BESIX Watpac is a leading Australian construction and civil engineering company with international offices in Europe and the Middle East. As an organisation that incorporates best practices and the latest innovations in its projects, it was fitting they would approach RISSafety to deliver a roof access system.
As another Australian-owned organisation that puts innovation at the heart of everything we do, RISSafety knew how to deliver a solution for an important project while using gold standard procedures and practices.
Here’s how we created a roof access system for the Thebarton Barracks Relocation project in Adelaide.
Background to the project
The South Australia Police (SAPOL) Mounted Operations Unit (MOU) and Dog Operations Unit (DOU) needed to move from their existing home at 1 Gaol Road, Thebarton, to prepare for the barracks’ demolition to build a $3 billion women’s and children’s hospital.
With the South Australian Police having called the barracks home since 1917, it was announced that the new home for the Mounted Operations Unit and Dog Operations Unit would be a custom-built facility at Gepps Cross, Adelaide. The facility needed to be functional and robust for horses, dogs, and their respective humans, and fit for purpose for many years.
An important consideration of the new facility was ensuring animal and human welfare and safety requirements could be met. This included adequate green spaces on the 10.7-hectare site for dogs and horses to have quiet outdoor time after a hard day’s work. Green spaces would also be used for training the animals.
The brief
The in-depth brief presented to the RISSafety team included:
- Relocation of training and housing facilities for police animals across multiple buildings
- Access to gutter maintenance and mechanical plant
- Non-penetrative fixings to roofs where possible
- Permanent ladder access above 3.5m roof heights
- No single-point anchor points.
How RISSafety created a solution
Half a kilometre of anything is a lot, but when its 500m of horizontal lifeline installed across multiple buildings it’s even more impressive. That was just part of the solution delivered by the team across multiple buildings on the new site.
Working across several structures, the team engineered and installed 500 metres of high-quality, compliant horizontal lifeline systems. These lifelines provide critical fall protection for workers performing maintenance or inspections at height, allowing them to move freely and safely while staying connected.
The team also designed and delivered more than 400m of walkway fixed with non-penetrative clamp fixings, which required more than 1300 clips. Non-penetrative fixings help maintain the integrity of the roofing system while still providing a sturdy platform for foot traffic.
RISSafety also designed and manufactured 400m of aluminium handrails, also with non-penetrative clamps, across multiple buildings to ensure the safety of maintenance workers at heights.
Project highlights
The solution created and delivered by RISSafety either met or exceeded Australian guidelines for working at heights or in confined spaces.
RISSafety honoured the client’s request to keep roof penetrations to a minimum on roof sheeting throughout project delivery. By using non-penetrative fixing methods wherever possible, the team was able to preserve the integrity of the building’s waterproofing system. This approach reduces the risk of leaks or long-term water damage, ensuring greater durability and lower maintenance costs.
The new system will allow workers to safely reach all mechanical plant on walkways either attached via horizontal lifeline or behind handrails near areas with a fall risk.
Importantly, the project was delivered on time and on budget, demonstrating RISSafety’s commitment to ensuring efficient project management and client satisfaction.
The SA Police Mounted Operations Unit have moved into their new home, and the 32 horses have given the facility their stomp of approval. Also completed is the Dog Operations Unit’s training area, allowing dog handlers to continue specialist training exercises for police dogs on site.
The new Gepps Cross facility is safe, compliant and user-friendly, for humans and their animal companions.
Speak to RISSafety today about your height safety needs today.
