Wednesday 29 February 2012

Rope Access Confined Space Cleaning & Inspection

We have completed today, cleaning & inspection to a 60 metre shaft, using Roped Access methods by our Confined Space Entry Team.

The shaft, which is a sand elevator, has been suffering with corrosion due to the wet sand and oxidation, we were tasked to inspect the shaft and remove heavily rusted areas that were flaking off and contaminating the sand. 

 
Our Rope Access Confined Space Services are built around our vast knowledge of cleaning, inspection and maintenance of silos, ducting and shafts. Our technicians are experienced and qualified in working in the most hostile of confined space environments. Our technicians are fully trained in confined space entry, egress and rescue. All projects are subject to a detailed site survey, where risk assessments and method statements are supplied as a matter of due process conforming to the Confined Space Regulations 1997.







If your Organisation requires any of our specialist services, please dont hesitate to contact us

alternatively visit our website to see what other services we have to offer you.

 www.complete-access.co.uk

Tuesday 28 February 2012

Rope Access Window Cleaning using Reach&Wash

Today we have completed Rope Access Window Cleaning using Reach&Wash in Coventry.

We have used a mobile 4 stage filtration system called the Quattro made by Ionics, this system is a trolley mounted 4 stage filtration system that is directly fed from a water supply.....in this case it is located on the roof.
This system differs from other Reach&Wash systems as it filters water directly from a tap rather than being fed de-ionised water from a tank in a van.

This system works well with Rope Access Window Cleaning where large overhangs are directly above the glazing or cladding and there is no potential to install eyebolts for re-belays.







If your Organisation requires any of our services......please dont hesitate to contact us
or visit our web to  see the rest of our services www.complete-access.co.uk




Friday 17 February 2012

Rope Access - Confined Spaces - Silo Cleaning

What is a Confined Space?

It can be any space of an enclosed nature where there is a risk of death or serious injury from hazardous substances or dangerous conditions.....this can be from lack of oxygen and even too much oxygen that can be combustable, LEL's such as methane and hydrogen sulphide are to name a few which should be monitored, prior and during entry.

Some confined spaces are fairly easy to identify, e.g. enclosures with limited openings:

* Storage tanks;
* Silos;
* Reaction vessels;
* Enclosed drains;
* Sewers.

Others may be less obvious, but can be equally dangerous, for example:

* Open-topped chambers;
* Vats;
* Combustion chambers in furnaces etc;
* Ductwork;
* Unventilated or poorly ventilated rooms or shafts.



It is not possible to provide a comprehensive list of confined spaces. Some places may become confined spaces when work is carried out, or during their construction, fabrication or subsequent modification.

What are the dangers from confined spaces?

Dangers can arise in confined spaces because of:

A lack of oxygen;This can occur:
  • where there is a reaction between some soils and the oxygen in the atmosphere;
  • following the action of ground water on chalk and limestone which can produce carbon dioxide and displace normal air;
  • in ships' holds, freight containers, lorries, etc., as a result of the cargo reacting with oxygen inside the space;
  • inside steel tanks and vessels when rust forms.
  • Poisonous gas, fume or vapour.
These can:
build-up in sewers and manholes and in pits connected to the system;
enter tanks or vessels from connecting pipes;
leak into trenches and pits in contaminated land, such as old refuse tips and old gas works.
Liquids and solids which can suddenly fill the space, or release gases into it, when disturbed. Free flowing solids such as grain can also partially solidify or 'bridge' in silos causing blockages which can collapse unexpectedly.
Fire and explosions (e.g. from flammable vapours, excess oxygen, etc.).
Residues left in tanks, vessels, etc., or remaining on internal surfaces which can give off gas, fume or vapour.
Dust may be present in high concentrations, e.g. in flour silos.
Hot conditions leading to a dangerous increase in body temperature.

Some of the above conditions may already be present in the confined space, however, some may arise through the work being carried out, or because of ineffective isolation of plant nearby, e.g. leakage from a pipe connected to the confined space. The enclosure and working space may increase other dangers arising through the work being carried out, for example:

  • Machinery being used may require special precautions, such as provision of dust extraction for a portable grinder, or special precautions against electric shock;
  • Gas, fume or vapour can arise from welding, or by use of volatile and often flammable solvents, adhesives, etc.;
  • If access to the space is through a restricted entrance, such as manhole, escape or rescue in an emergency will be more difficult......so rescue procedures must be put in place prior to commencement of the works. 

What the law says:
You must carry out a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks for all work activities for the purpose of deciding what measures are necessary for safety
(The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, Regulation 3).

For work in confined spaces this means identifying the hazards present, assessing the risks and determining what precautions to take. In most cases the assessment will include consideration of:

* The task;
* The working environment;
* Working materials and tools;
* The suitability of those carrying out the task;
* Arrangements for emergency rescue.

All staff entering confined spaces are subject to specific training and should be competent to manage the risk.......confined space entry, egress and rescue......and of course .....all staff should be trained in the correct use of.... and issued with the correct PPE under PUWER 1998.


If your Organisation requires any of our professional services, please dont hesitate to contact the team.






Thursday 16 February 2012

Rope Access Window Cleaning

We are nearing completion to one of our regular jobs - cleaning all external glazing to a large office block in the West Midlands using Rope Access methods.
We deployed 2 Rope Access tehnicians to carry out the the works over a 5 day period, we carry out the Rope Access Window Cleaning to this building on a quarterly basis and have done for a number of years.


 
Window cleaning is a skilled trade that has undergone a massive transformation over time as windows get bigger, higher and more integral to a building's design. At Complete Access our rope access window cleaning services have always been at the core to delivering complete solutions for our customers.  We supply high quality and above all safe window and facade cleaning solutions. All our technicians are IRATA trained to levels 1, 2 and 3 conforming to BS7985, the British Code of Practice for roped access.
All of our technicians are certificated to City & Guilds Level 2 in Building & Support Services.

Rope Access offers minimal environmental impact and is extremely cost effective compared to conventional access methods such as scaffolding, MEWP’s and cradle systems.
The flexibility rope access can offer is unbeatable, our rope access systems can be set up in minimal time and removed at the end of every shift, this removes the likelihood of theft or vandalism.
If your organisation would like any information on our services or if you would like to  request a bochure ........... please dont hesitate to contact us


Wednesday 1 February 2012

Rope Access - High Level Cleaning Birmingham

We started a week of night shifts at Millenium Point in Birmingham.

We deployed 3 Rope Access Technicians to deliver:
  • high level steel work cleaning in the roof space. 
  • high level cleanng to opaque glazing.
  • high level wndow cleaning.
All works were carried out using a mixture of Aid Climbing and Rope Descents & Ascents







If your Company reqires any of our Working at Height Services ......please dont hesitate to Contact Us