This article first appeared in IMPO's April 2013 issue.
Manufacturers who are considering going to "the next level" must evaluate equipment and ensure their industrial work platforms fit their own needs, as well as OSHA and ANSI requirements.
Much like the rest of the physical world, the manufacturing environment is constantly battling against the challenges of time and space. And when it comes to space constraints, as cost conscious manufacturers know, it can often be more economical to go up than out. But when work platforms, or mezzanines, enter the mix, so do a host of potential safety issues – and these bolt-together structures, whether one, two or three levels high, must be designed and manufactured in accordance with OSHA regulations and the local building code of the installation site.
According to Hubert Schlegel, Marketing Director for Wildeck, the WI-based manufacturer of facility space enhancement, material handling, and protective guarding products, “All States require that the work platform be designed to meet specific seismic codes and the majority require that the structural components be made from non–combustible material. Generally, the type of construction must be the same as required for the building itself. For work platforms, drawings and calculations should be prepared under the supervision of a Registered Design Professional who can stamp and sign the calculations and drawings for the owner and building permit process.”
