Seeking Your Expertise: What Are the Latest Innovations in Working at Heights Safety?

Team,

I am writing this thread with the aim of gathering the latest and best management practices in the working at heights domain. One of the systems I recently came across regarding working at heights is something called LOBO, offered by www.lobosystems.com. This system is not scaffolding but a mobile or fixed platform built, certified, and inspected by themselves, with no need for any fall protection. It is a suitable alternative to ladder and scaffolding use. I am requesting the larger Safety Team here to share your expertise on this particular domain.

Exploring New Market Solutions for Working at Heights

Let us try to gather what's new in the market regarding working at heights. What digital solutions can be used in this domain? I am looking forward to great contributions. #fallprotection #ladder #scaffolding #digitalsolutions #workatheights #fallprevention #bestmanagementpractices #workingatheights

Dear Dipil, I came across the posting. I wonder where we stand too!

First question: What is a scaffold or what is the definition of a scaffold?

"Lobo is not a scaffold," you say; and if it is so, what is it then? The manufacturer, safety professionals, scaffolding forum, or any scaffolding experts will not say so, I am sure.

Next Question: No fall protection is required, you say.

Did the manufacturer say that? If he dared to say so, he is crazy. A safety man will insist on having fall protection above four feet, whatever the law says, with reason. As I understand, LOBO is just a light-duty modular access scaffold. Its loading capacity is limited, allowable height is limited, or we can call it a new type of light-duty system scaffold. Kindly check it out.

Regards, Kesava Pillai

Response from the LOBO Team

I posed the question you asked to the LOBO Team, and their response is given below:

"When using the LOBO system, is one required to use a fall protection system? If yes, do we have suitable anchor points available? If not, why? – The idea of LOBO is to never expose oneself to a fall. Therefore, no fall protection is required. The easiest way to think about it is that you are building a guardrail around yourself – i.e., you will always have four barriers around any platform at approximately 0.5m heights and 1m height, removing the risk of falling as you have a solid platform with barriers enclosing the user.

Can we call LOBO a light-duty modular access scaffold? – The best way to describe it is as an Advanced Platform System. We don’t like associating it with scaffolding as they work completely differently from one another."

In addition to the above, one of the advantages of LOBO, which I personally feel great about, is the possibility to make custom-made solutions suiting the client's requirements. Enclosed are two photos of custom-made LOBO Platforms for your information.

Please let me know your thoughts on this.

Let me try to add more!

Understanding Scaffolding and LOBO Systems

A scaffold is a temporary elevated work platform. We can very well call LOBO a light/medium duty modular access type of scaffolding. More than the name, I was convinced by the broad range of customized applications where this could easily fit in.

Components of Fall Protection

Fall protection involves the practical application of a safety harness. When discussing fall protection, three main components come into play: anchorage, body harness, and connecting device.

Please share your thoughts. Thanks.

Dear Dipil, I appreciate your interest in every safety-related issue.

Scaffolding and fall protection

Scaffolding is a favorite topic I teach, giving due importance to fall protection. The definition is "an elevated platform meant for men and/or materials. It can be either supported or suspended." There are more than 20 types of scaffolds, and many will wonder whether all those will come under the heading.

Types of fall protection

Again, on fall protection, we have to go deeper. Fall protection is divided into two: 1) fall protection like guard rails, handrails, chains, wire ropes, and parapets, and 2) fall arrest systems like safety harnesses and nets.

LOBO system comparison

LOBO is not a new idea. Chinese companies are making many kinds of system scaffolds far better than LOBO. L & T had in the past imported tonnes of these materials, and at the Bangalore airport extension time, I had given them training for a few days to assemble those. In LOBO’s case too, we have to assemble guard rails as in any other access scaffold system. They don’t have a built-in guard rail or magic protection.

Regards,
Kesava Pillai

Thank you for the response.

Fall Prevention vs. Fall Protection

When it comes to working at heights, I always use two terminologies: Fall Prevention and Fall Protection. Guardrails, handrails, chains, wire ropes, and parapets fall under fall prevention, while safety harnesses and nets fall under fall protection.

In a very simple manner, I am trying to establish understanding among learners that anything that helps prevent a fall is fall prevention, and anything that comes into play after a fall is fall protection. I aim to promote the idea that we should always prioritize fall prevention over fall protection.

What do you think about having this differentiation between Fall Prevention and Fall Protection?

Kind regards,
[Your Name]

Dear Sir,

I appreciate the time spent on responding. This was helpful to gain a deeper understanding of fall prevention as well as to perceive fall protection differently. I do agree that PPE never prevents an accident from happening; it always comes after the fact.

Can you please share any other best management practices and new technology-enabled solutions introduced in the field of working at heights - in case you have come across anything of that sort?

Thank you.