A sprinkling of safety from Horizon
By Vicki Crowe, Account Manager for Horizon Platform
I’ve always considered myself to be a jack of all trades and master of none. Recently, however, I’m finding that I need to revisit that assumption as I become increasingly absorbed in the wonderful world of sprinkler systems!
As an Account Manager for Horizon Platforms, I work with a broad range of businesses who wish to hire a powered access platform from Horizon– such as scissor lifts and cherry pickers. I like to think I have a close working relationship with all of my clients, but when I was offered the chance to see behind the scenes at AD Sprinkler Protection Ltd, I jumped at the chance to learn more about the sector, particularly as I’ve recently been given responsibility for contracts within the fire sprinkler industry.
AD Sprinklers
AD Sprinklers is a leading specialist supplier of automatic sprinkler and fire protection systems. The Manchester-based company designs, project-manages and installs fire sprinkler systems for businesses throughout the UK including shops and restaurants, airports, warehouses and residential properties. It also offers a full maintenance service to ensure all of its equipment is up to scratch and operating as it should.
The company has invested heavily in health and safety in recent years and has been using work at height platforms and equipment from Horizon for the last two years.
Malcolm Reade, General Manager for AD Sprinkler Protection offered me the chance to see behind the scenes at his offices in Denton, Manchester and find out what a typical day involves for one of the installation engineers, the particular challenges the sector faces and how Horizon can help to make life easier.
Above and beyond for safety’s sake
On Friday 17 July, I spent a morning with Lee McIlroy, Contract Engineer, and two fully-trained and IPAF-accredited sprinkler system installation specialists. Lee and the team demonstrated how they use our platforms – primarily scissor lifts – and explained how engineers have to be as flexible as possible on site as they are often one of a handful of people working on a project at the same time.
Lee told me: “It’s not uncommon for half a dozen guys including builders and electricians to be working around each other to get a job done quickly and ensure minimum disruption for the client. As you might imagine, the potential for something to go wrong is pretty high, so we all need to ensure health and safety is at the forefront of everything we do”
Reaping rewards
For me, the day was a great opportunity to see our platforms in action. Scissor lifts are such a safe and versatile piece of equipment, especially when it comes to installing a sprinkler system when the operator needs to move from place to place, quickly and safely.General Manager, Malcolm Reade told me: “It was great to have the chance to show you round. As you know, the nature of our business means we spend a large proportion of our time working at height so the right equipment and training for our staff is vital.
“Knowing there is a stock of good quality scissor lifts and training available to use them safely gives us the peace of mind we need.”
For details of the powered access platforms available from Horizon, call 0845 1633 011 or email [email protected]. To find out more about the range of sprinkler systems available from AD Sprinklers, call 0161 336 0001 today.