With extra scrutiny being placed on workplace safety in working at heights, solutions are now required to combat the challenges of keeping a work site safe in the crane industry. Fortunately, Beaver Technology Services and their range of height safety products provide just the answer.
Beaver Technology Services (BTS) is a company holding 60 years of experience providing Australian businesses with practical and innovative product solutions for Industrial Fall Protection applications.
Starting out in the late 1970’s operating as the market leader within the lifting and materials handling market, which was the main focus until 2010, Beaver Technology Services saw a requirement for “fit for purpose” height safety products and evolved to become a company focussed directly in engineered height safety and specialised lifting solutions, as BTS’ Marketing & Project Manager Aaron Hatch explains.
“Originally Beaver came to the market supplying lifting equipment below the hook, including chain slings, lifting slings and shackles,” says Aaron. As the focus on safety became increasing stronger, BTS look at at ways we could offer a better product that wasn’t just another close enough is good enough offering.
Having joined the company as of late November 2022, Aaron boasts two-and-a-half decades worth of industry experience related to safety and below the hook safety. Whilst a lot of his experience surrounds mobile cranes, it also resides in tower cranes and general construction with lifting and the height safety.
Working for various companies in lifting systems to the construction industry, the more recent years saw him switch to the safety and safe lifting side of things.
“I have worked across numerous height safety and lifting manufacturers across Australia all of which were apart of CICA which BTS has recently joined,” Aaron said.
“Joining CICA, the leading body in Australia for crane-industry representation, provides a perfect opportunity for BTS to showcase their awareness of an ever-increasing focus on safety in the crane sector also providing a safer, smarter way of offering devices for below the hook within the industry,” he said.
BTS has a range of products in the mobile fall protection space range from fixed to mobile equipment the suits all areas of the crane industry from new to maintenance.
BTS’ AirDavit
BTS’ AirDavit is an exciting development by the company, a permanent fixed articulated anchor point, with a working anchor point height of 5.7m and available in single and twin arm configuration providing ideal coverage for overhead fall protection. This is ideal for workshops or to assist in the use of working on transport during the loading and unloading process.
BTS AirHook trailer
The BTS AirHook trailer is a complete overhead fall protection system that complies to Australian & New Zealand standard and is mounted on a towable road registered trailer suitable for all road conditions.
The AirHook trailer provides fall protection for up to two workers, on an overhead anchor point that is easy to set-up. The main mast is raised or lowered using an electric or hydraulic pump and valve arrangement.
BTS AirHook Max Pro trailer
The AirHook Max Anchor Systems is the solution for workers exposed to fall arrest hazards in industries across the country where traditional products just can’t handle the job. This system will increase productivity, reduce lost time, and prevent injuries – all while providing the absolute highest level of fall protection. The Air Max Pro is ideal where extra height is required along with use in remote locations.
AirHook Max Pro Cube
The BTS 12m AirHook Max Pro Portable Overhead anchor provides a person working at heights an overhead anchor point that is modular and can be moved easily around a site via a forklift. An ideal product solution for sites where an overhead structure or existing anchor point may not be suitable. Available with an adjustable height of 12m and a reach of 2.3m.
AirHook Cube
Similar to the AirHook Max Pro, this system can be moved by a forklift but being lighter can even be shifted by a pallet jack. The AirHook is an ideal product solution for sites where an overhead structure or existing anchor point may not be suitable. Available with an adjustable height of 7.3m and a reach of 3m, the AirHook 3.6.
The 7m AirHook is designed with a minimal footprint allowing it to be positioned close to the equipment being accessed, providing maximum fall protection for the worker and can be set-up for use by 1 person in less than 5 minutes.
AirHook lite Cube
The AirHook Lite is an all-encompassing mobile overhead fall protection anchor point that can be easily moved around a site to suit both working at heights and working in confined space applications.
For confined space application, the AirHookLite can be fitted with a Type 3 Inertia Reel c/w Recovery Winch via a diversion sheave to allow workers to be safely lowered and raised out of a confined space and in the case of emergency, the worker can be retrieved quickly out of the same area. 360-degree swivel allows for the injured person to be rotated away from the confined space entry and moved across to ground level for any 1st aid requirements
Field Maintenance safety Kit
The Mobile Plant Safety Line Kit is another safety device offered by BTS, providing a solution for working activities conducted at significant heights on fixed & mobile plant equipment that require being at the top of machinery to undertake maintenance or inspection work.
Aaron explains how more and more crane operators are turning to BTS to improve safety on site.
“As standards change and safety has been highlighted within the various industries, we found that we were getting more and more requests to talk about our products within the crane industry – both for general use for maintenance and also in the general logistics side of their business,” says Aaron.
“We also have our unique BTS Elebia automatic lifting hooks, that are battery powered which help keep workers away from the lifting and lowering of loads. Below the hook applications have also been a big highlight within work safety practices here in Australia.”
Holding complimentary products such as lifting slings and shackles for everyday-type-use products that operate in tandem with BTS’ aforementioned height safety options, Aaron warns of the need for crane companies to be aware of certain pitfalls and typical mistakes when it comes to working at heights, highlighting the risk of workers climbing over set plant gear and cranes – particularly during the maintenance of equipment.
“Essentially, we’re looking to keep personnel from falling off plant gear, injuring themselves or having fatalities falling from substantial heights – which is where our engineered products come into play” Aaron said.
“We have set products, but we can also have our engineers design specific products or a specific item to suit the needs of any user,” he said.
BTS, holding a culture of “Empowered by innovation”, believe that every work environment is unique in its own way, and goes about addressing complications such as height safety with that ethos in mind.
A team compiled of designers, engineers, installers, trainers and sales staff operate within the fall-protection industry elite in Australia with a goal of delivering a “WOW experience to our customers.
“A lot of our products are around minimising those risks and putting these things in place to protect businesses and staff from injury and tragedy,” says Aaron.