Does your workplace health and safety team have a fall protection plan in place?
If you answered no, it may be time to take a close look at why not. Fall protection is one of the most important aspects of safety on the job, and with industrial sites and rail loading locations becoming busier once more, it’s time to ensure you have the right safeguards in place on your job site.
At Northern Platforms, we’re proud to support workplace safety on all fronts and serve as one of Canada’s most in-demand suppliers of loading safety tools, including fall protection for railcar loading and more. Below, we’ll talk about the importance of having a fall protection plan on the job, as well as the benefits of railcar loading safety protection. Read on to learn more!
Why Do You Need Protection?
Simply put, falls are one of the most prevalent, and most dangerous risks facing today’s worksites, especially on locations that feature catwalks, platforms, and ladders for loading/unloading. In order to be compliant with OSHA standards, as well as to ensure your team always has the support they need, fall protection equipment goes a long way toward mitigating disaster and allowing everyone to stay on track with minimal issues.
The Reality of Working At Heights
Working at heights poses a distinct risk, regardless of whether you’re only a few feet off the ground or soaring high in the sky. When working with railcars, in particular, having safety measures in place is a guaranteed way to help minimize risks like falling from step ladders or gangs, being pushed off by falling products, and more.
Designing a Fall Protection Plan
In order to maintain OSHA compliance and keep your daily operations as efficient as possible, your workplace safety team will want to have a detailed fall protection plan in place. Your plan should highlight, in detail, specific procedures and policies pertaining to the assembling, maintenance, inspection, and overall use of platform and lift equipment such as ladders, stairs, scaffolds, and more. Bear in mind that no two job sites will (or should) have the same protection plan and your safety team will need to focus on integrating elements that are relevant to your specific setup.
Railcar and Loading Protection Solutions at Northern Platforms
With over 18 years of industry-leading experience, Northern Platforms is proud to be one of Western Canada’s leading suppliers of site safety and platform access solutions including portable access platforms, loading racks, loading arms, and more. Our team believes in offering exceptional customer service as wells as unbeatable products to provide an all-around stress-free experience from start to finish. Learn more about our railcar loaned and safety solutions as well as our extensive range of other items by contacting our team today!
Is your crew always on the go and in need of modular safe access solutions you can depend on? Whether you’re in the oil & gas, transportation, construction, or any other related heavy industry, Northern Platforms is here to keep you covered! With decades of expertise under our belt and a competitive inventory that makes sure you always have access to the products you need, Northern Platforms is one of Western Canada’s most trusted providers of safe access products. When you want products you can depend on and customer service that always keeps your needs front and center, it’s time to contact Northern Platforms!
Build The Right Fit
At Northern Platforms, we know that safe access solutions are rarely “one size fits all”. That’s why portable access platforms and modular solutions have quickly become one of the preferred choices across North America for facility safety and efficiency. Designed to enhance your overall operations while also ensuring compliance with OH&S and OSHA standards, these platforms make it easy to load and unload heavy and awkward cargo quickly.
Thanks to their ability to be swiftly configured to almost any setup, modular platforms produced by manufacturers like ErectaStep gives you freedom and mobility, as well as cost-effective savings over fabricated solutions that can leave your facility in a bind should you face sudden changes. Portable landing platforms are ideal for both short and long-term use and facilitate the safe loading and unloading of products, as well as on-site transport and mobility. Simply put, if you’re looking for the best ROI for your budget, modular systems are a fantastic solution that gives you access to a wide range of options, including the ability to add fall protection and safe access points on railcars and trucks as needed.
At Northern Platforms, you can always count on us to stock the leading solutions for all loading applications, including solutions from industry-leading manufacturers like
SafeRack (We are Western Canada’s exclusive source for SafeRack)
RollAStep
ErectAStep, and more.
Your All-Access Provider
For almost two decades, the Northern Platforms team has partnered with clients throughout Western Canada to assist them with finding the perfect loading solutions for their operations. From work platforms to rolling steps, spill containment, and everything in between, our experts are here to ensure you have the help you need, right from the first set up to expansions and everything in between.
Alongside our vast inventory, you’ll also find multiple services dedicated to assisting with turnkey installation services and preventive maintenance, meaning you can trust us to help your crew reach where they need to go, every step of the way. Partnering with Northern Platforms gives you access to everything you need to succeed, without the gimmicks, budget busters, or headaches along the way.
Learn more about our portable access platform solutions as well as our extensive range of other items by contacting our team today!
Are you in the hauling, trucking, heavy industrial, or construction sectors? If you’re tired of dealing with the ups and downs that come with loading and unloading, it’s time to look into the benefits of specially designed safety and efficiency equipment like SafeRack’s line of truck loading safety platforms.
Designed to uphold OH&S/OSHA standards, as well as provide superior protection for activities taking place more than 4 feet above the ground, safety platforms and gangways help keep your crew safe, efficient and minimize on-the-job risks with fall protection and more. Northern Platforms believes in the importance of workplace safety and is proud to stock leading solutions from the top manufacturers in the industry in our inventory. We are Western Canada’s exclusive source for SafeRack products, and offer extensive assistance for all your safe access needs Learn more about the benefits of truck loading safety platforms, including SafeRack’s self-adjusting stair gangway, below!
Workplace Compliance Meets Safety
It’s no secret that Albertan, as well as Canadian safety standards in the workplace, are extensive and for good reason. With the right tools and solutions in place, you can greatly reduce the risk faced by your employees. Safety platforms and gangways will help you stay aligned with many government mandates, but also drastically enhance workplace efficiency. With the ability to include fall protection, swing gates, and other enhanced safety features, truck loading safety platforms are versatile and dependable when, and where, it matters most.
Meet SafeRack
When it comes to purchasing safety and efficiency-related equipment, there’s simply no room to settle for second best. With a reputation for unbeatable quality and constant innovation, Northern Platforms is pleased to carry SafeRack’s line of platforms and gangways. Made from high-grade aluminum, SafeRack’s self-adjusting gangway system is designed to fit a vast range of vehicle heights and offer a superior lifecycle thanks to its U-Body design, SAS gangways are rugged, easy to use, and require minimal effort to raise an lower onto the vehicle you are accessing. SafeRack gangways also offer the option to include a gangway track system to allow for miss-spotting of vehicles, and when you buy from Northern Platforms, you can be rest assured your equipment will be shipped as quickly as possible for your convenience.
SafeRack Equipment at Northern Platforms
Northern Platforms is proud to be the exclusive distributor of SafeRack products throughout Western Canada and to feature many of their most in-demand products throughout our inventory. Our range of solutions features the SafeRack self-adjusting stair gangway and much more. Contact our team today to learn more about SafeRack’s gangways, as well as Northern Platforms’ extensive range of safe access and loading solutions!
Tired of dealing with messy loading setups and inadequate access solutions that make operations difficult and unsafe? For those in the railcar or truck loading industry, loading platforms are a vital asset that makes operations much safer, as well as more efficient. With today’s loading platforms designed to uphold all OH&S/OSHA standards, as well as provide a safe work environment for applications that take place over 4 ft from ground level, truck loading platforms are a valuable asset to any hauling operation.
As one of Western Canada’s leading suppliers of safe access and loading solutions, we’re proud to offer top products from manufactures like SafeRack and more. Northern Platforms is also your exclusive source for SafeRack items in the west and offers a highly varied inventory to choose from. Below, we’ll take a close look at the benefits of truck loading safety platforms, including SafeRack’s self-adjusting stair gangway. Read on to learn more!
Safety First!
As we all know, Canada’s safety regulations for loading and unloading have become progressively more detailed, with compliance now being strictly enforced for everyone’s benefit. Safety platforms not only guarantee compliance but are designed to facilitate enhanced efficiency for your entire operation by minimizing risk. With heavy duty-safety cages and numerous options that can be supplied to meet your individual needs, safety platforms and gangways are set to tackle the heaviest of tasks. Northern Platforms’ loading safety platforms have everything you need to succeed!
SafeRack’s Self-Adjusting & Self-Leveling Gangway
At Northern Platforms, we believe in supplying our clients with only the best products. That’s why we’re proud to be western Canada’s exclusive source for SafeRack solutions. With a reputation for high-end results and unbeatable performance, SafeRack’s self-adjusting gangway system is designed to pair seamlessly with a wide variety of sizes and ranges of trucks. In addition, SafeRack’s self-adjusting / self-leveling gangway has a wide working range and makes it easy to deal with vehicles that vary in height. Best of all, the singular piece design means that welds are reduced and, as a result, potential failures are virtually eliminated. Northern Platforms’ SAS gangways are easy to use, long-lasting, and can be easily retrofitted to your existing platform as needed. The self-adjusting stair gangway is often supplied with a safety cage for extra fall protection and the gangways can also be supplied with a gangway track system to allow for miss-spotting of the trucks.
Your Exclusive Source
Northern Platforms is pleased to be the exclusive distributor of SafeRack products throughout Western Canada. Our inventory features several SafeRack products, including the SafeRack self-adjusting stair gangway and much more. Contact our team today to learn more about SafeRack’s gangway, as well as Northern Platforms’ extensive range of safe access and loading solutions!
Need a safeguard that keeps your workers in place and enhances the overall efficiency of your workplace? Swing gates are one of the most widely used safety tools used on industrial, retail, warehousing, and related job sites, and for good reason. Thanks to their effectiveness when it comes to serving as adequate fall protection, swing gates are a fantastic way to stay on top of OSHA & OH&S standards and mitigate hazards.
Northern Platforms is proud to be one of Western Canada’s leading suppliers of safe access solutions, including swing gates by Yellow Gate. If you’ve been looking for a reliable safeguard that makes elevated loading and unloading, as well as navigating gangways and related structures safe and efficient, it’s time to consider swing gates! Learn more about the benefits of metal swing gates below!
The Highest Level of Safety
At Northern Platforms, we believe that safety is paramount to successful operations, as well as keeping your crew happy and healthy on the job. Fall protection is one of the most vital aspects of on-site safety and helps minimize the risks associated with catwalks, platforms, loading platforms, rolling stairs, and related equipment. Swing gates serve as a passive form of fall protection by allowing individuals to pass through and perform their duties at higher levels, while also making sure they have stability and the last line of defense that prevents them from falling off.
Gates made by industry leaders like YellowGate offer unbeatable performance and have multiple benefits, including:
Strength And Durability
The best kind of safety equipment will be able to do its job today, but still, maintain effectiveness long down the line without degrading or breaking down. Since swing gates are a more passive form of fall protection, they’re able to maintain their performance for many years to come.
Versatility
While there’s always a place for highly specialized safety equipment, the versatility offered by swing gates is a significant plus to any job site and affords you superior value thanks to the wide range of options available. Steel or aluminum gates can be used both inside and outside and are suitable to serve as access gates, facility restriction enforcement, and more.
Customizable
Need gates that can be installed easily and fit your exact needs? YellowGate has you covered! Gates can easily be custom designed to meet your precise requirements and allow you to operate with confidence, no matter the scope of your operations and facility.
Swing Gates and More at Northern Platforms
Ready to swing to the front of the line for your customers? Northern Platforms is here to help! Located in Leduc, Alberta, our team is proud to offer clients across Western Canada access to leading products from manufactures like YellowGate, SafeRack (we are Western Canada’s exclusive distributor of SafeRack), and more. Contact us today to learn more about YellowGate solutions!
Did you know that each year, countless workplace safety incidences occur as the result of insufficient fall protection practices and solutions being present on the job site? Falls are among the most dangerous occurrences that can happen while loading or unloading your products to/from railcars, and the aftermath of an accident can have serious repercussions for your business in the long term. At Northern Platforms, we believe in providing our clients across Western Canada with safe access and loading solutions that make it easy to perform your day-to-day operations with minimal risk and maximizing productivity.
With many of our clients having railcar loading or unloading operations on their site, we understand the many unique challenges posed by loading railcars. While using loading platforms and loading arms go a long way toward minimizing risk, knowing how to proactively reduce the chances for accidents or fatalities is a must for every company. Below, we’ll detail three of the key ways you can help keep your worksite safe while dealing with railcars. Read on to learn more!
Prevention is Your Best Protection
As anyone familiar with the OSHA standards will know, when it comes to preventing worksite accidents, prevention is the best defence. While you will almost always find aspects that need to be improved over time, diligence and awareness are your two biggest assets when it comes to mitigating risk and creating a space that’s safe for everyone on site.
Railcars pose unique challenges to safety practices due to the many configurations they come in. The variances between railcars can make it hard for employees to be protected. Railcar lengths, heights, crash box sizes & variances all need to be taken into consideration when designing a safe loading or unloading station. With that being said, forethought, planning, and the right tools will help you keep everyone safe and set up for success.
Safely Equipped
One of the most important parts of injury prevention is using the right equipment that allows you to navigate railcars safely. Loading platforms, tracking gangways, safety cages and additional fall protection go a long way to reducing risk and keeping your crew efficient. And don’t forget before you do anything you need to chock the wheels on your railcar and set up your blue flag! Partnering with an experienced team like Northern Platform makes it easy to find exactly what pieces you need for your specific set-up, and allows you to have the peace of mind of knowing that all products will perform exactly as promised.
Train, Train, Train
Even with the right equipment in place, you should always ensure that all members of your crew have adequate training to know how to safely navigate your equipment, safety gear such as harness, and come equipped with their own PPE as required. Education is one of the most important parts of setting the foundation for a safe worksite and gives your team confidence as well as reassurance that they know what is required of them to get the job done with minimal risks.
Know the Challenges of Your Site
Every worksite is different, as are the needs of the railcars you have coming and going. Be aware of any challenges, limitations and special considerations you need to deal with be it from your facility, your cargo, or anything else you deal with. Thinking three steps ahead will save you time and money in the long run, not to mention keep everyone safe, happy and healthy!
Ready to Design the Perfect Railcar Safety Set Up?
Northern Platforms is here to help! Contact us today to learn more about our available solutions.
