Newcastle operations get hooked on safety

Following a roof structure failure on three grain silos, a customer reached out to our Newcastle Team to remove and replace the three silo roofs. At a height of around 30 meters, the presence of a gantry that covered the silos complicated matters, limiting space for the crane to operate. 

Initially exploring a range of traditional solutions, the team developed an alternative approach - remove the structures using a combination of mechanical teams, rope access techniques, critical lifts, and, crucially, a custom-designed lifting frame. Several designs for the frame were created and the C-hook design was ultimately favoured, giving optimal manoeuvrability and strength.

Integration of the C-hook frame meant reduced exposure to falling objects and manual handling tasks for our people, and minimised the time working at heights as scaffolding the silos was no longer needed. 

This design has the potential for broader application where existing structures pose challenges to access and execute intricate scopes of work, and also where scopes are along a critical path, benefiting both Monadelphous and our customers. 

A shout out to our Newcastle team for this innovative solution, now nominated for the 2023-2024 Monadelphous Managing Director's Safety Innovation Award – incredible work!