In industrial environments we often run into difficulties accessing machines and elevated areas, putting the safety of workers and users at risk and even hindering the efficiency of production processes. Work platforms and walkways, regulated by UNE EN ISO 14122, are essential structures in preventing workplace accidents.<\/p>\n\n
In this post we will talk about these types of safety systems, explaining what they are, how they are integrated into industry, and why using them makes operators’ work much easier and helps with regulatory compliance in safety and OHS.<\/p>\n\n
Work platforms are structures that allow operators to safely reach areas that are not at floor level, <\/strong>when performing maintenance, inspection, machinery operation or material handling tasks; these structures make access easier while providing safety.<\/p>\n\n Walkways, for their part, are a type of horizontal, elongated platform that makes it easier to cross between two points when they are elevated, when they cannot be reached, or when they are hazardous areas. They can be suspended, supported on the structures themselves, or form part of other access systems.<\/p>\n\n Both systems are considered permanent means of access to machines, and we can find them in sectors such as:<\/p>\n\n Unlike portable ladders, these safety systems offer safer options because they do not depend on user intervention; they are designed to stay fixed, providing stability and bearing constant loads without deforming, which prevents premature deterioration.<\/p>\n\n Their function, as we have said, is to eliminate the risks of falls, trips, entrapment and awkward postures during use. Their main benefits are the following:<\/p>\n\n This standard is the reference for the design of means of access to machinery, and therefore applies to these types of systems. Of its four parts, part 2 applies to work platforms and walkways; this part regulates the design, manufacture and installation of these systems, addressing various aspects of design, manufacture and the strength needed for a safe system.<\/p>\n\n The standard specifies the design and manufacturing criteria; below, we summarize the most relevant points:<\/p>\n\n\n
Why Are They Necessary?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
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UNE EN ISO 14122 Standard<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
Structural and Technical Requirements<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n
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