responsibility to help find workable best practice solutions for all end-users."