General Industrial

Locker Group is proud to present our Summit Kit, a simple, out-of-the-box solution that allows your roof access to comply with the Australian walkway standard. Let’s take a look at what this product has to offer and how it can help your business improve its workers’ safety.

Roofs, safety, and regulations

There are many reasons why you’d need to regularly get onto roofs of industrial buildings, including accessing air conditioning units or solar panels, general roof maintenance and cleaning. Getting access to the roof of an industrial building can be a serious safety hazard – one that Mike Back, Locker Group’s National Business Development Manager, says many companies are not aware of.

According to Safe Work Australia, 25 workers had fatal falls from roofs in the period 2003–04 to 2010–11. The Australian standard AS 1657-2013 strongly recommends that external ladders giving roof access lead to a two metre walkway, with handrails, heading away from the edge of the roof. A lot of buildings, particularly older ones, are potentially non-compliant with best practice as described in the standard.

Locker Group provides the solution

Solving this problem was our starting point for developing the Summit Kit product. Locker Group wanted to provide a simple, quick solution that would allow businesses to make their roof access safer without unnecessary bother or cost. Mike Back sums it up:

“We’re going to make a complete off-the-shelf kit, so everything you need is in the box, it’s been tested to the standard, and it can be assembled by a competent person. If you’ve got an older building that isn’t compliant, you can easily get one of these kits and it’ll sort out your problem.”

We developed a product to be an immediate, complete solution to the apparent situation. The Summit Kit is an off-the-shelf package, available for a fixed price, that is compatible with a wide range of roof types. It is ideal for retrofit application to make existing buildings compliant.

Our Summit Kit offers an immediate solution to the problem of roof access safety.

The Summit Kit offers a faster, more reliable option

While other companies can build something to fit, a bespoke solution has drawbacks. The process of measuring, designing, quoting and finally installing can be long-winded and costly, and other products, despite claiming to solve the issue of compliance, might not necessarily have all the correct testing. Customers can be reassured that the Summit Kit does what it promises – this product has been designed and fully tested specifically to do this job and be compliant with the relevant standard.

Easy on roofs

A consideration for any equipment installed on roofs is its weight. Because the Summit Kit is made out of aluminium it is very light, with a minimum installed weight of just 30 kilograms.

A further unique benefit of the Summit Kit that other products lack is the use of Gripspan walkway planking. Any walkway system you install is going to need some sort of support framework underneath, which adds weight to the overall structure. Because Gripspan only needs supports every two metres, it reduces the weight of the Summit Kit and therefore the stress it puts on your building’s roof.

Gripspan’s design also minimises the contact points with the roof itself. Reducing the need for screws though the roof means fewer compromised points where moisture can get through and potentially cause leaks.

Gripspan planking means the Summit Kit is lightweight and durable.

The Summit Kit’s easy installation

The Summit Kit is designed to save you time. Its out-of-the-box setup requires only basic effort for installation. There’s no need for complicated cutting or time-wasting painting. All you have to do is rivet or screw the kit together, meaning it can be assembled and installed within a short amount of time. Its hardy aluminium construction means you won’t need to do a lot of maintenance once it’s installed, and rust isn’t a worry – this is a long-lasting product that you can set up and then get on with your business.

The Summit Kit easily integrates with existing roof walkways and other Lcker Group products to complete your roof safety system. For new buildings, or ones that require a full roof access solution, Locker Group can provide products such as Gripspan that will work in tandem with the Summit Kit to provide safe walkways and access from scratch.

Where the Summit Kit excels, however, is in situations where an existing building has some roof access already, but needs extra safety equipment to make the entry point safer for workers and to bring it up to standard. The Summit Kit provides this in a quick, convenient package.

The Summit Kit contains everything you need, straight off the shelf.

The Summit Kit is Locker Group’s newest initiative to supply products that deliver practical safety measures to a range of industries. If you’re concerned about bringing your non-compliant building up to standard for roof access safety, then Locker Group’s Summit Kit is an easy, reliable solution. For any other roof access or industrial building issues, please get in touch today to find out how we can help.

We’ve looked at the future of an industry with mining in space, but here’s a sci-fi idea that’s very much a part of the present: robots.

In South Korea alone there are already more than 400 robots per 10,000 manufacturing employees. The International Federation of Robotics estimates that 1.3 million industrial robots will be installed worldwide in factories between 2015 and 2018. What does this mean for the human role in industry, and how will this affect the need for anthropocentric safety features like non-slip flooring and handrails?

Human and robots competing in the workplace 

Robots are taking on new roles, and this is affecting what jobs are available for people. In 2014 Port Botany in Sydney automated its cargo handling, cutting 180 jobs in the process. And earlier this year the BBC reported that Foxconn, a supplier to Apple and Samsung, had replaced as many as 60,000 workers  with robots. The World Economic Forum predicts that technological change will lead to a net loss of more than five million jobs worldwide by 2020.

A shared workspace

Humans and robots are not entirely incompatible in the workplace. The robots traditionally used in the automotive industry are large, powerful and crude – good for heavy lifting, but not suited to delicate tasks. Not to mention, they are dangerous to be around, with heavy, fast moving arms that could easily strike an unaware person who got too close.

But a Renault plant in France is now using smaller, more agile robots that can do finer, more detailed work. The Wall Street Journal reports that these robots are designed to be ‘collaborative’ – that they are able to work safely and closely with people. These robots have a variety of technology including cameras and sonar that they use to detect nearby humans and avoid moving in ways that would come into contact with them.

Traditional automotive robots are large, powerful and dangerous to be around.

The role we play may change

The increase in industrial automation may lead to a shift in human roles in industrial settings: Rather than actively manufacturing, the role of human workers will be one step removed, installing and maintaining the robots that do the actual labour. We still need a human focus in industrial settings. No matter the level of automation, factories and manufacturing plants continue to have roles for humans and workplace safety remains an issue that companies need to be aware of.

Whatever the scale of robotics in your workplace, your human staff are still the core of your productivity, and the ergonomic measure of how you build your factory or plant. Keep them safe and stable with Locker Group’s range of industrial flooring and products.

This October, it’s worth paying a bit of extra attention to workplace safety. We look at what National Work Safe Month means, how you can be involved and how Locker Group can help you improve the safety of your workplace with our range of industrial products.

National Safe Work Month is an opportunity for improvement

Safe Work Australia is promoting October as National Safe Work Month – an annual reminder to give more of a focus to workplace health and safety by increasing awareness and discussion. The organisation has a range of resources and information available on its site for businesses that want to get involved, including a series of virtual seminars about work safety best practice and research and development in the field. If your company is interested in taking part, Safe Work Australia is hosting a workplace participation reward program with a prize of $5,000. Case studies of previous reward winners are up on the site to inspire and encourage participation.

According to Safe Work Australia’s statistics, 113 workers died in the manufacturing industry from work-related injuries between 2007 and 2012, and there was an average of 60 claims a day for serious injury or illness over the same period. While the rate of serious injury in manufacturing has dropped between 2000 and 2011, it is still higher than the average for all Australian industries.

The benefits of improving workplace safety

A safer workplace is good not only for your workers, but also for your business itself. Along with meeting the moral and legal responsibilities that you have as an employer, the Australian government says that there can be ongoing financial benefits to making your workplace safe. As well as retaining staff, you’ll also reduce the costs of worker compensation and lost revenue from staff taking time off to recover from injuries.

Workplace accidents can be reduced with the right safety-focused products.

The risk of workplace accidents can be reduced with awareness and best practice. But another way of improving workplace safety is to improve the workplace itself through careful choice of design and building materials. Fifteen per cent of serious injury claims come from falls, trips and slips – simple accidents that could be minimised through using safety-focused materials. With that in mind, here are three Locker Group products you can use to provide your workers with the safest environment possible from the ground up:

1) Gripspan Planking

Engineered with workplace safety in mind, this anti-slip industrial flooring is available with a standard or serrated tread. Gripspan Planking is roll formed, which means it can be supplied in a variety of lengths to suit your specifications, reducing the need for welded joints or rivets. We also offer Gripspan Summit kits, which give you everything you need for an OH&S compliant roof entry point.

2) Safe-T-Perf

Safe-T-Perf is an anti-slip flooring that can be used for platforms, planking or stairs. Its 360-degree skid resistance lets you keep your grip in a range of situations. Safe-T-Perf is tough and load bearing, making it an ideal choice for industrial settings.

3) Handrail

A fundamental part of safe structures, Handrails are a must for workplace safety. Stairways, catwalks, ledges and drops all need a barrier to keep workers or the public safe. Our handrails can be used in an extensive range of industrial applications.

The safety of your workers is crucial to your business, and helping you achieve it is integral to ours. Get in touch and we can talk about what products will work best for you.

Choosing the right metal product for industrial applications can be a daunting prospect, especially with the wide range of options available. This wealth of selection is essential, as these solutions are used in so many different environments – from the grating surrounding a single truck bed to guarding the machinery in a series of factories, and everywhere in between.

Fortunately, making the right selection doesn’t require expert-level knowledge about every available metal product. The team at Locker Group can help determine the best choice based on your project’s specific needs and circumstances.

Of course, having a good understanding of your options is essential in making a decision. That’s why we’ve put together this short guide to choosing the right metal product configuration. These five considerations will assist you in figuring out which Locker Group product range is the best fit for your needs.

Weight

Depending on the installation site and purpose, weight can be an important concern for metal products. A weightier selection has more stability behind it, while lightweight options can help contribute to safe work practices. When looking at weight in metal products, there are many variables that can affect this characteristic.

Generally, woven wire products are the lightest option – ranging from 0.178 kilogrammes per square metre (kg/m²) for grade-316 stainless steel to 8.1 kg/m² for galvanised steel.

Expanded metal products range from 0.53 to 15 kg/m², with variations coming down to the choices between large or small mesh, steel or aluminium, raised or flattened patterns, and specialty applications.

To assist in choosing, think about what you need to achieve. Do you need a screen to just be a visual barrier? Then something light will suffice. Alternatively, if you need a screen to withstand weight or debris, a more durable option may be required.

This chart provides a more specific breakdown of weight in the expanded metal product line.

For perforated metal products, the weight is calculated using a combination of open are percentage and the original substrate weight.

Open area size

Perforated, expanded and woven wire metal products all feature a number of options when it comes to the size of the open area – or aperture. Fortunately, this is where Locker Group shines – offering a massive selection of aperture size to meet a variety of requirements.

Certain applications call for a large aperture size to enable airflow.

A small aperture is usually necessary in barrier and guarding applications, preventing against ingress by even the smallest objects. For projects that require metal products conducive to airflow and light penetration, larger apertures are more suitable.

For screening needs, open area sizes to match the material being worked with will be required – in fact, such a project will likely require several matched and scaffolded aperture sizes.

As a secondary consideration in this area, a set percentage of open area can be achieved – whether with multiple smaller holes or fewer larger openings. The exact application will influence the best choice.

Appearance

For projects in highly visible areas, aesthetics can also be an important characteristic to account for. This is where the perforated line really sticks out, providing a highly functional solution that also has a striking look. Locker Group’s perforation patterns are available in a number of configurations, giving any application a decorative appearance.

There are a number of patterns available for Locker Group’s perforated metal range, whether designed to stand out or blend in.

With woven wire and expanded metal products, you can also emphasise design appeal. With many options for the type of material and finish, these ranges can provide strong utility without sacrificing on appearance.

Material type

Do you need metal products for indoor or outdoor use? Gentle or harsh environments? The characteristics of a job site will play a big role in determining the most suitable choice of metal product.

Whether choosing between substrates or finishes, there is a solution that can be tailored to meet your application.

Woven wire is available in brass, galvanised mild steel, high-tensile steel, and 304- or 316-grade stainless steel. Perforated and expanded metal offers the choice between aluminium, a number of steel options and a variety of finishes.

Cost

Keeping expenses within budget is an important consideration in most industrial settings. Fortunately, Locker products cover a range of spending levels to ensure you get the balance between the fit for your purpose and the right cost.

The manufacturing process for different materials affects the value of the final product. For example, a finished piece of expanded metal is larger than the original sourced sheet, making it a very cost-effective choice.

Depending on the pattern chosen in perforated metal products, individual holes may need to be punched one at a time – increasing the cost of production, but resulting in a smooth and refined finish.

Ideal solutions from Locker Group

There are a lot of factors to keep in mind when choosing industrial metal products. To make this decision more hassle-free, the specialists at Locker Group are able to lend their knowledge and wealth of experience.

Contact Locker Group today to learn more about finding the solution that is right for you.