SafeTec’s Safety Blog – Safety Articles and information on the lightweight and portable X-Decks, work platforms, scaffolding, ladders, aerial lifts, and scissor lifts.
According to energy industry comptrollers, the average 6 foot scaffold costs $6,000 with each work order.
The X-Deck costs more in material goods initially but is proven to reduce labor costs by 80%. Thus paying for itself after only two uses. Therefore, you will be saving money for every subsequent use.
Energy Industry Update
The X-Deck Pro Nuclear Edition was featured and presented at the FME Industry Working Meeting in Portland, ME from July 17 – 19th.
Contact us for a demo at your energy facility! The X-Deck is great for nuclear plants, coal power plants, renewable energy, solar energy, hydro energy.
We have great success stories from many nuclear power plants.
The X-Deck Pro Nuclear Edition
This specialty model features three different mechanisms to make it seismically compliant. The X-Deck Nuclear Edition also features the connectivity to your traditional scaffolding.
The seismic upgrades to the Nuclear Edition models are quite unique. It has been proven to be able to set up in less than two minutes and make it seismic in less than 4 minutes. Quickly and safely use your XDeck!
Compared to other platforms and low-level scaffolds you might be using, you will see on our website that all of our X-Decks are:
Always assembled out of the box allowing set up within seconds
OSHA compliant from the start requiring no inspections and less paperwork
Mobile and portable giving the workers more time to work and less time having to break down and re-setup equipment
Flex Technology allows workers to use decks for extended periods of time, reducing stress on their feet and back
Adjustable height settings allow 7″ increments between height placement
Designed with safety accessories such as Guard Rails, Work Trays, Wide Steps, Rung Safety Bar, etc.
Our most popular decks are the 6 Step 18″ platform and the 5 Step 36″ across all industries and for all applications. Please keep in mind we are able to fully customize any of our decks and accessories, including a detachable ladder that can be used on any side of the deck, double wide steps, kick plates, etc.
We are doing a special promotion that includes sending any model X-Deck with any of our accessories for 30 days at no charge for your shop guys to try out and compare to some of the current equipment being used. At the of the 30 days you can decide to keep it or send it back.
If interested I can send you the main point of contact’s information for any of the other energy facilities we are currently working with that use any of our decks and accessories, just let me know.
Please let me know if you have any questions or need further information or more pictures of any of the units/accessories.
1) Before climbing up on your X-Deck, one needs to check if there are any cracked welds. If your X-Deck was overloaded, the most likely place a weld might be cracked is the most upper/topmost vertical spot where the round leg outrigger meets the square leg. Cracks are most likely to happen on either side of the weld- use a flashlight if lighting is not excellent.
2) As you are walking around your X-Deck make sure there is no obvious sign of damage or missing parts. If you see a cut wire or damage to the X-Deck or handrails, do not use your X-Deck.
3) If you found a cracked weld or damage, please contact us at Allstands so we can take care of your problem. 502-331-9759
Annual detailed inspection
1) Check your entire X-Deck for any cracked welds. Using a flashlight will help while looking under the deck at the top of the legs. Look your entire X-Deck over and don’t forget the handrails and the pockets that are welded onto the side of your X-Deck.
2) Stickers- If any stickers are illegible, contact us for replacement options.
3) Check the rubber feet for signs of wear. Rubber feet are cheap and it’s best to replace them if worn. The rubber feet can easily be removed with a pipe wrench.
4) Check for any signs of damage – cut cables, broken latch, missing pins, etc.
5) If you found a cracked weld or damage, please contact us at Allstands so we can take care of your problem. 502-331-9759
Argonne National Laboratory working with the Department of Energy have found an interesting way to use their X-Deck. They have mounted their equipment onto the deck of the X-Deck so they have a portable height adjustable work table to use to hold all their tools. This allows them to be mobile and still have everything they need ready to use on a moments notice.
Attached are two photos:
Department of Energy portable work platform smaller
There are a lot of inexpensive platforms on the market and they come with their limitations. From baker-scaffold to low cost small work platforms. Many will not withstand the stress and have a lilmited life span and over time fail. These work platforms are also often found to be unsteady and can results in falls.
A recent customer had an unfortunate incident with a Werner Platform. The platform broke and hurt the customer causing him to rethink purchasing an inexpensive made products and invest in a safer better made product – the X-Deck. I have attached Jeffrey M. Harnish’s testimonial and pictures of what happended when he stepped onto this Platform.
Mr. Harnish is the President of East Coast Claims Service located in North Scituate, RI. After speaking with Mr. Harnish I was shocked that the Werner ladder rated for 225 lbs collapse when a man weighing a mere 230 lbs steped onto it. Luckily his new light duty X-Deck is certified to hold 1,200 lbs with a SWL of 300 lbs. It is safely meeting their weight and stress requirements.
A Common question a lot of safety people ask is how to classify the X-Deck?
~ Is the X-Deck a Ladder, Platform, Work Platform, Scaffold, Aerial Lift, Scissor Lift, Ladder Jack, Elevated Platform?
We have been called a lot of different things depending on the business and the safety director. I think the best definition for our product is the following as coined by a OSHA director at the Georgia Safety Show:
The X-Deck is ALWAYS ASSEMBLED SCAFFOLDING.
The reason for this is that all of our X-Decks come ready for use straight out of the box.
You do not ever need to disassembled an X-Deck, merely fold it flat when not in use.
One of the biggest benefits to this definition is that you do not need the scaffolding to be tagged and inspected before use, because it was not put together merely raised up to a height setting.
If it is going to be used between shifts, merely have the last guy lower it down between shifts.
Businesses still want a competent person to erect the X-Deck and they do this by having their employees watch a 2 minute training video.
This is the same interpretation that many nuclear power plants have adapted as well as the US military.
For a more generic definition of our product you can also use the standard scaffolding standards that are found below:
Regulations (Standards – 29 CFR)
Scaffold Specifications – 1926 Subpart L App A
We meet all OSHA standards including SWL (Certified for weight, 4X SWL). In addition to the strength requirements, we meet the height and width requirements and all handrail height and strength requirements.
We offer OSHA gates which are not required but sometimes suggested by OSHA.
We have been approved by the safety department of numerous large or fortune 500 companies, such as: Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing Aviation, NASA, Kennedy Space Center, General Electric, Dynamic Industries, Cessna, First Energy – OH and PA, Surry Nuclear Power Plant – VA, Husky Energy – CAN, Palisades Nuclear Power Plant, TVA – Watts Bay Nuclear Plant and many others.
We were approved by the State of Georgia Department of Labor – OSHA division, for showing at their 2007 yearly convention. One of their seminars on ladders/scaffold featured the SafeTec products. We were also invited by the State of Ohio, Department of Labor to show at their annual Workman’s Compensation Convention 2006.
We have also been accepted by Sears, Grainger, and Snap on Tools safety departments.
SafeTec is proud to introduce the newest accessory that will debut in its impressive line-up within the next 8 weeks. It is a revolutionary dolly and wheel kit system that will allow the user to effortlessly move a platform equipped with this system with minimal effort. Operation consists of lifting the wheel kit and and pulling down on the dolly handle. This raises the platform onto the rubber wheels and allows the platform to moved in an erect or folded state with ease. This system will be available for both the 18″ and 36″ platforms (although somewhat different) and will come as a set that is pre-assembled for the user. This system increases productivity and efficiency while maintaining a safe working environment.
Physical or mental exhaustion can be threatening to your work performance. Too many people try to push themselves too far. It is important to make your priorities and to stick to them. Make sure that you get a full nights rest and come to work to be on the top of your game.
Tips for avoiding fatigue:
* Have others check your work.
* Watch for symptoms of fatigue in yourself and others.
The X-Deck is lighter than traditional scaffolding. This allows for cheaper transportation costs and less worker fatigue.
The X-Deck is ONE PIECE. There is no complicated setup like traditional scaffolding. You do not have to have a certified inspector to check to see if the X-Deck is properly setup because after use the X-Deck stays in one piece and does not have to be taken apart. This also keeps you from losing necessary pieces.
The X-Deck is height adjustable. Although traditional scaffolding has some degree of adjust ability when it comes to different height settings the X-Deck adjusts up from its lowest setting in 7″ increments. This allows the worker to work at the PERFECT height for their application.
The X-Deck is FIRST AND FOREMOST A SAFETY PRODUCT. The X-Deck has been recognized for its contributions in safety from safety organizations, nuclear power plants, State run organizations, and other trade related fields. Unlike traditional scaffolding that forces you to climb up stairs on the outside and climb over a rail, the X-Deck allows you to walk up comfortably and without any strain. The X-Deck comes standard with a handrail which most traditional scaffolding lacks. The X-Deck has a built in ANTI-SLIP, ANTI-TIP design that allows workers to work the full length and get their work done without fear of losing their tread or the product wanting to tip over.
The X-Deck is extremely portable. The X-Deck can fold flat and pop open in seconds. It is simple and easy to setup. The X-Deck will allow you to get to your job site either carrying or rolling your X-Deck and then in a matter of seconds completely setup up the one unit or maybe even a second unit and a connecting board and get to the job at hand. This will allow you to easily move the X-Deck from job site to job site and be more productive.
YOU CAN SET-UP 20FT OF WALKWAY IN LESS THAN 1 MINUTE. One of the great things about the X-Deck is that with 2 units and a connecting board (Either 8′ or 10′), one man can set up the 2 units and join them together with this walkway to have 20FT of walkway in less than 1 minute. Once you setup this walkway you can bridge over top of things you normally could not get to and where the only previous option was to spend hours setting up traditional scaffolding. You can setup the 2 units and the plank in a straight line, or curve the line, or even turn the 2 X-Deck parallel and connect them with a plank making a “C” shaped walkway. Any configuration you can think of you can do with the X-Decks. Plus you do not have to stop at 20ft! You can keep connecting additional planks and X-Decks together and build a walkway that can encircle a house!
The X-Deck is stronger – MUCH STRONGER. While most scaffolding has a 500lbs capacity the X-Deck is certified to hold up to 2,000 lbs! This means you can feel comfortable getting more than one worker on an X-Deck or bring equipment up on the X-Deck with you. The X-Deck is stronger because it is hand made with only solid welds and not cheaply made by merely spot welding. The X-Deck is a stronger more quality product than any traditional scaffolding.
The X-Deck is built to last. Yes traditional scaffolding is a little cheaper, but you get what you pay for. The X-Deck has been tested and proven to last 5 to 10 times the life of traditional scaffolding. Depending on the usage of some traditional scaffolding they can be unsuitable for use as little as 6 months after purchase. The X-Deck WILL LAST 20 to 30 years of everyday industrial usage.
The X-Deck can be customizable to fit your specific application perfectly. With different options including deck width, step width, wheel kits, work trays, connecting boards, many handrail options, and our ability to do custom work for you makes the X-Deck the perfect tool for your job.
The X-Deck is SEXY. Not only is it sleek, chrome, simple to use, and a head turner, but it says something about who you are. You are someone that values strength, stability, and safety. You invest in safety and in making your company the best it can be. When you get to a job, pop open your X-Deck, and don’t even break a sweat or a smile you are going to look like the professional that you already are. Not only do you get a “step up” on your competition you will be the most memorable because you will be the safest, fastest, and best company around.
Distractions can occur from an unlimited number of outside influencers. These distractions can be as simple as a cell phone going off to thinking about the next job and not the job at hand.
Tips to avoid distractions: * Go back 3 Steps when you return to a job.
* Use a detailed check list.
According to The National Safety Councils’ Magazine entitled “Safety & Health“; Scaffolding, Ladders and Fall Protection are three of the Top 10 most frequently cited OSHA categories. These citations are common incidents that range from blatant safety disregards to product misuse. Here is a list of the Top 10 Most Frequent OSHA Violations from 2008 which is taken from the National Safety Councils’ website (www.nsc.org).
Workplace Safety Compliance
OSHA’s 10 Most Frequently Cited
Violations of 2008
Including links to training programs available through the National Safety Council
(OSHA’s list covers the period of October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2008.)
These common violations and safety issues derived from scaffolding and ladder use can be solved by using an X-Deck Work Platform. The X-Deck combined the portability and ease-of-set-up that one would expect from a step-ladder with the safety and increased productivity that is commonly found in scaffolding. The X-Deck; “Simplifying Safety.“
This was a flyer that was published in a national safety magazine.
Injuries… Work Comp…Productivity Concerns?
The SafeTec Platforms are certified, tested, and proven. In compliance with OSHA, ANSI and CSA International Standards. Invest in Safety – Invest in the X-Deck
We have been through the safety departments of several major companies safety departments. We presently sell to NASA, Kennedy Space Center, Disney, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grummon, General Mills, General Electric, Bath Iron Works, United States Air Force at Ft. Knox – we have also been approved through the Sears and Grainger safety departments and are approved vendors for both.
We were named as a new safety product by the Georgia and Ohio department of Labor (OSHA) in 2006 and 2008. The Georgia Dept. of Labor had a seminar on platforms/ladders and featured our X-Deck as a safe alternative. Program given by Ralph Blessing, safety director for McKenney’s Mechanical – Atlanta office and OSHA instructor. They also asked the US Dept. of Labor – OSHA in Washington DC if they saw any problems showing our product at their safety show. The U.S. Dept of labor found no problems. Bovis Lend-Lease named us as the “Best Practice” over step ladders.
We meet all the standards (OSHA and ANSI) on Scaffolding and platforms including:
Strength (SWL) – we have been tested and certified by an outside independent testing agency
Handrails – height and strength (200 lbs from all angles)
Base to height ratio’s
3 points of contact for mounting and dismounting
OSHA compliant gates
ANSI – welding and ladder standards (all work by certified welders and certified equipment)
Tread-plate is an aggressive, non-slip design
We also have a anti-tip design that far exceed our competitors.
Check your local and state standards for all compliance issues.
If there anything specific you need me to address or any other issues. Please contact us.
This occurs due to failure to have training, information, and / or ability to conduct a task.
Ask when you don’t know.
Use current manuals
Accidents and Injuries often happen when we try and do things that we do not know how to do. If you do not know the answer to a question tell them you will get back with them when you find out the answer.
A simple tool is often the best tool. The X-Deck is as simple to adjust as a ladder but with the safety of scaffolding. Scaffolds are often complicated with many different parts. Traditional scaffolding also often has to be inspected by a trained professional.
Invest in safety and education and you will never go wrong.
Overconfidence from repeated experience on a specific activity.
Expect the unexpected
Remember to upgrade your ladders and scaffolding to the X-Deck work platform. Just because you have always worked off of a ladder does not mean it is the right tool for the job. Injuries happen when people do not expect them. Plan ahead – and remember that one ladder injury costs way more than investing in a safety product like the X-Deck. In the end an X-Deck pays for itself many times over.
Having a lack of resources is a huge safety hazard.
This can be a lack of people, equipment, documentation, time, parts, etc., to complete a task. Coming to work with the right tools for the job is key to the job’s success.
Safety Tips:
* Order parts before they are required.
* Have a plan for pooling or loaning parts.
If you invest in a X-Deck for any elevated work projects you are always prepared to get the job done safely and in the least amount of time.