Walkabout Project. Liverpool - Enterprise South Liverpool Academy (ESLA)

The first published use of a revolutionary lightweight working at height platform has won a definitive thumbs up from the main and sub contractors on the project.

Lend Lease Project Management and Construction and Red Window Systems are using the WalkAbout system installed by Safety Net Services for the construction of a four-storey glazed atrium at the £24 million Enterprise South Liverpool Academy (ESLA) which is due for completion early next year.

WalkAbout comprises a durable mesh membrane supported by a tensioned webbing matrix that is reassuringly stable and capable of achieving a surprising loading performance. It interfaces with the structure by fabric slings and/or webbing ratchet straps.

It was installed by FASET member Safety Net Services in 10 days in preference to a crash deck scaffolding system which would have taken a few weeks to erect from the ground floor up.

The presence of a birdcage scaffolding system would also have delayed the pouring of the ground floor slab while the 40m diameter atrium was being installed – a process which looks like taking six to eight weeks.

Jason McKnight, assistant project manager – Lend Lease Project Management and Construction, said they discovered the WalkAbout system in a brainstorming session on the best use of equipment, time constraints and an opportunity to use something which was not only new to the market but also brought their incident and injury-free philosophy into light.

He said: “Finding something as innovative as the WalkAbout system, and considering the benefits of using it on the ESLA project was at first a concept we didn’t envisage would become a reality.

“But through coordination with Safety Net Services, Red Window Systems and extensive help from our temporary works department, the concept evolved into something that would assist to push progress on site – the duration of installation halves that of scaffolding - as well as using a system which puts our incident and injury-free philosophy into practice.”

He added: “This has been promoted to our monthly safety leadership team as innovation in the highest calibre and I would push other companies to use this system as not only is it innovative but it also has the potential to save time on programme as well as cost.

“The duration of the atrium window installation was envisaged in being six weeks. If we had used a scaffold system we would not have been able to work in the atrium area at all. The WalkAbout system has allowed us to construct the ground floor slab as well as progress other activities.”

Red Window Systems’ team of seven were trained to use and check the WalkAbout system by approved installer Safety Net Services in a series of toolbox talks.

Red’s installations manager Steve Brearley said: “The benefits to us are the accessibility of working off the WalkAbout system safe in the knowledge the main contractor can carry on working below us. One day they poured the concrete slab whereas if we had had to use a scaffold system they would have had to have waited. It makes a massive difference to the programme.

“It is a new system and it is definitely revolutionary but we will definitely use it on other installations.” Safety Net Services’ director John Walsh said: “We are delighted that contractors are already finding the WalkAbout system realises huge potential for programme acceleration and cost savings.”