Trellis protects from falls down stairs

Problem: Access has to maintained up and down the stairs, but falling into the stairwell is inevitably a serious accident. Platforms and scaffolded constructions provide safety but constitute obstacles. The more secure the platform, the greater the barrier. Solution: Oxford Safety Components has come up with a platform, whose deck is made as a trellis. The trellis, made of substantial sections of light alloy, is strong enough to safely support building workers and materials, but can also easily be pushed across to allow access. It requires neither the complexity nor the volume of a roller blind type of construction. It can be fitted to protect a stairwell before the staircase arrives, or after it is installed. It will also fit onto stairs with corners are the top and/or bottom. The frame that supports its outer end has telescopic feet to allow it to be adjusted to any staircase height. Between uses, the whole construction can be folded, and the legs telescoped in, to form a package of similar size and weight to a door frame for easy carrying. Applications: The Stairwell Protection System sells for just over £1,060 for one offs or £740 each for orders of 21 or more. In its present form, it is clearly aimed at building firms, but has the potential to be turned into a DIY product also. Any engineer faced with the task of designing a removable platform or security barrier should always think in terms of possibly using a lattice, as opposed to anything more complex that has to be rolled up, folded, or slid aside. The new product and its particular application is protected by patents, but the idea of using a lattice as a barrier is available to anyone. TS Oxford Safety Components