CitiPower and its new sub station construction

CitiPower realised that it had concerns relating to the provision of effective protection around its pits, for both employees and the general public. Due to the nature of its environment, CitiPower used a multitude of systems that provided adequate protection in some circumstances, while not so adequate in others. CitiPower's major problem revolved around identifying one single appropriate solution that would provide suitable protection for the diverse designs and locations of their pits.

During constructing of their new sub stations, CitiPower realised it needed to look for a better way of moving equipment in and out while controlling risks normally found when a pit is opened to its workers and the public.

Ideally, it needed a single system that was user friendly, easy to set up and transport while providing suitable anchor points to which personnel are able to anchor to while performing their work tasks. Another of CitiPower's major concerns was the protection of the public and other employees in the general area of the pit and works. In keeping with its stringent safety procedures, CitiPower wanted to ensure that the system it used complied with the new fall-from-heights regulations that were due to come into effect.

CitiPower consulted specialist supplier Safety Fall Prevention Australia to look at ways it could achieve its aims. The DBI-Sala Pit Protection System by Capital Safety was recommended as the best solution to fulfil CitiPower's aims. "Open pits are hazardous places for workers and the public. They've always been difficult to isolate from bystanders as well as provide safe access for workers. DBI-Sala's Pit Protection System changes all that. The integrated range of system elements enables the user to make any pit safer, and just as importantly, elements like davits can be added to any position to make pit work easier, faster and more effective," says Peter Boylen, state manager for Safety Fall Prevention Australia in Victoria.

The Pit Protection System has been designed to assist in controlling risks normally found when a pit is opened to workers and the public. The system relies on flush in-ground bases fitted to the surrounds of the pit that accept both davits and work poles. The poles accommodate a webbing safety line to surround the pit providing a public barrier for both fall arrest and work positioning attachment around the perimeter.

The company eventually found the DBI-Sala Pit Protection System to be an effective and appropriate solution to CitiPower's concerns. It uses a combination of lightweight and compact modular interchangeable elements to provide a single system, providing both a public barrier and fall arrest system for the prevention of falls around open pit areas.

Each component can be used in a number of ways to achieve different solutions, depending on the location, degree and nature of risk and the tasks being carried out around the work area, to suit practically any situation. The system also provides a physical barrier for unrestrained employees or the public accidentally approaching the work area.

CitiPower says it also chose the DBI-Sala Pit Protection System because of the added feature that any side of the barrier could be removed, allowing greater access for cranes to install and remove equipment, while still having the capability of having its workers restrained.