One very noticeable effect of the continuing emphasis on improving safety for Britain's forestry workers is the increased use of powered access, sometimes called aerial work platforms, for pruning and general forestry work. The ease with which the equipment can be hired, its relatively simple operation - provided the operator is properly trained - and its ability to significantly improve productivity have all been contributing factors.
But powered access comes in many shapes and sizes, so let us take a brief look at just what is available. Nationwide is the country's largest powered access rental company, with more than 6,000 machines in its fleet and 50 depots spread across the country. The company's website is a good starting point for newcomers to powered access, and it can be found at www.nationwideaccess.com.
In addition to detailing all of the machines available for hire, the site offers help in selecting the most appropriate piece of equipment. However, as it may not always be convenient to access the Internet, Nationwide overcomes this by offering a quick-response free site survey service, where an expert from the nearest depot will visit and recommend the most suitable machine.
In fact, powered access comes in three forms; truck mounted, scissor lifts and self-propelled booms. As the name truck mounted implies, the unit is mounted on the back of a truck and is a particularly popular option for forestry work. Boom lifts too are popular for some forestry applications, as they offer both vertical height and horizontal outreach, and can - again stressing the need for proper training - be operated by forestry workers, who tend to be particularly adept at using an assortment of vehicles and mechanical equipment. Scissor lifts are more appropriate when vertical access is required, but where there is no need for horizontal outreach.
Several of the truck mounted units in Nationwide's Skylift fleet are all-terrain, four-wheel-drive vehicles. They are able to move on and off site quickly and efficiently and be fully operational within minutes of arrival on site. Most models are able to rotate a full 360 degrees and are manipulated via controls located on the work platform. The outreach capabilities also enable the work platform to reach over obstacles, gaining access to areas not easily achieved by equipment where movement is limited to vertical elevation. Nationwide's Skylift truck mounts vary in reach from 14-metre working height units, all the way up to a colossal 72-metre machine.
Every Skylift machine is supplied with a fully qualified and experienced Nationwide operator. However, with many of the units of up to 22-metre working height, self-drive options are available that can be operated by anyone with a standard driving licence. However, Nationwide goes to great lengths to stress the advisability of always hiring a trained operator with a truck mount, or at the very least, ensure that the self-drive operator is properly trained to operate the access equipment.
Turning to self-propelled booms, Nationwide currently has more than 60 different models from which to choose. These include telescopic and articulated machines, with diesel, electric and bi-powered options. Units range from a compact articulating machine with a working height of 8.1 metres and an outreach of 2.6 metres, up to an industry-leading 40-metre platform height and 24.4-metre outreach telescopic model.
Specifications vary greatly from machine to machine; one of the reasons for Nationwide offering a free site survey. For example, models are available offering an exceptional turning radius and a high degree of manoeuvrability, thanks to an innovative four-wheel steer feature that includes front, rear, "crawler" and coordinated steering functions.
Returning to the question of safety and the need for operators to be fully trained, Nationwide runs a number of fast-track one to three day training courses that are fully recognised by the IPAF [International Powered Access Federation]. The company also offers Power Guard, a damage waiver package that provides either Gold or Platinum protection while the Nationwide equipment is on hire. Details are included on the Nationwide website, www.nationwideaccess.com.
