Your chemical plant or processing facility is full of potential safety risks to your employees and your business’s bottom line. The nature of the chemical industry is that your staff interacts with many potentially hazardous chemicals daily. That means you need the proper safe access solutions to ensure your employees’ safety and your company’s efficiency. At Northern Platforms, we offer a range of truck access platforms that can be custom-fitted to your chemical plant’s needs. Below we’ll cover three benefits of investing in truck access platforms from your Canadian source for safe access solutions, Northern Platforms. Keep reading to find out more!
1) Protect Your Staff From Unnecessary Risks
Many chemical processing facilities move chemicals in and out of their facilities via tank trucks. While these tanker trucks are the most common and efficient way to transport chemicals, some significant risks are associated with loading and unloading. On these tanker trucks, their loading and unloading hatches are often located on the top of the tank. Without proper fall protection systems, your drivers and staff could easily fall from the tanker. Even with the use of a side access ladder, your employees are still at risk of slipping, falling, or potentially spilling hazardous chemical samples. Truck access platforms from Northern Platforms are the best way to ensure that accessing the tops of tanker trucks is safe and easy. Our team can help you find the right truck access platform for your facility’s unique needs and applications.
2) Protect Your Chemicals from Contamination
Truck access platforms not only protect your employees, but they protect your products as well! When you have a tank filled with valuable and hazardous chemicals, you must shield those chemicals from potential contamination. For instance, some chemicals need to be covered from something as simple as rainwater as it could contaminate or negatively react together. However, with the help of Northern Platforms, our team of safe access solution experts can craft a truck access platform solution that ensures your products stay contaminant free. With decades of experience under our belts, Northern Platforms is your trusted source for safe access solutions.
3) Better and Safer Workflow
Unsurprisingly, workplace injuries and contamination can dramatically decrease your business’s throughput. Suppose your facility lacks the proper truck access platforms and fall protection. In that case, your employees may be risking their safety every time they access the top of your tanker trucks. This could result in drivers and staff cutting corners and risking their overall well-being to get the job done faster. Implementing the right truck access platforms for your facility can improve staff safety and reduce the risk of production-halting injuries or product cross-contamination.
Invest in Safe Access Solutions at Northern Platforms
Investing in a truck access platform can be a significant upfront monetary expense; however, it confirms your commitment to safety and quality production. The long-term benefits of a truck access platform from Northern Platforms include the following:
Maintaining regulatory compliance.
Reducing the total number of accidents.
Creating a safer and more efficient workflow.
And More!
By investing in a truck access platform, you’re investing in your business’s bottom line.
Ready to learn more about Northern Platforms’ offering of truck access platforms? Contact us today!
Do you have a job trailer or modular office building currently using scaffolding or wooden stairs? Are you looking for a cost-effective, innovative, and durable temporary access solution that outperforms wooden stairs and scaffolding? Northern Platforms has you covered with our offering of ErectaStep temporary building stairs!
These stairs offer construction companies, temporary jobsites, and industrial facilities the access solution they need with the ability to be easily transferred from application to application. However, there are other benefits as well! Below we’ll discuss the benefits and the specifications of portable building stairs from ErectaStep. Keep reading to learn more!
Quality Access Solutions
At Northern Platforms, our team understands how critical it is to have the access solutions you need to keep your employees and worksite safe. That’s why we’ve partnered with industry leaders in the access solutions industry. Manufacturers such as ErectaStep craft high-quality, innovative access solutions that dramatically reduce the risks of trips, slips, and falls in your facility.
In particular, ErectaStep is well-known for offering pre-engineered and pre-manufactured access stairs. Each of their portable stairs is created using advanced lase-cutting technology and patent-pending designs to provide superior performance and longevity. Moreover, ErectaStep’s International Building Code (IBC) compliant portable building stairs series are a convenient and straightforward way to ensure accessibility to your work trailers, weigh stations, and more. At Northern Platforms, we are proud to provide our customers with incredible ErectaStep access solutions. Next, we’ll get into the specs of ErectaStep’s portable building stairs.
Meet ErectaStep’s Portable Building Stairs
ErectaStep’s portable stairs, otherwise known as portable building stairs or portable catwalks, are a great way to provide temporary access to job trailers, modular office buildings, weigh stations, construction sites, temporary housing, and more. These portable building stairs are manufactured from rugged galvanized steel. They are powder-coated to ensure longevity in interior or exterior applications.
ErectaStep manufactures two models of these stairs, one compliant with OHSA/ OH&S regulations and one that meets IBC standards and regulations. However, both models are available in seven sizes ranging from 28” to 63”. Moreover, these portable building stairs feature adjustable legs, which can be height adjusted to compensate for uneven surfaces or to be level with your door or access point. So when you need high-quality, safety regulation-compliant, and innovative portable building stairs, Northern Platforms has you covered!
Safe Access Solutions and More from Northern Platforms
Many industrial facilities, construction sites, weigh stations, landfills, and more can benefit from utilizing portable building stairs from Northern Platforms. With numerous portable catwalks and stair models available at Northern Platforms, our team is here to help you find the best one to fit your needs. In addition to our offering of ErectaStep portable catwalks and building stairs, we are proud to offer a variety of safe access solutions from manufacturers such as OPW Engineered Systems, SafeRack, YellowGate and others! With turnkey services also available at Northern Platforms, our all-Canadian family-owned and operated business is sure to be your one-stop shop for safe access solutions and more!
Contact us today to learn more about our offering of ErectaStep’s portable building stairs.
Are you looking for an access solution to replace the scaffolding on your worksite? Do you need an access solution that is OHSA/ OH&S and IBC compliant? Northern Platforms is here to help!
As Western Canada’s premier choice for safe access solutions, Northern Platforms has the equipment you need to ensure the safety of your workers and compliance with local safety regulations. In particular, our offering of ErectaStep modular access platforms is a great way to improve the safety and efficiency of your worksite. Below we’ll cover why you should use ErectaStep’s modular access platforms from Northern Platforms. Keep reading to find out more!
Why Use Modular Access Platforms?
Modular access platforms are popular in many industries as they offer multiple benefits. Some of the key benefits modular access platforms offer are safety and efficiency, as they are designed to ensure the safety and accessibility of your employees. Not to mention by allowing your staff to move from location to location in your facility easily, your overall efficiency also improves.
In addition, modular access platforms from ErectaStep are OHSA/ OH&S and IBC compliant, so they make your workplace safer and ensure your workplace is compliant with key safety regulations. Moreover, modular access platforms are versatile and customizable, so they can fit any application and meet your site’s needs! With a range of modular access platforms available at Northern Platforms, our team is confident that we can help you make your work site safe and navigable. Aside from the industrial sector, modular access platforms are also commonly used in the following industries:
Agriculture
Roofing
Maintenance Industries
Food & Beverage
Oil & Gas
Material Handling
And More!
With options for other safety solutions, such as self-closing safety swing gates, safety showers, and spill containment systems, Northern Platforms can ensure your modular access platform improves the overall safety of your site. Let our team assist you in determining the best modular access platforms for your unique applications.
Why Choose ErectaStep
For over 20 years, ErectaStep has been manufacturing products that are built with high-quality materials so that they can last the test of time. With such a commitment to innovation, performance, and quality, ErectaStep is considered a top industry leader in the world of safe access solutions. At Northern Platforms, our team is proud to stock an expansive inventory of ErectaStep’s modular access platforms and stairs.
ErectaStep’s modular access platforms provide incredible versatility, as previously mentioned. When all five pieces of ErectaStep’s modular platform (prefabricated metal stairs, metalwork platforms, industrial handrails, aluminum stairs/ladders, and tower support) are combined, the result is a customizable, safe access solution. These modular access platforms are easy to install and require no special tools or fabrication. Moreover, the Northern Platforms team can quickly design a drawing configuration of your access platform and provide you with an accurate quote in minutes. That way, you know precisely how your platform will fit into your facility, and you can make any necessary adjustments before purchasing.
Modular Access Platforms and More at Northern Platforms
Located in Leduc, Alberta, Northern Platforms is Western Canada’s premier access solutions distributor. Our vast inventory features many industry-leading manufacturers, such as ErectaStep, SafeRack, OPW, and more! Aside from our inventory of modular access platforms and other safe access solutions, Northern Platforms also offers a range of turnkey services. So if you need an access platform, our team can help you select the right product, install it, maintain it and more!
Are you ready to learn more about modular access platforms from Northern Platforms? Contact us today!
Are you looking for an easy-to-maneuver rolling work platform? Northern Platforms line of RollaStep mobile work platforms is an industry-leading option! As your all-Canadian source for safe access solutions, spill containment, loading arms and more, Northern Platforms has the experience and products you need to ensure your worksite is safe. When it comes to rolling platforms, understanding your particular needs is vital. However, our team of experts in safe access solutions at Northern Platforms is here to ensure you get the right rolling platforms for your particular applications. Below we’ll look at what makes RollaStep stand out from the competition and a popular rolling platform model from RollaStep. Continue reading to find out more!
RollaStep, an Industry Leader
If your employees are facing challenges with reaching particular heights or hard-to-reach equipment, RollaStep rolling platforms from Northern Platforms are here to help! RollaStep has been manufacturing mobile rolling platforms with incredible quality and performance for decades. With a range of portable ladders, adjustable and rolling stairs, mobile work platforms, swing gates and more, RollaStep produces the products your need for every industry.
At Northern Platforms, our team is proud to partner with RollaStep to offer our customers a range of rolling platforms and other access solutions. As an industry leader in safe access solutions, Northern Platforms has a range of RollaStep’s innovative prefabricated access products. Our team can visit your worksite to determine the best rolling platform for your business. With various turnkey services available at Northern Platforms, we are your source for dependable, customizable, and affordable safe access solutions.
The C Series Mobile Cantilever Work Platform
One of RollaStep’s products we’d like to focus on is the OHSA-certified C Series Cantilever Work Platform. This rolling platform can help your staff get above, on, and over railcars, tank trucks and many other large industrial equipment. The C Series platform features a steel base that is a great counterbalance. Moreover, the lightweight aluminum upper body of the rolling platform gives your staff single-user operability. This 6 sqft rolling work platform provides operators with plenty of space to work and room for parts and tools. It can even extend over 2 ft beyond the bases of its chassis. In addition, the C Series Mobile Cantilever Work Platform features an easy-to-steer design and 360° swivelling large no-flat tires for simple maneuverability across any facility. This rolling platform is an excellent addition to any facility’s fleet of mobile work platforms and safe access solutions.
Rolling Platform from Northern Platforms
Since 2002, Northern Platforms has proudly offered Western Canadian businesses the rolling platforms, stairs, catwalks, and other safe access solutions they need to keep their facilities and staff safe. As a family-owned and operated company in Leduc, Alberta, Northern Platforms is committed to providing you with the best safe access solutions from trusted brands. At Northern Platforms, in addition to our range of rolling platforms and safe access solutions, our team proudly offers a range of preventative maintenance, installation and turnkey services. So when you need a reliable source to ensure your worksite or facility is safe, trust the team at Northern Platforms to have the products and knowledge you need!
Ready to learn more about our offering of RollaStep rolling platforms? Contact Northern Platforms today!
For years Alberta has been a top ammonia producer for many agricultural and energy-related industries. As the demand for cleaner energy sources increases, more processing, manufacturing, and industrial facilities will require other energy sources, such as hydrogen. The primary way to transport hydrogen is by combining it with nitrogen to produce ammonia. Hydrogen as ammonia is not a new industry; however, if you want to expand your business into transporting ammonia, you’ll need industry-specific loading equipment and safety solutions. This is where Northern Platforms can help! Continue reading to learn more about transporting hydrogen as ammonia and how Northern Platforms can make loading/ unloading this chemical safe and efficient.
Risk Factors with Loading Hydrogen as Ammonia
As many sectors turn towards more green initiatives, the ammonia and hydrogen industry is quickly growing. Ammonia is the industry standard way to convert green or blue hydrogen into an easy-to-transport fluid. That way, end users of either ammonia or hydrogen can store it with ease and don’t need to be concerned with the challenges of transporting or storing hydrogen in its pure form. However, there are still risks associated with transporting, loading, and storing hydrogen as ammonia. Ammonia is flammable, corrosive, and poses a significant explosion risk. That’s why it must be transported in below-zero temperatures. Due to these properties, ammonia transportation and loading require specific loading arms and safety measures. Fortunately, regardless of your business’ ammonia loading frequency, Northern Platforms has the loading arms you need!
Loading Arms for Ammonia
Ammonia is typically transported via thermally protected tank railcars and high-pressure tank trailers. Regarding loading these tanks, there is some specific equipment you need. Equipment such as truck loading arms or chemical hoses with quick-acting couplings, preferably in the form of Hammer Unions with stabber pipes, tend to be the industry preference. This is the industry standard as you can support this hose with a mechanical loading arm (otherwise called a bypass arm) for better handling. While having a top inlet with a control valve will ensure self-draining after use.
Also, with the help of Northern Platforms’ experts, our team can ensure your ammonia truck loading arms have both liquid and vapour hoses with the proper gaskets, seals, and spill containment systems, so you never have to worry about accidental spills or splash loading. Finally, to best complete your ammonia loading arm setup, our team recommends fitting break-away couplings near the inlet of the hose in case of a roll-away or drive-off event. When outfitting your facility with the proper ammonia truck and railcar loading arms, get assistance from the experts in safe access solutions. Trust Northern Platforms for all your fluid transfer and safe access solution needs.
Truck Loading Arms at Northern Platforms
At Northern Platforms, our team proudly provides customers custom-engineered solutions for all loading operations. Many of our solutions utilize industry-specific loading arms in conjunction with loading platforms and other safety systems. That way, your employees and facility can reap the benefits of having a tailored, all-in-one safe access and loading solution. With partnerships from top industry leaders such as OPW Engineered Systems, EMCO Wheaton, SafeRack and more, Northern Platforms is here to help you with all your hydrogen as ammonia loading needs!
Contact us today to learn more about our truck or railcar loading arms and other safe access solutions.
Regardless of your industry, ensuring your staff is safe from fall hazards is crucial for your business. This is especially true if your facility loads and unloads trucks. However, implementing a fall protection system for truck loading can be a complex challenge, as many factors can affect what would make the best system for your facility. Fortunately, Northern Platforms is here to help! As an exclusive dealer of SafeRack truck-loading fall protection equipment, our team is well acquainted with the many factors that influence fall protection systems. Continue reading to learn more about the factors you need to consider when investing in a truck-loading fall protection system.
Prioritize Fall Protection
Proper truck loading fall protection is vital for ensuring your employees are safe. Flatbeds, box trucks, and tanker trucks all have their own access points, access challenges and fall hazards that you need to be aware of. Moreover, the same can be said for different truck loading facilities, such as truck weigh stations and multibay trailer terminals. Suppose you’re loading trucks at a terminal or point of delivery. In that case, it’s critical that you have a safe means of accessing those trucks, tankers, and trailers. A truck loading fall protection system can ensure that your drivers and staff are safe throughout the loading and unloading process. Whether you require a permanent fall protection system or a temporary one, Northern Platforms has the OSHA/OH&S-compliant fall protection solutions you need.
Design Considerations
To implement an effective fall protection system for your truck loading process, there are a few factors you need to consider. Some factors to consider include trailer styles, the volume of traffic, the layout of the loading terminal, the location of the loading dock (indoors or outside), the presence of overhead cranes and more. For instance, say your truck loading facility primarily deals with tankers and bulk solid haulers. If that’s the case, a permanent loading platform with gangways is a great option to allow your personnel to safely reach the tops of these trailers. However, every truck loading fall protection system will be unique to the facility and trucks it’s working with.
Fortunately, the team at Northern Platforms can help you find the right fall protection system for your truck-loading facility. As the exclusive Canadian distributor of SafeRack products, Northern Platforms has the truck-loading fall protection equipment you need to keep your staff safe and ensure your worksite complies with OHSA/ OH&S fall protection regulations.
Truck Loading Fall Protection Systems from Northern Platforms
At Northern Platforms, our team is proud to provide our customers with a wide range of OHSA/ OH&S and IBC-compliant truck loading fall protection equipment. From mobile rolling stairs, such as the RollaStep, to truck loading platforms, gangways and OPW loading arms, Northern Platforms is your trusted source for SafeRack truck loading fall protection. Our fall protection experts can visit your facility to determine the best truck loading fall protection system for your site and applications.
Regardless of the type of truck loading facility or industry you’re working in, Northern Platforms is here to ensure your site is safe and accessible. Contact us today to learn more about truck loading fall protection and how our team can help you find the right equipment for your facility!
