By Rory Duggan, Sales Director
Working at height in the food processing industry comes with additional demands over and above those found in a non-food environment: the risk of contamination is ever-present, inevitable spills of liquids, fats and food products bring increased dangers from slippery surfaces, and the need to operate in a hygienic, germ-free environment at all times is a must.
Maintaining a spotless environment demands more frequent work at height tasks such as regular cleaning and maintenance of food processing equipment including heaters and coolers as well as internal surfaces such as ceilings and walls. Hiring the right MEWP and safety accessories for your food processing factory and being properly trained in their correct use is key to ensuring accidents and health and safety breaches are kept to an absolute minimum.
Clean machines for a clean environment
Clean, well maintained work at height platforms are a top priority for food processors and manufacturers. Food industry machines and equipment must be in excellent working order to comply with rigorous food hygiene standards.
The food processing MEWP hire experts at Horizon Platforms have extensive experience advising and supplying well-known food manufacturers throughout the UK. We understand the particular needs of the sector and have a fleet of platforms which are perfectly suited for use in food environments, as well as a choice of specialist accessories such as wheel covers, nappies and drip trays designed to reduce the risk of contamination and cross-contamination.
Our machines are clean, quiet and versatile, allowing operators to clean and disinfect a broad range of food factory equipment efficiently and safely. Our food processing MEWPs enable maintenance and other essential tasks to be carried out quickly and easily, and with a choice of machine sizes available, you can hire platforms for use by one person or multiple users at the same time.
Assessing the risks
The need for high levels of hygiene apply whether you are processing raw food for shops and supermarkets or manufacturing prepared food, so well-planned cleaning and maintenance regimes are essential. When you are carrying out this type of work at height, the law states that all work must be properly planned, supervised and carried out by competent people.
Horizon’s experts can carry out a site survey – free of charge and with no obligation – to assess your work at height equipment needs and recommend the best food processing MEWP hire options. If you need access to areas positioned above food processing machinery and production lines, you will need a narrow aisle platform with zero tail swing and maximum horizontal outreach capacity, in which case our range of electric boom lifts are a great choice. Our experience in the food industry means our hire experts know the right questions to ask and can offer technical advice and bespoke solutions. For example, if you’re working in a cold store, we’d recommend using an electric scissor lift with gel batteries in temperatures below –20°C.
All our machines and equipment for use in the food industry are only ever used in clean environments and are thoroughly inspected before every hire to ensure they are both immaculate and provide the safest working environment for your employees.
Safety training
Our IPAF trainers will ensure you are properly trained so you can stay safe and get the best from your platform. We offer a range of courses from our approved IPAF training centres in Wakefield, Warrington and throughout the UK or if you prefer, we can come to you and train your team on site. Courses are available six days a week and satisfy the standards required by Health and Safety legislation and Work at Height regulations.
Call Horizon Platforms today to discuss your food processing MEWP hire needs.