Huntsman Petrochemicals North Tees Site

SAFETY LEARNING
S G EVENT
Failure of gantry walkway
What Happened ?
A scaffolder was walking along a gantry
platform (30m above ground level) on
which was stored scaffolding, when he fell
through the kennedy grating walkway to
the next gantry which was 2.5 m below.
Although very shaken by the fall he only
sustained minor bruising.
g

Why
y did
d d itt happen
appe ?
The gantry walkway is constructed of kennedy grating which is bordered
on three sides by vertical kick plates. The grating is in two sections across
the width of the walkway with a support member running along the centre.
The vertical kick plates prevent forward and lateral movement, clips are fitted to
th grating
the ti tto preventt movementt up and d down.
d
However in this incident the absence of a vertical kick plate along the edge nearest
the heater allowed sideways movement of the grating. This movement led to a section
of grating falling off its support when the scaffolder stepped onto it and swinging down
like a trap door.

Learning Points
Gantry walkways constructed of grating or similar must be designed with kick
plates etc on all sides to prevent movement. Relying on clips to prevent
movement is inadequate as they can work loose and lead to failure as seen here
with p
possibly
y fatal consequences.
q

Do the walkways on your plant have similar unsafe design ?