Preventing falls and accidents is crucial for worksite safety. The easiest way to do this is through safety swing gates. These simple but highly effective safety solutions help protect workers from potentially life-threatening injuries and ensure your facility or plant complies with any safety regulations.
Are you interested in adding safety swing gates to your site? Keep reading to learn more about this product and how Northern Platforms can make your workplace safer, more secure, and more efficient.
What are Safety Swing Gates?
Safety swing gates or self-closing gates are worksite safety devices designed to restrict access to dangerous areas and prevent falls. They are usually installed at ladder and handrail openings. Safety swing gates must be opened manually and are designed to close automatically, which helps reduce the likelihood of human error.
Recent technological advancements have introduced preassembled safety swing gates. For example, YellowGate’s latest product can be added to your site in seconds—no special tools are required.
Updates to Safety Standards Make Safety Swing Gates Mandatory
On many job sites, ladder and handrail openings are left unsecured or blocked by chains that workers must manually fasten. However, recent updates to several safety regulations and standards have banned these practices.
Now, it is expected to require ladder and handrail openings to be secured with safety swing gates or an offset system. This change helps ensure worker safety by using stronger and more reliable barriers. Employers must implement these safety measures immediately. It is recommended to assess and update your safety systems as soon as possible in order to stay compliant and prevent accidents.
Features of YellowGate Safety Swing Gates
YellowGate industrial safety swing gates have several features that make them easy to add to your worksite.
Simple installation
Adding safety swing gates to your workplace only takes minutes, thanks to YellowGate’s pre-assembled design. This user-friendly design ensures that workers can install gates with few tools and no specialized training, meaning you can enhance workplace safety without unnecessary delays and lengthy installation periods.
Adjustable swing direction
One of the standout features of Northern Platforms’ YellowGate models is their adjustable swing direction. This flexibility allows the gates to be configured to swing both inwards and outwards, depending on your specific site needs. Due to this adaptability, these gates can integrate seamlessly into your work environment.
Versatile mounting
YellowGate safety swing gates are versatile enough to accommodate all openings between 24 and 36 inches. Plus, this range can be easily adjusted on-site with only a wrench, eliminating the need for field cutting or drilling. This adaptability ensures a perfect fit for diverse settings while maintaining compliance with OSHA regulations.
Built to last
Safety swing gates, particularly those used in industrial environments, must be durable and sustainable in order to withstand heavy use and contribute to responsible practices. Manufactured from heavy-gauge aluminum, these gates help ensure long-term safety with minimal maintenance.
Oil spills can cause serious damage to the environment, shut down important infrastructure, and countless other negative impacts. Plus, the longer a spill goes uncontained, the worse the damage becomes.
Unfortunately, traditional oil spill response can be slow and inconvenient. Sometimes, booms and their operators can take hours to arrive at the scene of the spill. In the meantime, oil can spread, evaporate, and even sink into the water column. This often makes cleanup much more difficult and less effective.
Northern Platforms sells a game-changing solution to this problem. Ultratech’s Ultra-Rapid Boom is a lightweight and efficient boom system which can be deployed in minutes by just two people.
Interested in learning more? Keep reading for more information about containment booms, why they are important, and why you should store one at your marine worksite.
What are Containment Booms?
Containment booms are barriers used to control the spread of liquid spills. Typically, they are used to help contain marine oil spills and minimize environmental impact. Marine booms work by floating on the water’s surface and also include “a skirt,” which extends underwater to stop the spill from spreading further.
The Need for Fast-Acting Containment Booms
Containment booms are important solutions for all marine spills. However, typical containment booms have two downsides: They can be large and inconvenient to store on your worksite, and they can also be complicated and time-consuming to deploy, often needing multiple people and operators.
The longer a spill is uncontained, the more devastating its effects. On the other hand, if you contain a spill right after it occurs, crews are able to clean it up more effectively, as well as lessen the amount of damage caused.
Thanks to the fastest-deploying oil boom on the planet, we can all help lessen the environmental impacts of hazardous spills. The Ultra-Rapid Boom can be easily stored on your worksite and quickly deployed as soon as the spill occurs.
Features of a Fast-Acting Containment Boom
Useful features of this spill containment solution include:
Portability
Since fast-acting booms are typically made of lightweight materials, they are much easier to transport. This means that fewer people are required to help move the boom to the site of the spill.
Quick Deployment
As the name suggests, fast-acting containment booms are designed to be quick spill containment solutions. These products can be inflated in minutes rather than hours, like traditional booms.
On-site Storage
Fast-acting booms often require less storage space than traditional spill containment booms, making them easier to store at your worksite. For example, the Ultra-Rapid Boom requires 20-33% less storage space than ordinary booms.
Modular Design and Unlimited Length
These booms often have modular connection systems, which allow multiple segments to be linked together to contain larger spills. Their unlimited length means that you can easily contain any spill of any size.
The Source for All Your Spill Containment Needs
No matter the spill, Northern Platforms is here to help. With over 20 years of industry experience, we’re experts in helping you make your workplace safer, more efficient, and up to code. On top of containment booms, we also stock other types of spill containment, including berms, drums, and railcar track/spill containment pans.
Contact us today to learn more about our products and services, including our quick delivery and personalized solutions for all your worksite safety needs.
When handling chemicals in industrial settings, selecting the right chemical top loading arm is essential for safety and operational efficiency. These specialized systems provide a reliable connection between storage tanks and transportation vehicles, such as trucks and railcars, which helps streamline all loading and unloading operations.
When choosing which chemical top loading arm is right for your job, there are a couple of things you should consider. Let’s break it down.
Material Compatibility: Stainless Steel versus Carbon Steel
First, make sure that the loading arm’s materials are compatible with the chemicals being handled since chemicals can be corrosive or reactive. By selecting the right material, you can ensure that your loading arm stays safe and in good working condition for longer.
Most loading arms are available in carbon steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. Typically, stainless steel is the best choice for handling most chemicals due to its corrosion resistance. For chemicals that aren’t highly corrosive, try cost-effective carbon steel.
Loading Connection: Tight versus Splash
Next, decide what type of loading connection you need. There are two main types: tight loading and splash loading.
As the name suggests, tight loading forms a tight, sealed connection. This helps prevent chemical vapours or fumes from escaping, which is important when working with hazardous or volatile chemicals. However, a tight loading connection offers no flexibility.
Splash loading, on the other hand, is an open and flexible connection. This type of loading is faster and less expensive than tight loading. However, since the connection is less sealed, splash loading may cause exposure to fumes. As such, this connection should be used for less hazardous chemicals.
When ordering your top loading arm from Northern Platforms, make sure to specify which type of connection you’ll need so that we can ensure our product is 100% compatible with your existing system.
Reach Capabilities: Variable versus Fixed
The reach of your loading arm is another important consideration. Do you need flexibility to connect to different-sized vehicles or containers? Or will you consistently be loading and unloading chemicals from the same type of vessel? This will determine if you need a variable or fixed reach loading arm.
A variable reach top loading arm is highly adjustable and flexible, meaning that you can adapt your loading operations to handle a variety of tanker sizes. Unsupported and supported boom are two popular styles of variable top loading arms.
On the other hand, fixed reach arms are usually set to a specific height and length. This kind of top loading arm is simple, reliable, and best used for loading operations that are standardized across all vehicles.
Your Canadian Source for Loading Arms
At Northern Platforms, we pride ourselves on making Canadian worksites safer and more efficient. Based in Alberta, we can be onsite within days to deliver your order. Plus, we have over 20 years of industry experience, meaning that we are here to help you with all your specific needs.
Interested? Contact us today and let our team walk you through our options for a chemical top loading arm. Plus, you can explore our catalogue for all our safety solutions.
Whether you need safe access over pipes, machinery, or cable trays, ErectAStep’s crossover stairs are a durable solution that maximizes both worksite safety and efficiency. Ready to bring this modular solution to your workplace? Keep reading to learn how Northern Platforms can help.
These stairs are modular, meaning they can be easily assembled, adjusted, or relocated to fit your facility’s specific needs. Crossover stairs are a key safety feature in many industries, helping to keep work areas organized and compliant with safety standards.
How are Crossover Stairs Commonly Used?
Crossover stairs can be used for several reasons, such as:
Passage over obstacles such as pipes, conduits, or machinery.
Efficient access between separate sections of a facility.
Designated maintenance and inspection routes.
Direct pathways over barriers to improve workplace efficiency.
Enhancing safety by reducing the risk of accidents and injuries associated with navigating obstacles on the ground.
Compliance with safety regulations.
What Makes ErectaStep’s Crossover Stairs Special?
Unlike other crossover stairs, ErectaStep’s patented, bolt-together modular design is easy to
install within days. With just a wrench, you can quickly assemble your safety solution–no welding or special tools required. This means you don’t have to spend months planning, measuring, and installing your stair units.
This system features five components (safety stairs, universal handrails, tower supports, universal platforms, and ladder units) that can be used to create unlimited stair and access configurations. The best part? ErectaStep’s crossover stairs can easily be disassembled and reassembled, giving you ultimate flexibility as your facility’s needs grow or change.
How to Choose the Right Crossover Stairs for Your Facility
When choosing crossover stairs, it is important to consider the needs of your worksite. Here are some things to think about:
1. What obstacles or hazards do your crossover stairs need to go over?
Identify any barriers in your workplace, such as machinery or pipelines, to ensure that your crossover stairs are properly designed to provide safe passage. If you have unusual obstacles or hazards, don’t worry. ErectaStep’s modular system is highly customizable and can accommodate even the most tricky situations.
2. How tall and wide do your crossover stairs need to be?
Measure the necessary height and width required to accommodate workers and any equipment that might need to be transported safely across the stairs. Want an expert opinion? Call Northern Platforms and one of your experienced sales representatives will help you find the perfect solution.
3. What is the required load capacity?
Consider how much weight your crossover stairs will need to support, including any workers, tools, or heavy equipment. Typically, crossover stairs are built to handle a load capacity of 500 pounds.
Additionally, safety regulations often require that your crossover stairs are able to support at least five times your intended load without failure, so it is important to choose equipment that complies with these safety requirements.
4. Will your stairs need to be moved or changed in the future?
If so, investing in ErectaStep’s modular stairs is a good idea. If your facility undergoes changes, your crossover stairs can be disassembled and reassembled as needed, which will save you time and money in the long run.
Your Canadian Source for Crossover Stairs and More
Ready to improve your facility’s safety and efficiency? Contact Northern Platforms today to learn more about our customizable crossover stairs and find the perfect solution for your site. Let us help you create a safer, more productive workplace.
When it comes to truck fall protection, there’s no such thing as “one size fits all.” In order to ensure the highest degree of safety and efficiency in your operation, you should develop a system that is unique to you and your industry.
At Northern Platforms, we are committed to helping you find truck fall protection, such as custom loading platforms and loading arms, that seamlessly integrates with your existing equipment. Our experienced sales team can visit your site, assess your needs, and develop a system specifically for you.
The first step in developing a comprehensive truck fall protection plan is understanding what type of truck is coming into your facility. Northern Platforms is ready to provide you with the right equipment for the job, whether it is a dry bulk cargo trailer, a liquid tank trailer, an intermodal tank trailer, or a flatbed trailer. Keep reading to learn what type of truck fall protection is right for you.
Comprehensive Truck Fall Protection Systems
At Northern Platforms, we believe in our expertise, which extends to designing and building complete truck loading and tank trailer fall protection systems. These systems can include:
Custom Loading Platforms: Our loading platforms are engineered to accommodate single truck loading stations to multiple truck loading stations. We understand that trucks and trailers come in various shapes and sizes, so our solutions are flexible and can adapt to different configurations.
Loading Arms: These essential components efficiently load trailers and cargo vessels while ensuring the safety of workers.
Safety Gates: Fall protection is crucial, and our safety gates are designed to prevent accidents and injuries during loading and unloading processes.
Gangways: Gangways offer a safe and convenient means for employees to access the truck or trailer during loading and unloading.
What type of truck are you loading/unloading?
Before we can start designing a truck fall protection program that is tailored to you, we’ll need to know what types of trucks you are dealing with on a daily basis.
Dry bulk cargo trailer
Dry bulk trailers are often used to transport large quantities of loose materials like cement, sand, or grain. Workers must access the top of the trailer to open and close manholes. Since this process requires workers to operate high off the ground, truck fall protection systems are essential.
For this type of truck, Northern Platforms recommends using a safety cage paired with a gangway for optimal performance. The safety cage creates a barrier to prevent falls, while the gangway helps provide safe access to the top of the truck.
Liquid tank trailer
Much like workers dealing with dry bulk cargo trailers, workers dealing with liquid tank trailers often need to get on top of the truck to connect any loading or unloading equipment, inspect the connection site, and more. This dramatically increases the risk of falling, making adequate fall protection essential to safeguarding workers.
Intermodal trailer
Also known as isotainers, intermodal tank containers are used to transport liquids, gases, and powders, both hazardous and non-hazardous, across different transportation modes. These trailers often vary in height, so an optimal truck fall protection system for this type of operation would be highly adjustable and mobile.
Flatbed trailer
As discussed in a previous post, it’s important to be proactive with your truck fall protection. In the case of flatbed trailers, it is very common for workers to get injured when they attempt to cover a load with a tarp.
By using mobile platforms, such as SafeRack’s loading platforms, you can ensure that your workers and contractors are always protected. These rolling platforms provide a safe walking surface beside the flatbed truck while loading. Plus, this truck fall protection system features large swivel casters, allowing the platforms to be easily rolled alongside the flatbed and rolled away when the truck leaves.
Your Source for Truck Fall Protection
No matter what type of truck you are loading or unloading, proper truck fall protection can save lives. At Northern Platforms, we are the industry experts in establishing the best safe access solutions and fall protection systems for any work site. Our team can visit your site, evaluate your needs, and determine the best truck fall protection system for your operation.
